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Thundercracker (ES)

2026-01-21T00:04:54Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Thundercracker}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Thundercracker is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:thunder es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|The [[Thundercracker (G1)#2019 IDW continuity|second time]] in a row he has way less screen time than [[Nova Storm (ES)|a rainmaker.]]]]

'''Thundercracker''' is a Decepticon that fought in the Great War when it was taking place on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Thundercracker fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Thundercracker, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Decepticons]]

Gold Plastic Syndrome

2026-01-04T03:44:46Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notability */

{{featured}}
[[File:Electrogoldplasticsyndrome.jpg|right|upright=2.5|thumb|Ouch.]]
'''Gold Plastic Syndrome''' (commonly shorthanded to '''GPS''') is fandom terminology used to describe the phenomenon of a toy's [[plastic]] decomposing and becoming brittle to the point of shattering or crumbling under minimal-stress conditions. In the most extreme cases, toys have been reported to spontaneously crumble to small bits without any applied force at all, even if they're fresh out of their [[Mint in sealed box|unopened package]].

This breakage is different from the relatively more common stress-fracture type of plastic breakage that can occur in some [[Toy|''Transformers'' toys]]; while normal stress fractures are universally heralded by stress marks on the toy, GPS breakage doesn't have that sign; it simply crumbles to pieces. The condition takes its name from the gold plastics of late Generation 1 through to ''Beast Wars'' that have proved the most prone to this sort of breakage. Despite the name, Gold Plastic Syndrome has been known to affect other types of plastic—most of them noted for a pretty metallic swirl in the plastic; the reason it has the "GPS" moniker is because gold plastic was the first and most common color observed to have this horrific phenomenon.

Thankfully, Gold Plastic Syndrome is generally unheard of in modern Hasbro/Takara ''Transformers'' figures, with the last reported case being in [[2015]] with ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Motormaster (G1)#Unite Warriors|Motormaster]].

==Etymology==
The term was coined in an [[alt.toys.transformers]] post made by user Sky Shadow in September 2002.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b3d532961b2c2dc</ref> A post by [[Dave Edwards|Dave "Zobovor" Edwards]], meanwhile, made in June of the previous year,<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6ed7e0f3586f37e4</ref> is the earliest identifiable acknowledgment of the widespread nature of the phenomenon within the Transformers fan community.

Completing the journey from fan term to official term, "Gold Plastic Syndrome" was used by Hasbro designer [[John Warden]] at the ''Transformers Generations'' panel at Comic-Con International 2015 to describe exactly what would not happen to ''Combiner Wars'' G2-style [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]].

==Notability==
GPS is widespread among toys made in the tail-end of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], typically the second year of [[Pretender]]s and even some European-market exclusives, ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' and the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' series, but examples have surfaced from lines as recent as [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' (2003)]], the ''[[Star Wars Transformers]]'' and the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 movie]]. Transformers toys are not the only ones to suffer from this; there have been reports of ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Visionaries]]'' toys' gold plastics also crumbling seemingly of their own accord; even some ''Super Sentai'' and ''[[Power Rangers]]'' toys have been known to suffer, and for a few years [[LEGO]] was somewhat infamous for "brittle brown/burgundy" parts that snapped easily (as well as metallic gold parts and even lime green parts, but those were not as common). Probably the strangest is accounts of retro game collectors finding ''{{w|The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask}}'' cartridges shatter under minimal stress. Other retro robot toy collectors have referred to it as "Popy disease", after the metallic blue plastic favored by the company Popy that led to the demise of many a Dairugger / Vehicle Team Voltron.

The toys most likely to suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome are those with gold or bronze plastic with a metallic swirl to it. There are other known cases with different colors of plastic—though usually there is a tell-tale swirl in the plastic.

===Cause===
[[File:SkyquakeGPSback.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|left|Gleargh]]
Because this is not exactly an area of scientific notability, there aren't any full studies into Gold Plastic Syndrome that we know about. Basically, it is thought that certain plastics weren't mixed as well as others, possibly because of the metallic pigment or colouring, so they break down more quickly.

It's not much of a theory, really; think more of a hypothesis. Here's a more detailed attempt:

{{bigquote|The problem likely arises, as with many composites, when the bonding between the polymer and the dye/particles breaks down. This could occur do to a natural chemical/phase change of the plastic, due to oxidation, for example, or by another mechanism, say the forces incurred by the toy being played with, or more likely, due to some combination thereof. In any case, when the bonds between the particles and the polymers break down, you would get small voids in the plastic structure. If this occurs frequently enough, the structure would become effectively porous (that is, it would be filled with lots of tiny voids/cracks where the polymers and particles have come apart). With even a slight amount of force, some of these cracks/voids could expand, even slightly, to the point where they intersect another void and join, making an even bigger crack. Once a critical crack length is reached, the sample fractures. So effectively, the plastic becomes more brittle, and this would also explain it "crumbling" as well as cracking.''|Aernaroth from ''The Allspark.com'' suggests a cause for GPS}}

In short, the poorly-bonded plastic is so honeycombed with air gaps that the pressure required for movement will crumble it.

Hasbro have attributed it to "the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic", and have apparently reduced the amount in similar plastics of more recent vintage to prevent further occurrences.<ref name="hasbrogps">[http://www.transformerland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3481 Hasbro Transformersland.com Q&A, August 2009:] "When we used gold metallic plastic in the past we discovered, along with many of you, that it becomes brittle over time. As we became aware of this situation, we took the necessary steps to reduce the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic to eliminate this issue. Ultimately, this should no longer be an issue due to these corrective steps that we have taken."</ref> Later Hasbro said that they believe they've "alleviated the issues associated with the 'gold' plastic issue" through "trial and error." <ref>http://www.toyark.com/news/transformers-toy-news-2/hasbro-transformers-june-2010-qna-2867/</ref>

All in all, the actual causes of Gold Plastic Syndrome aren't a very big deal to Transformers fans—it's really pretty academic. Of more concern is the ''RESULTS'' (i.e., poor Electro crumbling to bits like an Oreo left in milk too long), and what to look out for. There's no certain cure here, no fix. If a toy has GPS, it '''will''' die if handled and transformed normally.

Seibertron.com has reported that Ace Hardware's "Lub-E" product may prevent GPS breakage, having applied it to an Electro pre-photo-shoot. This claim needs further verification, as it may very well be a coincidence that that specific Electro did not break at that moment. Other discussions of Lub-E or comparable shock oil products have recommended ''submerging the toy in the lubricant entirely,'' which many collectors would find unacceptable even ''if'' it worked.

===The Symptoms===
[[File:GPSSkyquakescopeclose.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|right|Nooo!]]

Gold Plastic Syndrome usually has a few clear signs. Knowing how to tell the difference between Gold Plastic Syndrome and normal plastic breakage is very important for a Transformers fan who is collecting vintage toys. It's the difference between giving up on that toy completely (since if it has GPS, it's ''likely'' most other samples of the toy will as well) and buying a new copy.
*GPS usually takes place in metallic-coloured plastics, most notably gold plastic and bronze plastic; they tend to have distinctive "swirly," "sparkly" appearance.
*GPS breaks are NOT accompanied by stress fractures. There is usually NOT any visible wear before the breakage. This is really important. Plastic breaks. This is a reality of toy collecting, plastic gets old and it breaks. Gold plastic syndrome is breakage without warning.
*GPS breaks often leave a powdery residue and shards of plastic (though not always), the result of the plastic actually physically crumbling. Take a look at the picture of Skyquake's scope—okay, the bits of his scope—to the right. You can actually see some of the left-over shards of plastic. Keep in mind this picture was taken years after the break actually occurred—these are new shards of plastic which came off these pieces of scope during the process of moving the parts around for photography. Plastic should '''not''' be that brittle or delicate.
*GPS breakages don't need to involve any excess stress or force on a toy—simply handling a toy or opening its box can cause the breakage. If your toy breaks despite careful handling it's more likely to be GPS.
*GPS breaks often have rough, uneven edges with no stress lines around them. This is important—usually when plastic snaps it snaps cleanly (as is common with clear plastic), or it bends first (leaving a torn-off piece, or clear stresses around the break). If a break is uneven, with different colours and textures in it, yet there are no stress fractures around the wound, and especially if it leaves a powdery residue as well, it's almost certainly a GPS break. Take a look at the photo of Skyquake above for a good example of the ragged break. Okay... not good. What's the other word that's LIKE "good", but not actually good? Oh yeah. Horrifying. A HORRIFYING example.
*GPS plastics will sometimes feel brittle to the touch, sometimes making cracking noises as they're handled.

A really easy test to tell if you have GPS breakage is this—if a piece breaks off, try snapping it again. If it's normal plastic breakage, the broken piece should bend or bow, since it would have had only one fracture point and otherwise remained malleable; in that circumstance, even if it were brittle clear plastic, you would be able to glue it back into place, or at least get a replacement part. On the other hand, if the broken piece continues to repeatedly crack apart like a potato chip when hit with pressure from any angle, then you've almost definitely got Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==GPS misconceptions==
'''ALL GOLD PLASTIC WILL DIE!'''
: Not true. It's only a fairly specific composite of darker-gold plastic used during a specific era that is more likely to suffer, most prominently used from 1988 (second-year [[Pretender#Toys|Pretenders]] are notorious for it) and through to about the end of ''Beast Wars'' in 2000, although there are still a few very rare cases of post-millennium figures with this issue up until 2015. As far as we know, modern toys do not suffer from GPS due to a reduction in the amount of metallic flakes in the mix.<ref name="hasbrogps" /> Toys with flexible nylon-based gold plastics, such as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Armada|Superbase Optimus Prime's]] elbows, are not susceptible to GPS supposedly because of the plastic's composition. Even on toys well known for GPS, some of their gold plastic is less prone to break. Gold plastic which is nice and thick is much less likely to snap than gold plastic which is thin. Gold plastic which is under constant stress—like that at a joint—is also more likely to break. That said, some really nice solid parts can shatter like eggshells if it's real GPS we're talkin' about.

[[File:BWNeo Guiledart toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|[[Guiledart#Toys|Guiledart]] may have a "dead mode", but it's not GPS-dead.]]
'''OKAY, BUT THEN ALL GOLD PLASTIC FROM 1988 TO THE EARLY 2000s WILL DIE!'''
: Thankfully, no! There are various examples of figures built between the eighties and the early 2000s featuring similar-looking gold or bronze plastic - sometimes even exhibiting some of those much-dreaded swirly patterns - where such an issue has never been reported, like [[Archadis#Toys|Archadis]], [[Guiledart#Toys|Guiledart]], [[Transquito#Toys|Transquito]], [[Snarler#Toys|Snarler]], 2003's version of [[San D-Go#Toys|San D-Go]], and perhaps most ironically, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Goldbug]]. Gold chrome, like that seen in [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#TM1|Transmetal Cheetor]] and the first [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 2|''Generation 2'' Bumblebee]], is also completely immune from GPS since it's merely painted rather than actually being gold plastic.

'''MY TOY BROKE, IT MUST BE GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME!!!'''
: There are plenty of ways for plastic to break that aren't related to Gold Plastic Syndrome. Repeated stress on a plastic, dropping a toy, a toy with metal parts that damage the plastic parts, thin plastic, or simply the use of translucent plastic, which is more brittle. Just because a toy breaks doesn't mean it's Gold Plastic Syndrome. Look for the symptoms (listed above) and ask around before assuming that every single copy of this toy is destined to die a horrible and messy death.

'''ONLY GOLD PLASTIC GETS GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME!'''
: Not ''quite'' true. Observations suggest that it should probably be called "Metallic Plastic Syndrome". It's those metallic plastics, most commonly the gold and bronze plastics used for almost ten years by Hasbro and Takara, from around 1989 to 1998. However, it's possible that any colour of plastic could be susceptible, given enough time. So keep a close eye on your Fire Convoy, kids; that pretty metallic swirl in his plastic isn't promising... maybe.

'''MY TOY IS DOOMED!'''
: Okay... not ''exactly'' a misconception. Your toy is ''probably'' doomed... but there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

: You see, the thickness of the plastic seems to affect GPS. Also, the amount of stress on it affects it. While some toys are known for breaking just by having their packages opened—guys like Randy, Roadblock and ''Generation 2'' Slingshot—others, like Skyquake and Pyro, can remain intact if they are handled with extreme care because the parts that are made of GPS plastics are large and thick and otherwise robust. GPS is an inconsistent process—eventually your toy '''will''' crumble, but there's no telling how long it will take. With delicate handling (read: almost none) you can maintain a GPS-afflicted toy in your collection for quite some time.

: Also remember that the evidence for Gold Plastic Syndrome is ''completely'' observational. There seems to be some evidence that different plastic batches were less affected, meaning some releases of the toys were less affected than others. You might luck out and get an Electro that never crumbles to dust, or you might be really unlucky and get multiple Electros, all of which break horribly. This wiki's own pictured examples of [[Electro#Toys|Electro]] and [[Skyquake (G1)#Toys|Skyquake]] on their pages are still intact to this day despite multiple transformations (though Skyquake will ''never'' have the Megavisor combination gimmick tried, because why poke that exploding bear?).This page is a caution more than anything else. Know what you're getting into when you buy a toy known to be afflicted by GPS.

==Toys commonly accredited as GPS sufferers==

====''The Transformers''====
[[File:Bristleback-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|"Bristleback"? More like, ''Brittleback'', amirite? Hahahahaa... Oh god, why.]]
* '''[[Scorponok (G1)#BlackZarak|BlackZarak]] (1988)'''
: The first known sufferer of GPS and easily one of the most depressing cases due to his rarity and hefty aftermarket pricing, BlackZarak's GPS affliction is nothing short of legendary. Forget transforming him - simply standing him up is a risk. His golden feet and shield have to be under stress to function as intended, leading to cases of shattered toys fresh out of the box, or even ''[[Mint in sealed box|when still inside it.]]'' The Headmaster figure, double cannons, and city antennas are all likewise gold plastic and all need to be inserted or swiveled into position, and his pack-in partner [[Black Roritchi#Toys|Black Roritchi]], almost entirely made of gold plastic, transforms by folding in half. This is a toy to be handled as little as possible, if ever.

* '''[[Pretender Monster]]s [[Bristleback#Toys|Bristleback]] and [[Slog (G1)#Toys|Slog]] (1989)'''
: The inner robots for both Bristleback and Slog suffer, but at different severities. Bristleback has multiple points of failure, the most obvious being the thin edges of his fist-holes, which can snap if his gun is pushed too far in. When forming Monstructor, sliding the combiner's fist in place can sometimes be enough to create a large crack through his legs, sometimes even splitting them entirely. (If you're feeling crafty, you might try shaving a tiiiny bit off the sides of the fist's connector plug. Better that less-than-mint condition than the "very broken" type.) And while his monster-limbs are fairly thick plastic, which is ''usually'' safer, they are also attached ''really tightly'', which means applying too much pressure to turn them can cause fractures. Slog is not especially susceptible on his own despite the sheer amount of gold plastic, but forming Monstructor requires another toy ([[Birdbrain#Toys|Birdbrain]]) to be inserted up inside his gold-plastic torso, which can put too much stress on the thinner sides if jostled or pushed in at a bad angle. Their Japanese counterparts, [[Gairyu]] and [[Kakuryu (G1)|Kakuryu]], lack gold plastic, and thus can be used as substitutes without any fear of breakage.

* '''Ultra Pretenders [[Roadblock (G1)#Toys|Roadblock]] and [[Skyhammer (G1)#Toys|Skyhammer]] (1989)'''
: These two are particularly notorious. Roadblock's innermost robot has three peg holes, two in the fists and one on his back, that are particularly susceptible to cracking and shattering, leaving many a Roadblock hand-less... or arm-less, as sometimes the posts attaching his arms to his torso will crumble around the pin keeping them in place. Meanwhile, the entire bottom of Skyhammer's large vehicle shell is made of gold plastic and it is '''''very''''' prone to breakage. Not to mention how much gold plastic is on his inner shell and his [[robot mode]].

* '''[[Killbison#Toys|Killbison]] (1989)'''
: One of the comparatively few Takara-market-only toys of the era to have this problem. His arms and back (including the head) are metallic-gold plastic. Most of this plastic is fairly thick, giving it a fair amount of resilience, but his fists and the joint for [[Liokaiser#Toys|Liokaiser]]'s fold-out foot are thinner and run a higher risk of breakage.
[[File:GPSSkyquakescope.jpg|thumb|200px|Well, ''crap''.]]

*'''[[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] missile launchers (1992)'''
:The missile launchers shared by all six Predator toys are likely to self-destruct in two ways. Loading a missile when the toy is holding the launcher can cause the peg itself to give before the rather strong internal spring does. Additionally, launching a missile is a gamble. Either the plastic is able to bend enough to release the internal catch, or it isn't and snaps off.

*'''[[Skyquake (G1)#Toys|Skyquake]] (1992)'''
:Skyquake is another toy notable for having a gimmick which makes the whole thing worse. He actually has two colours of metallic plastic on him: One is a dark bronze, the other a light bronze. It is the light bronze plastic that is most likely to break. Unfortunately, the light bronze plastic also forms Skyquake's scope. You're supposed to put a Predator jet's scope slide into that part of him. But the union is not pleasant for the one on the receiving end, as the spring-loaded viewscreen that swings down puts a ''lot'' of pressure on the socket. Take a look at the picture to the right. These are the parts left of Skyquake's scope after another Predator tried to unite with him. Actually... that's not even all the parts, that's just all that could be found. This is a gimmick which should '''''never''''' be attempted by modern collectors. Never, ever, ever, ever.

: Transforming him also carries a risk of breakage, as the heavy scope assembly is attached by a comparatively small/thin swivel joint that might not withstand being swung around and latched into position, and having his stabilizer fins leveraged is also risky since the plastic around the swivel-pins is particularly thin. The moving plate over the [[light-piping|light piping]] on the back of his head is that brittle light bronze too, but it is at least loose and thick enough to be much less risky.

*'''[[Thunder Clash#Toys|Thunder Clash]] (1992)'''
:Skyquake's Autobot counterpart has fewer parts jeopardized by metal-swirly plastics, but the toy's ankles are definite risks, as is the handgun peg if not handled with care. Removing the ratchet "catch" from Thunder Clash's feet and sanding the handgun's peg a bit will also help by reducing the force put on those parts without noticeably altering the toy. The [[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#Machine_Wars|''Machine Wars'' Optimus Prime]] redeco swapped out the metal-swirly plastics for more durable plastics.

*'''[[Pyro (G1)#Toys|Pyro]] (1993)'''
:Pyro has a gold plastic waist which puts him at high risk of cracking in half during transformation, and clipping his gold feet into position in robot mode is a bad idea too. The elbow ratchets are also risky due to the constant spring stress. And of course, his rifle handle is prone to shearing off.

*'''[[e-Hobby]] ''[[The Transformers: Collector's Edition]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Collector's Edition|Megatron Black Version]] (2001/2009)'''
: Tragically, this rare one-off reissue has metallic brown plastic that can crumble if one attaches the sword or rifle in the hand in robot mode or a stock in Walther P-38 mode.
{{-}}

====''Generation 2''====
[[File:Electrobrokenknee.jpg|thumb|200px|Oh, God, my knee! MY KNEEEEEEE!!]]
* '''[[Electro#Toys|Electro]] (1994)'''
:There's a ''reason'' that Electro sits up at the top of this page. Poor guy just can't catch a break, it seems. Wait... actually, no. That's the ''entire problem''. The poor guy totally ''can'' catch a break. All the time. Because he is ''designed to die''. Basically ''anything'' on Electro's body is susceptible to shattering thanks to having many many thin joints made out of metallic gold plastic.

* '''[[Slingshot (G1)#Generation 2|Slingshot]] (1994)'''
:Yet another iconic sufferer of GPS, Slingshot is ''infamous'' for coming apart straight out of the package.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b8b3dec846e5479?hl=en</ref> Worse, he's another toy whose gimmick will destroy him, like Skyquake. Slingshot's head is a post which is designed to plug into [[Silverbolt (G1)#The Transformers|Silverbolt]] (or any other "Scramble City" style torso-bot) so that Slingshot can form an arm or a leg. If you're unlucky, you're going to end up with his head trapped inside a connector joint.

{{-}}

====''Beast Wars''====
[[File:Goldplasticgrimlock.jpg|200px|thumb|A mighty Dinobot warrior... bested by his own crumbling joints.]]
[[File:Brownplasticsyndrome.jpg|thumb|200px|The one part of Megatron's Movie Jazz cosplay he ''didn't'' want to recreate.]]

*'''[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Beast Wars|Grimlock]] (1997)'''
:''Beast Wars'' Grimlock uses metallic gold plastic ball joints for his hips, which is not really a good thing. Common breakages include the insides of his legs (where his chest pegs into them in [[beast mode]]) and his mutant mask (which is very thin).

* '''[[Silverbolt (G1)#Beast Wars|Silverbolt]] (1997)'''
:The [[Magnaboss (BW)#Beast Wars|Magnaboss]] component Silverbot (not [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|the ''other'' more well-known Beast Wars Silverbolt]]) despite having a ''dangerously'' large amount of metallic bronze plastic, is... actually fairly stable. The main breakage point is where his tail connects to his body. As well, [[Skywarp (BW)#Beast Wars II|Skywarp]], his Japanese counterpart, is just as likely to suffer from this. That said, just... be careful, okay? Be careful.

* '''[[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaTransmetal|Transmetal Megatron]] (1998) ''(Hasbro version only)'' '''
:Hasbro's Transmetal Megatron has a tendency to snap at the waist, the shoulders, the... well, anything that's made of that dark semi-metallic brown plastic. This is technically Brown Plastic Syndrome, but regardless of what you call it this toy may end in sadness. This breakage may be due to GPS, a [[design flaw]], or a combination of both; the Takara version's immunity to this issue (because its brown parts are black plastic instead) seems to suggest that GPS may have a role.

* '''[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#OptimalOptimus|Optimal Optimus]] (1998)'''
:Optimal Optimus uses sparkly dark brown plastic for his wheels and turrets, which can suffer from GPS. The block that holds the batteries is the most likely to break, as the "soft" ratchet joint requires the affected plastic to bend. The pieces that connect his wings to his arms are also made from the same sparkly brown plastic.

* '''[[Fuzor]] [[Torca (BW)#Toys|Torca]] (1998) '''
:Torca's legs, hip armor panels, tail hinge and sides are all prone to Gold Plastic Syndrome.

* [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]] '''[[Soundwave (BW)#Toys|Soundwave]] (2000)'''
:Poor Soundwave has his ''entire fraggin' body'' composed of gold plastic, so it's a crapshoot. The softer plastics are far less likely to crumble, but the places on his body where the sides hinge open as part of his transformation have a high risk of snapping.

* ''' ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' [[Dinobot (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Dinobot]] (2006)'''
:Sadly, this version of Dinobot is less special for being a commemorative toy from the 10th anniversary of a beloved cartoon and more for being a horrifying timebomb, as he has ''two'' kinds of metallic swirled plastic, both of which seem to have hit their expiration dates around 2013. In other words, basically any part on him is highly fragile, although he's most likely to break at the neck, hips, and helmet. At this point, keeping the toy MISB is the best way to display him.

{{-}}
====''Beast Wars II''====
[[File:Bigmos GPS examples.jpg|200px|thumb|More of a minor fracture, really.]]
* '''[[Bigmos#Toys|Bigmos]] (1998)'''
:His GPS problems are bizarrely ''not'' his many many many metallic gold plastic parts; his ''turquoise''-colored plastic parts are the brittle ones, to the point of snapping right out of the package. Notable breakage points include the mosquito leg connectors snapping right off, tight hip/thigh swivels resulting in crumbling, and occasionally the robot feet can break due to being really thin pieces. Basically, be very gentle with anything molded in turquoise, be very gentle and take extra caution when twisting tight joints.

{{-}}
====''Beast Wars Neo''====
[[File:Randy-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|'Tis but a scratch!]]
* '''[[Randy (BW)#Toys|Randy]] (1999)'''
:Randy is one of the ''legendary'' Gold Plastic Syndrome toys. Imagine, if you will, a toy with an entirely spring-loaded transformation... and an outer shell ''made entirely out of metallic gold plastic''. Ouch, right? The stress of staying in beast mode in package, the mode with the very compressed springs, is often enough to break the joints holding his beast-mode sides on before you even open the package. If you're lucky enough to have one still intact, keeping him in robot mode is the best way to ''keep'' him intact. For a while longer, at least.

: Seriously, the toy pictured on Randy's page? That toy snapped and broke inside while being transformed to beast mode to take the picture. Good luck.
{{-}}

====''Beast Machines''====
[[File:BMSnarl-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Sadly, changing up his exercise routine ''won't'' help his shin splints.]]
* '''[[Snarl (BM)#Toys|Snarl]] (2000)'''
: Not the most fragile GPS victim but nonetheless one of the most risk-prone, Snarl is one of those figures that uses an extensive amount of swirly gold plastic throughout his entire body, and as a result, there is ''a lot'' that can go wrong when handling him. All manner of extremities are known to occasionally snap off of Snarl's body, most easily among these being the ankles and leg covers. To make matters worse, it seems that the longer Snarl figures are left in sealed packages, the more brittle they are upon opening said packages.

* '''[[Striker#Toys|Striker]] (2000)'''
: As with Snarl, Striker is yet another figure that isn't as fragile as some of the toys mentioned on this page but is still at a very high risk of breakage just by virtue of the sheer amount of gold plastic used on him: he features an ''entirely'' golden dinosaur shell which relies on ball joints to move and shift, and as a result, said joint pegs are particularly prone to snapping over time. He also has a lot of gold plastic pegs that tab into gold plastic slots, which is, of course, a recipe for disaster. Transforming Striker could prove to be a suicide mission... for him.

{{-}}
====''Choro-Q''====
*'''[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#metallic|Rodimus Convoy Metallic Version]] (2001)'''
:Sadly, the pinned metallic flake plastic hinges on this version of ''Choro-Q'' Rodimus have become prone to breaking after two decades.
{{-}}

====''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)====
[[File:RIDMegabolt-GPS.jpg|200px|thumb|Really, what could go wrong with gold plastic pins tabbing into small tight gold plastic pegs?]]
*'''[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Air Attack Optimus Primal]] (2002)'''
: The biggest toy in the ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline, Air Attack Optimus Primal is actually based on ''Beast Machines'' Optimus Primal, thus making him a particularly desirable toy by virtue of being the most accurate version of said design... Which only makes it all the more tragic that he features large expanses made of sparkly brown plastic, which, like with Optimal Optimus (see above), can be prone to shattering. Owch. This condition most often results in the feet breaking. Thankfully, there is an alternative, as the 2018 ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' reissue does not suffer from GPS.

*'''[[Megabolt#Toys|Megabolt]] (2003)'''
: Megabolt doesn't use as much gold plastic as some of the toys mentioned on this page, but the portions where he does use gold plastic just to happen to be very significant: his limbs, shoulders / alternate mold face place, and above-head cannon are all cast primarily in gold plastic, which is ''not'' a good thing. The most common fracture points include his forearms, the holes that lock his arms in place in crawling head mode, lower legs near the knees, and his head. On top of this he has a number of other design flaws that can lead to non-gold-plastic parts snapping off, so, good luck!
{{-}}

====''Universe'' (2003)====
[[File:UniSuperion-GPS.jpg|200px|thumb|''You know my hips don't lie''... Or last very long.]]
* '''[[Micromaster]] [[Superion (Universe)#Toys|Superion]] (2003)'''
: While his individual robots are unscathed from the GPS plague, many of Superion's essential combiner [[kibble]] parts are aggressively afflicted: namely, his rifle, hands (which are just white-painted gold plastic), and worst of all, his hip piece. The latter chunk is especially prone to breakage, which isn't helped by the fact that the leg components need to very firmly clip onto it... Meaning that, in a good portion of loose copies, those poor fragile little pegs will be shattered. <ref name="tfwsuper">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/300674-warning-universe-micromaster-superion-suffers-gold-plastic-syndrome.html TFW2005 thread about Micromaster Superion suffering from Gold Plastic Syndrome, with multiple reports]</ref> On an unrelated annoyance, the peg that connects [[Ro-Tor (Universe)|Ro-Tor]] to Superion's torso piece also tends to break despite no gold plastic being involved, so; if you've always wanted a toy with both shattering gold plastic ''and'' poor quality control then here you go! Best thing to do with this one is to probably just use other Micromaster combiner kibble to assemble his robot mode.

{{-}}

====Unicron Trilogy====
[[File:CybertronRepugnus-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|"A minor case of GPS"? Yeah, imagine how 'minor' it'd feel if it was ''your'' jaw falling off, prick.]]
*''' ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Repugnus (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Repugnus]] (2006/2010)'''
:Surprisingly the only "Unicron Trilogy" toy that's known to be afflicted by GPS (and indicative of a broader trend as GPS instances start diminishing during this time) and a fairly minor case of it to boot, Repugnus' robot mode "hands"/''Spinosaurus'' head are made of black-painted gold plastic. Surprisingly, he is pretty resilient besides this — a quick search on the secondary market reveals that the overwhelming majority of copies are perfectly intact — but it's still not unheard for his thin jaw parts to break into pieces when inserting his flail weapon into his hands, even if uncommon. His thigh covers are made of the same plastic but, due to their static position and lack of moving parts, are very unlikely to break — so, overall; your Repugnus ''should'' be fine if you're careful.

{{-}}

====''Star Wars Transformers''====
[[File:2006Chewbacca-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Use the Force, Luke... Wait, no, actually, DON'T — AAHHHHH!!!!!]]
*'''[[General Grievous]] (2006)'''
:Grievous' pelvis, arms and legs are all made out of gold plastic with many thin parts in the jointing, leaving them especially prone to breakage.

* '''[[Millennium Falcon]]/[[Han Solo]] & [[Chewbacca]] (2006)'''
:Another infamous example, Chewbacca's half of the Millenium Falcon suffers from aggressive GPS, with only a few parts using gold plastic but most of them being aesthetically and structurally essential: his head, hands, upper arms, and upper legs are all vulnerable to shattering apart after being subjected to even the lightest of stress. To make matters worse, his upper legs are on a ratchet joint ''and'' need to be pushed in and out of his lower leg portions for the transformation... And they also have a tendency to occasionally lock up. Which means you'll ''have'' to apply extra strength to pull them out, and you might even be able do it... In chunks. Yeah, it ''won't'' survive. His upper arms also frequently fall victim to the GPS plague: it is not uncommon for them to come broken out of the packaging. <ref>http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=2481&size=0&start=101</ref> Han Solo, the other half of the Falcon, has one a cover that flips down from his crotch when transforming which is also cast in the same doomed metallic-brown plastic, but since it is painted grey, it's hard to tell until it eventually breaks.

{{-}}

====Movie toys====
[[File:Protoform-StarscreamGPS.jpeg|thumb|200px|Enough body horror to make Cronenberg sick.]]
* '''[[Starscream (Movie)/toys#Deluxe Class toys|Protoform Starscream]] (2007)'''
:Part of the preview wave for [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|the 2007 movie toyline]], Starscream might not have left the best impression in the long term as the plastic hinges that connect the two small wings to his body are especially brittle, and because the plastic housing the joints is thin, it eventually gives way over time to a crumbly mess. The thumbs are also prone to breakage.

*''' ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Stratosphere#Toys|Stratosphere]] (2009)'''
: Stratosphere has gold plastic in his shoulders and thighs, and there have been reports of these parts crumbling. Additionally, more commonly-reported breakages are the toy's lower knees and the hinges connecting the wings—but neither of these parts are the ones made of gold plastic! Poor guy can't catch a break—or, well he can.

* '''[[Costco]] exclusive [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BattleOpsCostco|Battle Ops Bumblebee]] (2010)'''
:This version of Bumblebee has metallic dark gray plastic in the upper and lower body that display textbook GPS symptoms. The figure will eventually self-destruct during transformation due to said plastic's use in most of the leg and car roof joints. Ironically, the gold ''painted'' portions are mostly a different, more resilient plastic.
{{-}}

====''Transformers (2010)''====
[[File:CreatorPrimus-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|A plague so horrifying that not even the Transformers God can survive it.]]
*'''[[Primus#Transformers_.282010.29|Creator Primus]] (2010)'''
: One of the latest examples but a very severely-afflicted one to boot, Primus features swirly metallic blue parts virtually ''everywhere'' across this body, with his head, torso, arms, upper legs, missiles, and a few other bits here and there using the dreaded plagued plastic. Eventually, it seems that they hit their expiry dates 13 years later, and now they're very prone to crumbling, with the most aggressively affected area being his arms.<ref>https://twitter.com/mechtavius/status/1667326036537753601</ref> To make matters worse, his shoulders are on a ratchet joint, so bending his arms ''requires'' one to press down on them with a modicum of force that the figure might not withstand. Considering the relative rarity of this figure, it's probably for the best to be very careful when handling him... Or, really, to just not touch him at all. Really, maybe even avoiding looking at him the wrong way is for the best.
{{-}}

====''Unite Warriors''====
[[File:UWMotormaster-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Phew, at least that's the last toy to suffer such a fate... ''For now''.]]
*'''[[Motormaster (G1)#Unite Warriors|Motormaster]] (2015)'''
: The last figure that's currently known to suffer from GPS, multiple copies of ''Unite Warriors'' Motormaster have been reported as heavily prone to breaking apart on the waist right after being taken out of the box—and of course, once one peers closer, they'll find that same familiar swirly plastic, this time in gunmetal grey.<ref>https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/uw-motormaster-has-disintegrated-from-the-waist.1096466/</ref> In contrast, others who've purchased the figure at at later point have reported never facing this issue at all even after years of owning him, which might suggest that later runs of the Stunticons 5-pack have fixed this issue. Regardless, for those who do not want to take the risk, a popular solution involves replacing Motormaster's waist with that of [[Motormaster (G1)#Combiner Wars|his cheaper Hasbro version]].

{{-}}

====Transformers-related GPS sufferers====
* The "[[Vacuum metallizing|chrome]]" version of ''[[Diaclone]]'' '''[[Delta Magnus|Powered Convoy]]''', the [[pre-Transformer]] version of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Notes|Ultra Magnus]], has this problem with its swirly ''blue'' plastic. Given the age and relative rarity of this toy, this is particularly troublesome for hardcore collectors.

* While not a Transformer, ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s '''[[Serpentor]]''' is also known to suffer from this problem, especially through his hips, given the groin-breakage-prone leg construction of the standard 1980s ''G.I. Joe'' figure.

*The first Golden Lagoon-based '''X Yearly Version 5-pack''' released by [[Blokees]] also experienced this issue, particularly with their swirly gold elbow and knee hinge joints, which are problematic given their release as a high-priced set.

==Toys commonly discredited as GPS sufferers==
A number of other toys experience breakages while also having gold parts and/or swirly plastic bits, and inevitably, this often leads them to being incorrectly labeled by collectors as GPS sufferers. When it comes to these particular toys, however; the issues are most likely attributable to structural problems with the part designs themselves rather than their plastics.

* The ''Armada'' '''[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#SuperBase|Super Base Optimus Prime]]''' figure's elbows/biceps are made of gold plastic, and the lower joint has been known to break very easily. However, the plastic doesn't exhibit the "crumbliness" typical of GPS; instead, it seems likely that the break occurs when the elbow joints are lined up for them to sit behind the combined mode's back. In this configuration, the red and blue joints don't have room to bend around each other. The way to alleviate this issue is to pull the shoulder out, ''then'' bend the top joint (the red one) first, before moving the arms in any other direction.

* ''Energon'' '''[[Scorponok (Energon)#Energon|Scorponok]]''' has pale gold plastic on the (largely painted) front panels of the shoulders, and moving the shoulders for transformation (particularly into jet mode) can cause the panels to tear in half. However, the plastic itself isn't the problem; rather, it seems to be the result of the toy's design, where the corners of the front panels aren't quite symmetrical, and the one with more clearance is on the opposite side. A [[Variant|running change]] saw these panels swapped to alleviate this issue. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHXKDmxeuHs Swapping the panels to the opposite sides], has a higher chance of reducing breakages.

*''Alternators'' '''[[Swerve (G1)#Alternators|Swerve]]''' has become a common GPS suspect given that his leg joints, elbow joints, poseable fists, thighs, and rocket launcher are all made out of gold plastic — but it's the first of these elements that is generally considered the most problematic, with a few instances of breakages being reported over the years. However, this gold plastic does not exhibit the 'swirliness' of other GPS-afflicted toys, which suggests that, similar to ''Armada'' Optimus Prime and ''Energon'' Scorponok, this is also most likely the product of poor quality control arising from a tight construction rather than an issue with the plastic itself.

*''Alternators'' '''[[Mirage (G1)/toys#Alternators|Mirage]]''', in contrast, features an extensive amount of swirly plastic throughout the figure's entire car mode and this plastic has been frequently reported to suffer from "hairline cracks", leading to the occasional claim that he's a GPS sufferer <ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/alternators-binaltech-fandom-unite-lets-see-some-pics.235171/page-165#post-20719899 A TFW2005 thread where Mirage's status as a potential GPS victim is discussed]</ref> — however, these are almost always concentrated on one specific portion of the car mode (they often show up as lines between the windshield and the front wheelwell), so it seems more likely that the cause for these hairlines is some stress applied on that specific portion of the vehicle rather than the plastic itself. No instances of full-on breakage have been reported, and unlike what's expected from a GPS-afflicted toy, the figure seems to consistently show up intact on secondary market listings: thus, like Swerve, the broader consensus seems to be that he is not a GPS sufferer.

* 2007 ''Transformers'' movie [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] '''[[Scorponok (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Scorponok]]''' has a tail stinger made of soft and bendy golden plastic, which tends to harden over time and become prone to breaking. As the "bendy" aspect suggests, the root cause of this problem seems to simply be the use of an inferior plasticizer, rather than traditional Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
At some point during the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], a vaccine for Gold Plastic Syndrome was developed by [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} [[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle]] claimed to be the only licensee of the cure in the [[Nexus (cluster)|Nexus]] Cluster. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Swindle's Spiel, 2015/10/03}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 185.0 Beta]], the [[S.T.A.R.S.]] weaponized Gold Plastic Syndrome and invented the [[Photodegradation|Photo Degradation Protocol]] in a failed attempt to fight off [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron's]] mindless hordes of [[Decepto-Pack]]-enhanced human slaves. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/04}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===
[[First Aid (G1)#PWTG2|First Aid]] contracted GPS during the war against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. The disease prevented him from properly combining into [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. {{storylink|Ratchet (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Customization class Generation 2 Ratchet bio}}

==See also==
*[[Unpaintable plastic#Photodegradation|Another common problem since 2018.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjAUN5Ssj8 Demonstration of Gold Plastic Syndrome in effect at YouTube]

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Bullhorn (robot)

2025-12-23T18:14:40Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Age of the Primes */

:''Bullhorn is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:G1-HorriBull-boxart.jpg|thumb|300px]]

'''Bullhorn''' (ブルホーン ''Buruhōn'') is a former [[transtector]] who gained life from and independently of his former owner, [[Bullhorn (G1)|Bullhorn]], via the power of [[Masterforce (technology)|Masterforce]]. As such, Bullhorn takes after the human's personality.

==Fiction==
===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:Battle in the g nebula.jpg|left|thumb]]

====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
The three former Decepticon [[Headmaster Junior]]s, along with Clouder, accompanied the Autobots to the [[Grand Canyon]] on a mission to stop the composite [[Devil Z]]/[[Scorponok (G1)|BlackZarak]] entity. During the battle, however, all four of them were struck with a blast of the villain's [[Devil Power]], and were shocked to find their [[Master-Brace]]s had disappeared from their wrists. Devil Z had, in fact, separated them from their transtectors and brought the robot bodies to life as true super-robot lifeforms, all four of which rejoined the Decepticon side. {{storylink|Autobots! Desperate Attack!!}} After God Ginrai destroyed Devil Z, all the other Godmasters and Headmaster Juniors were also separated from their transtectors. Bullhorn's living transtector departed Earth with all the other Deception transtectors, and was pursued by the Autobots' transtectors to carry on the Transformers' war in space. {{storylink|A Battle... and Then...}}

====''Victory'' cartoon====
Bullhorn was among the Decepticons under the command of Overlord, often battling the Autobots led by God Ginrai in the [[G Nebula 89|G Nebula]]. {{storylink|Planet Micro - The Mysterious Warrior}}

===''Super-God Masterforce'' comic===
With Devil Z's death, the bond he had forged between the humans and their transtectors was severed, and the transtectors themselves were truly brought to life. Bullhorn's transtector subsequently departed for space along with all the others. {{storylink|The Birth of the Super Life-Forms}}

===''Kre-O'' comic===
[[File:Kre-O Horri-Bull.jpg|thumb]]

Bullhorn looked in confusion at the massive golden effigy of [[Megatron (Kre-O)|Megatron]]'s head. {{storylink|Megatron's Ambition!? The Solar Tower Is Built!}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''===
{{anchor|Super-God Masterforce}}
[[File:G1toy-Horri-Bull.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Nice puppy... cute lil' pooch... maybe I got a Milk Bone?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Bullhorn''' (Headmaster Junior Monster, [[1988]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''D-302'''
:*''Accessories'': Transtector, "small laser," "laser cannon"

: Released in the fourth year of Takara's ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' line under the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1988 (Super-God Masterforce)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' banner, Bullhorn is identical to the [[Hasbro]]-release [[Kreb#Toys|Kreb]]; a small armored humanoid that transforms into a robot head compatible with any Headmaster body.

: He comes with his Headmaster Transtector, which is identical to the Hasbro-release [[Horri-Bull#Toys|Horri-Bull]], transforming into... well, it's identified as a "buffalo", although it ''really'' looks like a "terror dog" from the first ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' movie. The Bullhorn Headmaster figure fits in a cockpit in the Transtector's back in its beast mode. The creature's tail disconnects and becomes a double-barrelled laser for robot mode.

: Like all Headmaster toys, Bullhorn's robot mode features a spring-loaded mini-[[Tech Spec|Tech-Spec]]-meter in its chest, which gives readings for Speed, Strength, and Intelligence (although he and the other Decepticon Junior molds are unique in that their meters are not covered by flip-down panels). The tumblers are activated when Bullhorn (or any other Headmaster unit) is plugged into the neck socket. Bullhorn has his robot-mode face plainly visible on his back because, as a smaller Headmaster toy, he lacks the flip-down panel that covers the face featured on larger Headmasters.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1988/Decepticon/Horri-Bull/horri-bull.htm More information on Bullhorn/Horri-Bull at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
===''Age of the Primes''===
[[File:AOTPHorribull.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|There is no Bullhorn. Only Horri-Bull.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{bp-a1d1|'''Ultra Magnus, Autobot Bumper VS Horri-Bull, Nemesis Prime ''' (Multi-pack, [[2025]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': "[[Kreb#Age of the Primes|Kreb]]" Headmaster, rifle, tail/gun, horns
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Tomoki Tatsumi]] (TakaraTomy)}}<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/p/DKs27XGM0s8/ Design notes] on ''Age of the Primes'' Horri-Bull from [[Hasbro]] designer [[Mark Maher]] on Instagram</ref>

: Released as part of a [[Target]]-exclusive ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes|Age of the Primes]]'' four-pack, Horri-Bull is an extensive [[retool]] of ''Titans Return'' [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullsmasher]], transforming into a terror-dog-like bull monster based on Bullhorn's appearance in ''Super-God Masterforce''. He also comes with Headmaster [[Kreb]]. Horri-Bull's pair of horns are molded on a sprue and need to be clipped and removed in order to attach to the figure. However, as the horns are painted, they leave a small mark when trimmed off.

: Included in the set alongside Horri-Bull and Kreb is [[Nemesis Prime (Animated)#Age of the Primes|''Animated'' Nemesis Prime]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Age of the Primes|Ultra Magnus]], and [[Bumper (G1)#Age of the Primes|Bumper]].

::''[https://www.instagram.com/p/DKs27XGM0s8/ Designer commentary on ''Age of the Primes'' Horri-Bull from Mark Maher on Instagram]''
{{-}}

[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Kre-O Decepticons]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Super-God Masterforce Decepticons]]
[[Category:Victory Decepticons]]

File:GoBox template quake.png

2025-12-19T00:46:29Z

EarthSparkGears: a more interesting version of the gobox for quake (please except) (Source:The Transformers (Marvel US) #74, "The Void!" page 6, panel 2 Pencils: Andrew Wildman Inks: Stephen Baskerville Colors: Nel Yomtov)

a more interesting version of the gobox for quake
(please except)
(Source:The Transformers (Marvel US) #74, "The Void!" page 6, panel 2
Pencils: Andrew Wildman
Inks: Stephen Baskerville
Colors: Nel Yomtov)

Gold Plastic Syndrome

2025-12-13T02:56:15Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notability */

{{featured}}
[[File:Electrogoldplasticsyndrome.jpg|right|upright=2.5|thumb|Ouch.]]
'''Gold Plastic Syndrome''' (commonly shorthanded to '''GPS''') is fandom terminology used to describe the phenomenon of a toy's [[plastic]] decomposing and becoming brittle to the point of shattering or crumbling under minimal-stress conditions. In the most extreme cases, toys have been reported to spontaneously crumble to small bits without any applied force at all, even if they're fresh out of their [[Mint in sealed box|unopened package]].

This breakage is different from the relatively more common stress-fracture type of plastic breakage that can occur in some [[Toy|''Transformers'' toys]]; while normal stress fractures are universally heralded by stress marks on the toy, GPS breakage doesn't have that sign; it simply crumbles to pieces. The condition takes its name from the gold plastics of late Generation 1 through to ''Beast Wars'' that have proved the most prone to this sort of breakage. Despite the name, Gold Plastic Syndrome has been known to affect other types of plastic—most of them noted for a pretty metallic swirl in the plastic; the reason it has the "GPS" moniker is because gold plastic was the first and most common color observed to have this horrific phenomenon.

Thankfully, Gold Plastic Syndrome is generally unheard of in modern Hasbro/Takara ''Transformers'' figures, with the last reported case being in [[2015]] with ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Motormaster (G1)#Unite Warriors|Motormaster]].

==Etymology==
The term was coined in an [[alt.toys.transformers]] post made by user Sky Shadow in September 2002.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b3d532961b2c2dc</ref> A post by [[Dave Edwards|Dave "Zobovor" Edwards]], meanwhile, made in June of the previous year,<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6ed7e0f3586f37e4</ref> is the earliest identifiable acknowledgment of the widespread nature of the phenomenon within the Transformers fan community.

Completing the journey from fan term to official term, "Gold Plastic Syndrome" was used by Hasbro designer [[John Warden]] at the ''Transformers Generations'' panel at Comic-Con International 2015 to describe exactly what would not happen to ''Combiner Wars'' G2-style [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]].

==Notability==
GPS is widespread among toys made in the tail-end of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], typically the second year of [[Pretender]]s and even some European-market exclusives, ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' and the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' series, but examples have surfaced from lines as recent as [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' (2003)]], the ''[[Star Wars Transformers]]'' and the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 movie]]. Transformers toys are not the only ones to suffer from this; there have been reports of ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Visionaries]]'' toys' gold plastics also crumbling seemingly of their own accord; even some ''Super Sentai'' and ''[[Power Rangers]]'' toys have been known to suffer, and for a few years [[LEGO]] was somewhat infamous for "brittle brown/burgundy" parts that snapped easily (as well as metallic gold ones and even lime green ones, but those were not as common). Probably the strangest is accounts of retro game collectors finding ''Majora's Mask'' cartridges shatter under minimal stress. Other retro robot toy collectors have referred to it as "Popy disease", after the metallic blue plastic favored by the company Popy that led to the demise of many a Dairugger / Vehicle Team Voltron.

The toys most likely to suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome are those with gold or bronze plastic with a metallic swirl to it. There are other known cases with different colors of plastic—though usually there is a tell-tale swirl in the plastic.

===Cause===
[[File:SkyquakeGPSback.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|left|Gleargh]]
Because this is not exactly an area of scientific notability, there aren't any full studies into Gold Plastic Syndrome that we know about. Basically, it is thought that certain plastics weren't mixed as well as others, possibly because of the metallic pigment or colouring, so they break down more quickly.

It's not much of a theory, really; think more of a hypothesis. Here's a more detailed attempt:

{{bigquote|The problem likely arises, as with many composites, when the bonding between the polymer and the dye/particles breaks down. This could occur do to a natural chemical/phase change of the plastic, due to oxidation, for example, or by another mechanism, say the forces incurred by the toy being played with, or more likely, due to some combination thereof. In any case, when the bonds between the particles and the polymers break down, you would get small voids in the plastic structure. If this occurs frequently enough, the structure would become effectively porous (that is, it would be filled with lots of tiny voids/cracks where the polymers and particles have come apart). With even a slight amount of force, some of these cracks/voids could expand, even slightly, to the point where they intersect another void and join, making an even bigger crack. Once a critical crack length is reached, the sample fractures. So effectively, the plastic becomes more brittle, and this would also explain it "crumbling" as well as cracking.''|Aernaroth from ''The Allspark.com'' suggests a cause for GPS}}

In short, the poorly-bonded plastic is so honeycombed with air gaps that the pressure required for movement will crumble it.

Hasbro have attributed it to "the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic", and have apparently reduced the amount in similar plastics of more recent vintage to prevent further occurrences.<ref name="hasbrogps">[http://www.transformerland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3481 Hasbro Transformersland.com Q&A, August 2009:] "When we used gold metallic plastic in the past we discovered, along with many of you, that it becomes brittle over time. As we became aware of this situation, we took the necessary steps to reduce the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic to eliminate this issue. Ultimately, this should no longer be an issue due to these corrective steps that we have taken."</ref> Later Hasbro said that they believe they've "alleviated the issues associated with the 'gold' plastic issue" through "trial and error." <ref>http://www.toyark.com/news/transformers-toy-news-2/hasbro-transformers-june-2010-qna-2867/</ref>

All in all, the actual causes of Gold Plastic Syndrome aren't a very big deal to Transformers fans—it's really pretty academic. Of more concern is the ''RESULTS'' (i.e., poor Electro crumbling to bits like an Oreo left in milk too long), and what to look out for. There's no certain cure here, no fix. If a toy has GPS, it '''will''' die if handled and transformed normally.

Seibertron.com has reported that Ace Hardware's "Lub-E" product may prevent GPS breakage, having applied it to an Electro pre-photo-shoot. This claim needs further verification, as it may very well be a coincidence that that specific Electro did not break at that moment. Other discussions of Lub-E or comparable shock oil products have recommended ''submerging the toy in the lubricant entirely,'' which many collectors would find unacceptable even ''if'' it worked.

===The Symptoms===
[[File:GPSSkyquakescopeclose.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|right|Nooo!]]

Gold Plastic Syndrome usually has a few clear signs. Knowing how to tell the difference between Gold Plastic Syndrome and normal plastic breakage is very important for a Transformers fan who is collecting vintage toys. It's the difference between giving up on that toy completely (since if it has GPS, it's ''likely'' most other samples of the toy will as well) and buying a new copy.
*GPS usually takes place in metallic-coloured plastics, most notably gold plastic and bronze plastic; they tend to have distinctive "swirly," "sparkly" appearance.
*GPS breaks are NOT accompanied by stress fractures. There is usually NOT any visible wear before the breakage. This is really important. Plastic breaks. This is a reality of toy collecting, plastic gets old and it breaks. Gold plastic syndrome is breakage without warning.
*GPS breaks often leave a powdery residue and shards of plastic (though not always), the result of the plastic actually physically crumbling. Take a look at the picture of Skyquake's scope—okay, the bits of his scope—to the right. You can actually see some of the left-over shards of plastic. Keep in mind this picture was taken years after the break actually occurred—these are new shards of plastic which came off these pieces of scope during the process of moving the parts around for photography. Plastic should '''not''' be that brittle or delicate.
*GPS breakages don't need to involve any excess stress or force on a toy—simply handling a toy or opening its box can cause the breakage. If your toy breaks despite careful handling it's more likely to be GPS.
*GPS breaks often have rough, uneven edges with no stress lines around them. This is important—usually when plastic snaps it snaps cleanly (as is common with clear plastic), or it bends first (leaving a torn-off piece, or clear stresses around the break). If a break is uneven, with different colours and textures in it, yet there are no stress fractures around the wound, and especially if it leaves a powdery residue as well, it's almost certainly a GPS break. Take a look at the photo of Skyquake above for a good example of the ragged break. Okay... not good. What's the other word that's LIKE "good", but not actually good? Oh yeah. Horrifying. A HORRIFYING example.
*GPS plastics will sometimes feel brittle to the touch, sometimes making cracking noises as they're handled.

A really easy test to tell if you have GPS breakage is this—if a piece breaks off, try snapping it again. If it's normal plastic breakage, the broken piece should bend or bow, since it would have had only one fracture point and otherwise remained malleable; in that circumstance, even if it were brittle clear plastic, you would be able to glue it back into place, or at least get a replacement part. On the other hand, if the broken piece continues to repeatedly crack apart like a potato chip when hit with pressure from any angle, then you've almost definitely got Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==GPS misconceptions==
'''ALL GOLD PLASTIC WILL DIE!'''
: Not true. It's only a fairly specific composite of darker-gold plastic used during a specific era that is more likely to suffer, most prominently used from 1988 (second-year [[Pretender#Toys|Pretenders]] are notorious for it) and through to about the end of ''Beast Wars'' in 2000, although there are still a few very rare cases of post-millennium figures with this issue up until 2015. As far as we know, modern toys do not suffer from GPS due to a reduction in the amount of metallic flakes in the mix.<ref name="hasbrogps" /> Toys with flexible nylon-based gold plastics, such as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Armada|Superbase Optimus Prime's]] elbows, are not susceptible to GPS supposedly because of the plastic's composition. Even on toys well known for GPS, some of their gold plastic is less prone to break. Gold plastic which is nice and thick is much less likely to snap than gold plastic which is thin. Gold plastic which is under constant stress—like that at a joint—is also more likely to break. That said, some really nice solid parts can shatter like eggshells if it's real GPS we're talkin' about.

[[File:BWNeo Guiledart toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|[[Guiledart#Toys|Guiledart]] may have a "dead mode", but it's not GPS-dead.]]
'''OKAY, BUT THEN ALL GOLD PLASTIC FROM 1988 TO THE EARLY 2000s WILL DIE!'''
: Thankfully, no! There are various examples of figures built between the eighties and the early 2000s featuring similar-looking gold or bronze plastic - sometimes even exhibiting some of those much-dreaded swirly patterns - where such an issue has never been reported, like [[Archadis#Toys|Archadis]], [[Guiledart#Toys|Guiledart]], [[Transquito#Toys|Transquito]], [[Snarler#Toys|Snarler]], 2003's version of [[San D-Go#Toys|San D-Go]], and perhaps most ironically, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Goldbug]]. Gold chrome, like that seen in [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#TM1|Transmetal Cheetor]] and the first [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 2|''Generation 2'' Bumblebee]], is also completely immune from GPS since it's merely painted rather than actually being gold plastic.

'''MY TOY BROKE, IT MUST BE GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME!!!'''
: There are plenty of ways for plastic to break that aren't related to Gold Plastic Syndrome. Repeated stress on a plastic, dropping a toy, a toy with metal parts that damage the plastic parts, thin plastic, or simply the use of translucent plastic, which is more brittle. Just because a toy breaks doesn't mean it's Gold Plastic Syndrome. Look for the symptoms (listed above) and ask around before assuming that every single copy of this toy is destined to die a horrible and messy death.

'''ONLY GOLD PLASTIC GETS GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME!'''
: Not ''quite'' true. Observations suggest that it should probably be called "Metallic Plastic Syndrome". It's those metallic plastics, most commonly the gold and bronze plastics used for almost ten years by Hasbro and Takara, from around 1989 to 1998. However, it's possible that any colour of plastic could be susceptible, given enough time. So keep a close eye on your Fire Convoy, kids; that pretty metallic swirl in his plastic isn't promising... maybe.

'''MY TOY IS DOOMED!'''
: Okay... not ''exactly'' a misconception. Your toy is ''probably'' doomed... but there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

: You see, the thickness of the plastic seems to affect GPS. Also, the amount of stress on it affects it. While some toys are known for breaking just by having their packages opened—guys like Randy, Roadblock and ''Generation 2'' Slingshot—others, like Skyquake and Pyro, can remain intact if they are handled with extreme care because the parts that are made of GPS plastics are large and thick and otherwise robust. GPS is an inconsistent process—eventually your toy '''will''' crumble, but there's no telling how long it will take. With delicate handling (read: almost none) you can maintain a GPS-afflicted toy in your collection for quite some time.

: Also remember that the evidence for Gold Plastic Syndrome is ''completely'' observational. There seems to be some evidence that different plastic batches were less affected, meaning some releases of the toys were less affected than others. You might luck out and get an Electro that never crumbles to dust, or you might be really unlucky and get multiple Electros, all of which break horribly. This wiki's own pictured examples of [[Electro#Toys|Electro]] and [[Skyquake (G1)#Toys|Skyquake]] on their pages are still intact to this day despite multiple transformations (though Skyquake will ''never'' have the Megavisor combination gimmick tried, because why poke that exploding bear?).This page is a caution more than anything else. Know what you're getting into when you buy a toy known to be afflicted by GPS.

==Toys commonly accredited as GPS sufferers==

====''The Transformers''====
[[File:Bristleback-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|"Bristleback"? More like, ''Brittleback'', amirite? Hahahahaa... Oh god, why.]]
* '''[[Scorponok (G1)#BlackZarak|BlackZarak]] (1988)'''
: The first known sufferer of GPS and easily one of the most depressing cases due to his rarity and hefty aftermarket pricing, BlackZarak's GPS affliction is nothing short of legendary. Forget transforming him - simply standing him up is a risk. His golden feet and shield have to be under stress to function as intended, leading to cases of shattered toys fresh out of the box, or even ''[[Mint in sealed box|when still inside it.]]'' The Headmaster figure, double cannons, and city antennas are all likewise gold plastic and all need to be inserted or swiveled into position, and his pack-in partner [[Black Roritchi#Toys|Black Roritchi]], almost entirely made of gold plastic, transforms by folding in half. This is a toy to be handled as little as possible, if ever.

* '''[[Pretender Monster]]s [[Bristleback#Toys|Bristleback]] and [[Slog (G1)#Toys|Slog]] (1989)'''
: The inner robots for both Bristleback and Slog suffer, but at different severities. Bristleback has multiple points of failure, the most obvious being the thin edges of his fist-holes, which can snap if his gun is pushed too far in. When forming Monstructor, sliding the combiner's fist in place can sometimes be enough to create a large crack through his legs, sometimes even splitting them entirely. (If you're feeling crafty, you might try shaving a tiiiny bit off the sides of the fist's connector plug. Better that less-than-mint condition than the "very broken" type.) And while his monster-limbs are fairly thick plastic, which is ''usually'' safer, they are also attached ''really tightly'', which means applying too much pressure to turn them can cause fractures. Slog is not especially susceptible on his own despite the sheer amount of gold plastic, but forming Monstructor requires another toy ([[Birdbrain#Toys|Birdbrain]]) to be inserted up inside his gold-plastic torso, which can put too much stress on the thinner sides if jostled or pushed in at a bad angle. Their Japanese counterparts, [[Gairyu]] and [[Kakuryu (G1)|Kakuryu]], lack gold plastic, and thus can be used as substitutes without any fear of breakage.

* '''Ultra Pretenders [[Roadblock (G1)#Toys|Roadblock]] and [[Skyhammer (G1)#Toys|Skyhammer]] (1989)'''
: These two are particularly notorious. Roadblock's innermost robot has three peg holes, two in the fists and one on his back, that are particularly susceptible to cracking and shattering, leaving many a Roadblock hand-less... or arm-less, as sometimes the posts attaching his arms to his torso will crumble around the pin keeping them in place. Meanwhile, the entire bottom of Skyhammer's large vehicle shell is made of gold plastic and it is '''''very''''' prone to breakage. Not to mention how much gold plastic is on his inner shell and his [[robot mode]].

* '''[[Killbison#Toys|Killbison]] (1989)'''
: One of the comparatively few Takara-market-only toys of the era to have this problem. His arms and back (including the head) are metallic-gold plastic. Most of this plastic is fairly thick, giving it a fair amount of resilience, but his fists and the joint for [[Liokaiser#Toys|Liokaiser]]'s fold-out foot are thinner and run a higher risk of breakage.
[[File:GPSSkyquakescope.jpg|thumb|200px|Well, ''crap''.]]

*'''[[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] missile launchers (1992)'''
:The missile launchers shared by all six Predator toys are likely to self-destruct in two ways. Loading a missile when the toy is holding the launcher can cause the peg itself to give before the rather strong internal spring does. Additionally, launching a missile is a gamble. Either the plastic is able to bend enough to release the internal catch, or it isn't and snaps off.

*'''[[Skyquake (G1)#Toys|Skyquake]] (1992)'''
:Skyquake is another toy notable for having a gimmick which makes the whole thing worse. He actually has two colours of metallic plastic on him: One is a dark bronze, the other a light bronze. It is the light bronze plastic that is most likely to break. Unfortunately, the light bronze plastic also forms Skyquake's scope. You're supposed to put a Predator jet's scope slide into that part of him. But the union is not pleasant for the one on the receiving end, as the spring-loaded viewscreen that swings down puts a ''lot'' of pressure on the socket. Take a look at the picture to the right. These are the parts left of Skyquake's scope after another Predator tried to unite with him. Actually... that's not even all the parts, that's just all that could be found. This is a gimmick which should '''''never''''' be attempted by modern collectors. Never, ever, ever, ever.

: Transforming him also carries a risk of breakage, as the heavy scope assembly is attached by a comparatively small/thin swivel joint that might not withstand being swung around and latched into position, and having his stabilizer fins leveraged is also risky since the plastic around the swivel-pins is particularly thin. The moving plate over the [[light-piping|light piping]] on the back of his head is that brittle light bronze too, but it is at least loose and thick enough to be much less risky.

*'''[[Thunder Clash#Toys|Thunder Clash]] (1992)'''
:Skyquake's Autobot counterpart has fewer parts jeopardized by metal-swirly plastics, but the toy's ankles are definite risks, as is the handgun peg if not handled with care. Removing the ratchet "catch" from Thunder Clash's feet and sanding the handgun's peg a bit will also help by reducing the force put on those parts without noticeably altering the toy. The [[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#Machine_Wars|''Machine Wars'' Optimus Prime]] redeco swapped out the metal-swirly plastics for more durable plastics.

*'''[[Pyro (G1)#Toys|Pyro]] (1993)'''
:Pyro has a gold plastic waist which puts him at high risk of cracking in half during transformation, and clipping his gold feet into position in robot mode is a bad idea too. The elbow ratchets are also risky due to the constant spring stress. And of course, his rifle handle is prone to shearing off.

*'''[[e-Hobby]] ''[[The Transformers: Collector's Edition]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Collector's Edition|Megatron Black Version]] (2001/2009)'''
: Tragically, this rare one-off reissue has metallic brown plastic that can crumble if one attaches the sword or rifle in the hand in robot mode or a stock in Walther P-38 mode.
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====''Generation 2''====
[[File:Electrobrokenknee.jpg|thumb|200px|Oh, God, my knee! MY KNEEEEEEE!!]]
* '''[[Electro#Toys|Electro]] (1994)'''
:There's a ''reason'' that Electro sits up at the top of this page. Poor guy just can't catch a break, it seems. Wait... actually, no. That's the ''entire problem''. The poor guy totally ''can'' catch a break. All the time. Because he is ''designed to die''. Basically ''anything'' on Electro's body is susceptible to shattering thanks to having many many thin joints made out of metallic gold plastic.

* '''[[Slingshot (G1)#Generation 2|Slingshot]] (1994)'''
:Yet another iconic sufferer of GPS, Slingshot is ''infamous'' for coming apart straight out of the package.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b8b3dec846e5479?hl=en</ref> Worse, he's another toy whose gimmick will destroy him, like Skyquake. Slingshot's head is a post which is designed to plug into [[Silverbolt (G1)#The Transformers|Silverbolt]] (or any other "Scramble City" style torso-bot) so that Slingshot can form an arm or a leg. If you're unlucky, you're going to end up with his head trapped inside a connector joint.

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====''Beast Wars''====
[[File:Goldplasticgrimlock.jpg|200px|thumb|A mighty Dinobot warrior... bested by his own crumbling joints.]]
[[File:Brownplasticsyndrome.jpg|thumb|200px|The one part of Megatron's Movie Jazz cosplay he ''didn't'' want to recreate.]]

*'''[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Beast Wars|Grimlock]] (1997)'''
:''Beast Wars'' Grimlock uses metallic gold plastic ball joints for his hips, which is not really a good thing. Common breakages include the insides of his legs (where his chest pegs into them in [[beast mode]]) and his mutant mask (which is very thin).

* '''[[Silverbolt (G1)#Beast Wars|Silverbolt]] (1997)'''
:The [[Magnaboss (BW)#Beast Wars|Magnaboss]] component Silverbot (not [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|the ''other'' more well-known Beast Wars Silverbolt]]) despite having a ''dangerously'' large amount of metallic bronze plastic, is... actually fairly stable. The main breakage point is where his tail connects to his body. As well, [[Skywarp (BW)#Beast Wars II|Skywarp]], his Japanese counterpart, is just as likely to suffer from this. That said, just... be careful, okay? Be careful.

* '''[[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaTransmetal|Transmetal Megatron]] (1998) ''(Hasbro version only)'' '''
:Hasbro's Transmetal Megatron has a tendency to snap at the waist, the shoulders, the... well, anything that's made of that dark semi-metallic brown plastic. This is technically Brown Plastic Syndrome, but regardless of what you call it this toy may end in sadness. This breakage may be due to GPS, a [[design flaw]], or a combination of both; the Takara version's immunity to this issue (because its brown parts are black plastic instead) seems to suggest that GPS may have a role.

* '''[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#OptimalOptimus|Optimal Optimus]] (1998)'''
:Optimal Optimus uses sparkly dark brown plastic for his wheels and turrets, which can suffer from GPS. The block that holds the batteries is the most likely to break, as the "soft" ratchet joint requires the affected plastic to bend. The pieces that connect his wings to his arms are also made from the same sparkly brown plastic.

* '''[[Fuzor]] [[Torca (BW)#Toys|Torca]] (1998) '''
:Torca's legs, hip armor panels, tail hinge and sides are all prone to Gold Plastic Syndrome.

* [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]] '''[[Soundwave (BW)#Toys|Soundwave]] (2000)'''
:Poor Soundwave has his ''entire fraggin' body'' composed of gold plastic, so it's a crapshoot. The softer plastics are far less likely to crumble, but the places on his body where the sides hinge open as part of his transformation have a high risk of snapping.

* ''' ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' [[Dinobot (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Dinobot]] (2006)'''
:Sadly, this version of Dinobot is less special for being a commemorative toy from the 10th anniversary of a beloved cartoon and more for being a horrifying timebomb, as he has ''two'' kinds of metallic swirled plastic, both of which seem to have hit their expiration dates around 2013. In other words, basically any part on him is highly fragile, although he's most likely to break at the neck, hips, and helmet. At this point, keeping the toy MISB is the best way to display him.

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====''Beast Wars II''====
[[File:Bigmos GPS examples.jpg|200px|thumb|More of a minor fracture, really.]]
* '''[[Bigmos#Toys|Bigmos]] (1998)'''
:His GPS problems are bizarrely ''not'' his many many many metallic gold plastic parts; his ''turquoise''-colored plastic parts are the brittle ones, to the point of snapping right out of the package. Notable breakage points include the mosquito leg connectors snapping right off, tight hip/thigh swivels resulting in crumbling, and occasionally the robot feet can break due to being really thin pieces. Basically, be very gentle with anything molded in turquoise, be very gentle and take extra caution when twisting tight joints.

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====''Beast Wars Neo''====
[[File:Randy-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|'Tis but a scratch!]]
* '''[[Randy (BW)#Toys|Randy]] (1999)'''
:Randy is one of the ''legendary'' Gold Plastic Syndrome toys. Imagine, if you will, a toy with an entirely spring-loaded transformation... and an outer shell ''made entirely out of metallic gold plastic''. Ouch, right? The stress of staying in beast mode in package, the mode with the very compressed springs, is often enough to break the joints holding his beast-mode sides on before you even open the package. If you're lucky enough to have one still intact, keeping him in robot mode is the best way to ''keep'' him intact. For a while longer, at least.

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====''Beast Machines''====
[[File:BMSnarl-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Sadly, changing up his exercise routine ''won't'' help his shin splints.]]
* '''[[Snarl (BM)#Toys|Snarl]] (2000)'''
: Not the most fragile GPS victim but nonetheless one of the most risk-prone, Snarl is one of those figures that uses an extensive amount of swirly gold plastic throughout his entire body, and as a result, there is ''a lot'' that can go wrong when handling him. All manner of extremities are known to occasionally snap off of Snarl's body, most easily among these being the ankles and leg covers. To make matters worse, it seems that the longer Snarl figures are left in sealed packages, the more brittle they are upon opening said packages.

* '''[[Striker#Toys|Striker]] (2000)'''
: As with Snarl, Striker is yet another figure that isn't as fragile as some of the toys mentioned on this page but is still at a very high risk of breakage just by virtue of the sheer amount of gold plastic used on him: he features an ''entirely'' golden dinosaur shell which relies on ball joints to move and shift, and as a result, said joint pegs are particularly prone to snapping over time. He also has a lot of gold plastic pegs that tab into gold plastic slots, which is, of course, a recipe for disaster. Transforming Striker could prove to be a suicide mission... for him.

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====''Choro-Q''====
*'''[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#metallic|Rodimus Convoy Metallic Version]] (2001)'''
:Sadly, the pinned metallic flake plastic hinges on this version of ''Choro-Q'' Rodimus have become prone to breaking after two decades.
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====''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)====
[[File:RIDMegabolt-GPS.jpg|200px|thumb|Really, what could go wrong with gold plastic pins tabbing into small tight gold plastic pegs?]]
*'''[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Air Attack Optimus Primal]] (2002)'''
: The biggest toy in the ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline, Air Attack Optimus Primal is actually based on ''Beast Machines'' Optimus Primal, thus making him a particularly desirable toy by virtue of being the most accurate version of said design... Which only makes it all the more tragic that he features large expanses made of sparkly brown plastic, which, like with Optimal Optimus (see above), can be prone to shattering. Owch. This condition most often results in the feet breaking. Thankfully, there is an alternative, as the 2018 ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' reissue does not suffer from GPS.

*'''[[Megabolt#Toys|Megabolt]] (2003)'''
: Megabolt doesn't use as much gold plastic as some of the toys mentioned on this page, but the portions where he does use gold plastic just to happen to be very significant: his limbs, shoulders / alternate mold face place, and above-head cannon are all cast primarily in gold plastic, which is ''not'' a good thing. The most common fracture points include his forearms, the holes that lock his arms in place in crawling head mode, lower legs near the knees, and his head. On top of this he has a number of other design flaws that can lead to non-gold-plastic parts snapping off, so, good luck!
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====''Universe'' (2003)====
[[File:UniSuperion-GPS.jpg|200px|thumb|''You know my hips don't lie''... Or last very long.]]
* '''[[Micromaster]] [[Superion (Universe)#Toys|Superion]] (2003)'''
: While his individual robots are unscathed from the GPS plague, many of Superion's essential combiner [[kibble]] parts are aggressively afflicted: namely, his rifle, hands (which are just white-painted gold plastic), and worst of all, his hip piece. The latter chunk is especially prone to breakage, which isn't helped by the fact that the leg components need to very firmly clip onto it... Meaning that, in a good portion of loose copies, those poor fragile little pegs will be shattered. <ref name="tfwsuper">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/300674-warning-universe-micromaster-superion-suffers-gold-plastic-syndrome.html TFW2005 thread about Micromaster Superion suffering from Gold Plastic Syndrome, with multiple reports]</ref> On an unrelated annoyance, the peg that connects [[Ro-Tor (Universe)|Ro-Tor]] to Superion's torso piece also tends to break despite no gold plastic being involved, so; if you've always wanted a toy with both shattering gold plastic ''and'' poor quality control then here you go! Best thing to do with this one is to probably just use other Micromaster combiner kibble to assemble his robot mode.

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====Unicron Trilogy====
[[File:CybertronRepugnus-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|"A minor case of GPS"? Yeah, imagine how 'minor' it'd feel if it was ''your'' jaw falling off, prick.]]
*''' ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Repugnus (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Repugnus]] (2006/2010)'''
:Surprisingly the only "Unicron Trilogy" toy that's known to be afflicted by GPS (and indicative of a broader trend as GPS instances start diminishing during this time) and a fairly minor case of it to boot, Repugnus' robot mode "hands"/''Spinosaurus'' head are made of black-painted gold plastic. Surprisingly, he is pretty resilient besides this — a quick search on the secondary market reveals that the overwhelming majority of copies are perfectly intact — but it's still not unheard for his thin jaw parts to break into pieces when inserting his flail weapon into his hands, even if uncommon. His thigh covers are made of the same plastic but, due to their static position and lack of moving parts, are very unlikely to break — so, overall; your Repugnus ''should'' be fine if you're careful.

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====''Star Wars Transformers''====
[[File:2006Chewbacca-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Use the Force, Luke... Wait, no, actually, DON'T — AAHHHHH!!!!!]]
*'''[[General Grievous]] (2006)'''
:Grievous' pelvis, arms and legs are all made out of gold plastic with many thin parts in the jointing, leaving them especially prone to breakage.

* '''[[Millennium Falcon]]/[[Han Solo]] & [[Chewbacca]] (2006)'''
:Another infamous example, Chewbacca's half of the Millenium Falcon suffers from aggressive GPS, with only a few parts using gold plastic but most of them being aesthetically and structurally essential: his head, hands, upper arms, and upper legs are all vulnerable to shattering apart after being subjected to even the lightest of stress. To make matters worse, his upper legs are on a ratchet joint ''and'' need to be pushed in and out of his lower leg portions for the transformation... And they also have a tendency to occasionally lock up. Which means you'll ''have'' to apply extra strength to pull them out, and you might even be able do it... In chunks. Yeah, it ''won't'' survive. His upper arms also frequently fall victim to the GPS plague: it is not uncommon for them to come broken out of the packaging. <ref>http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=2481&size=0&start=101</ref> Han Solo, the other half of the Falcon, has one a cover that flips down from his crotch when transforming which is also cast in the same doomed metallic-brown plastic, but since it is painted grey, it's hard to tell until it eventually breaks.

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====Movie toys====
[[File:Protoform-StarscreamGPS.jpeg|thumb|200px|Enough body horror to make Cronenberg sick.]]
* '''[[Starscream (Movie)/toys#Deluxe Class toys|Protoform Starscream]] (2007)'''
:Part of the preview wave for [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|the 2007 movie toyline]], Starscream might not have left the best impression in the long term as the plastic hinges that connect the two small wings to his body are especially brittle, and because the plastic housing the joints is thin, it eventually gives way over time to a crumbly mess. The thumbs are also prone to breakage.

*''' ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Stratosphere#Toys|Stratosphere]] (2009)'''
: Stratosphere has gold plastic in his shoulders and thighs, and there have been reports of these parts crumbling. Additionally, more commonly-reported breakages are the toy's lower knees and the hinges connecting the wings—but neither of these parts are the ones made of gold plastic! Poor guy can't catch a break—or, well he can.

* '''[[Costco]] exclusive [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BattleOpsCostco|Battle Ops Bumblebee]] (2010)'''
:This version of Bumblebee has metallic dark gray plastic in the upper and lower body that display textbook GPS symptoms. The figure will eventually self-destruct during transformation due to said plastic's use in most of the leg and car roof joints. Ironically, the gold ''painted'' portions are mostly a different, more resilient plastic.
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====''Transformers (2010)''====
[[File:CreatorPrimus-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|A plague so horrifying that not even the Transformers God can survive it.]]
*'''[[Primus#Transformers_.282010.29|Creator Primus]] (2010)'''
: One of the latest examples but a very severely-afflicted one to boot, Primus features swirly metallic blue parts virtually ''everywhere'' across this body, with his head, torso, arms, upper legs, missiles, and a few other bits here and there using the dreaded plagued plastic. Eventually, it seems that they hit their expiry dates 13 years later, and now they're very prone to crumbling, with the most aggressively affected area being his arms.<ref>https://twitter.com/mechtavius/status/1667326036537753601</ref> To make matters worse, his shoulders are on a ratchet joint, so bending his arms ''requires'' one to press down on them with a modicum of force that the figure might not withstand. Considering the relative rarity of this figure, it's probably for the best to be very careful when handling him... Or, really, to just not touch him at all. Really, maybe even avoiding looking at him the wrong way is for the best.
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====''Unite Warriors''====
[[File:UWMotormaster-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Phew, at least that's the last toy to suffer such a fate... ''For now''.]]
*'''[[Motormaster (G1)#Unite Warriors|Motormaster]] (2015)'''
: The last figure that's currently known to suffer from GPS, multiple copies of ''Unite Warriors'' Motormaster have been reported as heavily prone to breaking apart on the waist right after being taken out of the box—and of course, once one peers closer, they'll find that same familiar swirly plastic, this time in gunmetal grey.<ref>https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/uw-motormaster-has-disintegrated-from-the-waist.1096466/</ref> In contrast, others who've purchased the figure at at later point have reported never facing this issue at all even after years of owning him, which might suggest that later runs of the Stunticons 5-pack have fixed this issue. Regardless, for those who do not want to take the risk, a popular solution involves replacing Motormaster's waist with that of [[Motormaster (G1)#Combiner Wars|his cheaper Hasbro version]].

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====Transformers-related GPS sufferers====
* The "[[Vacuum metallizing|chrome]]" version of ''[[Diaclone]]'' '''[[Delta Magnus|Powered Convoy]]''', the [[pre-Transformer]] version of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Notes|Ultra Magnus]], has this problem with its swirly ''blue'' plastic. Given the age and relative rarity of this toy, this is particularly troublesome for hardcore collectors.

* While not a Transformer, ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s '''[[Serpentor]]''' is also known to suffer from this problem, especially through his hips, given the groin-breakage-prone leg construction of the standard 1980s ''G.I. Joe'' figure.

*The first Golden Lagoon-based '''X Yearly Version 5-pack''' released by [[Blokees]] also experienced this issue, particularly with their swirly gold elbow and knee hinge joints, which are problematic given their release as a high-priced set.

==Toys commonly discredited as GPS sufferers==
A number of other toys experience breakages while also having gold parts and/or swirly plastic bits, and inevitably, this often leads them to being incorrectly labeled by collectors as GPS sufferers. When it comes to these particular toys, however; the issues are most likely attributable to structural problems with the part designs themselves rather than their plastics.

* The ''Armada'' '''[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#SuperBase|Super Base Optimus Prime]]''' figure's elbows/biceps are made of gold plastic, and the lower joint has been known to break very easily. However, the plastic doesn't exhibit the "crumbliness" typical of GPS; instead, it seems likely that the break occurs when the elbow joints are lined up for them to sit behind the combined mode's back. In this configuration, the red and blue joints don't have room to bend around each other. The way to alleviate this issue is to pull the shoulder out, ''then'' bend the top joint (the red one) first, before moving the arms in any other direction.

* ''Energon'' '''[[Scorponok (Energon)#Energon|Scorponok]]''' has pale gold plastic on the (largely painted) front panels of the shoulders, and moving the shoulders for transformation (particularly into jet mode) can cause the panels to tear in half. However, the plastic itself isn't the problem; rather, it seems to be the result of the toy's design, where the corners of the front panels aren't quite symmetrical, and the one with more clearance is on the opposite side. A [[Variant|running change]] saw these panels swapped to alleviate this issue. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHXKDmxeuHs Swapping the panels to the opposite sides], has a higher chance of reducing breakages.

*''Alternators'' '''[[Swerve (G1)#Alternators|Swerve]]''' has become a common GPS suspect given that his leg joints, elbow joints, poseable fists, thighs, and rocket launcher are all made out of gold plastic — but it's the first of these elements that is generally considered the most problematic, with a few instances of breakages being reported over the years. However, this gold plastic does not exhibit the 'swirliness' of other GPS-afflicted toys, which suggests that, similar to ''Armada'' Optimus Prime and ''Energon'' Scorponok, this is also most likely the product of poor quality control arising from a tight construction rather than an issue with the plastic itself.

*''Alternators'' '''[[Mirage (G1)/toys#Alternators|Mirage]]''', in contrast, features an extensive amount of swirly plastic throughout the figure's entire car mode and this plastic has been frequently reported to suffer from "hairline cracks", leading to the occasional claim that he's a GPS sufferer <ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/alternators-binaltech-fandom-unite-lets-see-some-pics.235171/page-165#post-20719899 A TFW2005 thread where Mirage's status as a potential GPS victim is discussed]</ref> — however, these are almost always concentrated on one specific portion of the car mode (they often show up as lines between the windshield and the front wheelwell), so it seems more likely that the cause for these hairlines is some stress applied on that specific portion of the vehicle rather than the plastic itself. No instances of full-on breakage have been reported, and unlike what's expected from a GPS-afflicted toy, the figure seems to consistently show up intact on secondary market listings: thus, like Swerve, the broader consensus seems to be that he is not a GPS sufferer.

* 2007 ''Transformers'' movie [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] '''[[Scorponok (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Scorponok]]''' has a tail stinger made of soft and bendy golden plastic, which tends to harden over time and become prone to breaking. As the "bendy" aspect suggests, the root cause of this problem seems to simply be the use of an inferior plasticizer, rather than traditional Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
At some point during the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], a vaccine for Gold Plastic Syndrome was developed by [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} [[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle]] claimed to be the only licensee of the cure in the [[Nexus (cluster)|Nexus]] Cluster. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Swindle's Spiel, 2015/10/03}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 185.0 Beta]], the [[S.T.A.R.S.]] weaponized Gold Plastic Syndrome and invented the [[Photodegradation|Photo Degradation Protocol]] in a failed attempt to fight off [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron's]] mindless hordes of [[Decepto-Pack]]-enhanced human slaves. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/04}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===
[[First Aid (G1)#PWTG2|First Aid]] contracted GPS during the war against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. The disease prevented him from properly combining into [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. {{storylink|Ratchet (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Customization class Generation 2 Ratchet bio}}

==See also==
*[[Unpaintable plastic#Photodegradation|Another common problem since 2018.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjAUN5Ssj8 Demonstration of Gold Plastic Syndrome in effect at YouTube]

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Nezha: Transformers (toyline)

2025-12-07T01:27:15Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Toys */

{{nav-Nezha}}

Released in very late [[2019]], the Chinese '''Nezha: Transformers''' (哪吒与变形金刚 ''Nézhā yǔ Biànxíng Jīngāng'') line is a bit of an odd one. It is made up in part of unique toys not available in any other markets, in addition to [[rebranding|rebranded]] toys from Hasbro's 2018–2021 ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' line. But even among the new molds and building kits, only a small percentage of the line is actually centered on the "[[Nezha]]" part of the mash-up franchise. It is entirely possible that this line suffered production delays due to the {{w|COVID-19 pandemic}}, or that it was always intended to be a small line, or something else went wrong that delayed Hasbro and [[CCTV]]'s plans.

The line's packaging uses the ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' design, and the ''Transformers'' characters within it use the ''Cyberverse'' models.

==Toys==
===Hasbro figures===
The overwhelming majority of the "normal" toys in the line are just repackaged ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)| Cyberverse]]'' toys. ''Nezha''-original characters are in very short supply; in fact, for a few years Nezha himself was the only one to actually see release! The "Team Collection" three-pack didn't show up until mid-''2023'', only on {{w|Temu}} via a reseller account that was likely the result of a warehouse find.

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Power-Up Packs'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Nezha#Nezha: Transformers|Nezha Power-Up Pack]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Team Collections'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|Nezha Team Collection ([[Lei Zhenzi#Toys|Lei Zhenzi]], [[Nezha#TeamCollection|Nezha]], [[Tu Xingsun#Toys|Tu Xingsun]])}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Remote control'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Nezha#RC|Nezha]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Nezha-toy Nezha PowerUp.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Nezha Power-Up Pack]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Warrior Class''' (''Cyberverse'' rebrandings)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)#Warrior Class|Bumblebee]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (Cyberverse)#Warrior Class|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#Warrior Class|Optimus Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Prowl (Cyberverse)#Warrior|Prowl]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Warrior Class|Decepticon Shockwave]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (Cyberverse)#Warrior|Soundwave]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Ultra Class''' (''Cyberverse'' rebrandings)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)#Ultra Class|Bumblebee]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#Ultra Class|Optimus Prime]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Shockwave (Cyberverse)#Ultra Class|Decepticon Shockwave]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (Cyberverse)#Ultra Class|Starscream]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Ultimate Class''' (''Cyberverse'' rebrandings)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)#Ultimate Class|Bumblebee]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (Cyberverse)#Ultimate Class|Megatron]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Ark Power''' (''Cyberverse'' rebranding)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#Ark Power|Optimus Prime]] & [[Ark (Cyberverse)#Cyberverse|Ark Power]]}}
</ul>
|}

{{--}}

===Xiaomi building sets===
These building kits developed by [[Xiaomi]] use [[LEGO]]-like parts to create various ''Cyberverse'' characters. No, not ''[[Kre-O]]''.

The first kits made available are very much based ''directly'' on LEGO's brick designs rather than ''Kre-O'' bricks, which... [[IP infringement|yyyeah.]] Each kit results in a 9-to-10-inch posable robot figure that can be disassembled and reassembled into vehicle mode.

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Brick sets''' (2019)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)#Nezha: Transformers|Bumblebee]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (Cyberverse)#Nezha: Transformers|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#Nezha: Transformers|Optimus Prime]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Windblade (Cyberverse)#Nezha: Transformers|Windblade]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Nezha-toy WindbladeBrickset.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Windblade brick set ]]
|}

{{-}}
<big>'''Onebot sets'''</big>
:Similar to the brick sets above, the ''Onebot'' sets are heavily LEGO-like building kits that disassemble and reassemble from robot to alt-mode and back, only this time, they're far larger, and based on the "LEGO Technic" style of build that puts more emphasis on beams, pegs and panels. The total number of pieces varies significantly for the sets, with robot mode requiring almost all of them and alt modes about two thirds. Building instructions are available in the mobile and Windows app.

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1''' (2020)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)#NezhaOnebot|Bumblebee]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (Cyberverse)#NezhaOnebot|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#NezhaOnebot|Optimus Prime]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 2''' (2020)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Grimlock (Cyberverse)#Nezha: Transformers|Grimlock]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (Cyberverse)#Nezha: Transformers|Starscream]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Nezha-toy XiaomiOnebot Bumblebee.jpg|upright=1|thumb|''Onebot'' Bumblebee]]
|}

{{-}}
<big>'''Blind-box building dolls'''</big> 
:These "[[blindpacking|blind-box]] building doll" (拼砌人偶盲盒) kits use the same style of construction as the ''Onebot'' sets above, but are much smaller kits resulting in articulated super-deformed robots without rebuildable alternate modes. The main points of articulations are provided by ball joints. Building instructions are spread over several booklets. Additional details can be added using the included stickersheet. While the pieces are compatible with LEGO, it also uses some unique molds (not limited to head and hands) so it cannot be directly recreated using just LEGO pieces. Curiously, this is currently the ''only'' ''Nezha''-branded Xiaomi assortment to actually feature the character of Nezha, over a full year into the line's existence.

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1''' (2021)
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)#NezhaBlindbox|Bumblebee]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (Cyberverse)#NezhaBlindbox|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Nezha#NezhaBlindbox|Nezha]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#NezhaBlindbox|Optimus Prime]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (Cyberverse)#NezhaBlindbox|Starscream]]}}
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Nezha-toy_OnebotBlindBox_Starscream.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Blind box Starscream, without stickers applied]]
|}

{{-}}
<big>'''Smart Building Block Transformers'''</big>
[[File:Nezha-toy XiaomiOnebot SmartBrick all.jpg|upright=1|thumb|All the builds with instructions: [[Starscream_(Cyberverse)|jet]], [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|truck]], scout drone (apparently an Autobot), trap box, The Brick, music puzzle, safe, magic bow, gate, hit hammer game]]

:A ''Onebot'' building set, the "Smart Building Block Transformers" (智能积木变形金刚) is centered around a Transformers-branded smart brick, up to two motors and inertial data sensor. Similar to {{w|LEGO Mindstorms}}, the set provides instructions and code for 9 different builds exploring different capabilities of the system, only one of which can be built at a time. The brick is programmable via app using a Scratch-like drag-and-drop "language" or Python. As with the large Onebot sets, the building instructions are available in the mobile and Windows app.

:{{Bp-a1d1|Smart Building Block Transformers ([[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)#NezhaSmart|Optimus Prime]] & [[Starscream (Cyberverse)#NezhaSmart|Starscream]])}}

[[Category:Construction toys]]
[[Category:Nezha]]
[[Category:Toylines]]

Gold Plastic Syndrome

2025-12-07T01:14:47Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notability */ added lego

{{featured}}
[[File:Electrogoldplasticsyndrome.jpg|right|upright=2.5|thumb|Ouch.]]
'''Gold Plastic Syndrome''' (commonly shorthanded to '''GPS''') is fandom terminology used to describe the phenomenon of a toy's [[plastic]] decomposing and becoming brittle to the point of shattering or crumbling under minimal-stress conditions. In the most extreme cases, toys have been reported to spontaneously crumble to small bits without any applied force at all, even if they're fresh out of their [[Mint in sealed box|unopened package]].

This breakage is different from the relatively more common stress-fracture type of plastic breakage that can occur in some [[Toy|''Transformers'' toys]]; while normal stress fractures are universally heralded by stress marks on the toy, GPS breakage doesn't have that sign; it simply crumbles to pieces. The condition takes its name from the gold plastics of late Generation 1 through to ''Beast Wars'' that have proved the most prone to this sort of breakage. Despite the name, Gold Plastic Syndrome has been known to affect other types of plastic—most of them noted for a pretty metallic swirl in the plastic; the reason it has the "GPS" moniker is because gold plastic was the first and most common color observed to have this horrific phenomenon.

Thankfully, Gold Plastic Syndrome is generally unheard of in modern Hasbro/Takara ''Transformers'' figures, with the last reported case being in [[2015]] with ''[[Transformers Unite Warriors|Unite Warriors]]'' [[Motormaster (G1)#Unite Warriors|Motormaster]].

==Etymology==
The term was coined in an [[alt.toys.transformers]] post made by user Sky Shadow in September 2002.<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b3d532961b2c2dc</ref> A post by [[Dave Edwards|Dave "Zobovor" Edwards]], meanwhile, made in June of the previous year,<ref>http://groups.google.co.uk/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/6ed7e0f3586f37e4</ref> is the earliest identifiable acknowledgment of the widespread nature of the phenomenon within the Transformers fan community.

Completing the journey from fan term to official term, "Gold Plastic Syndrome" was used by Hasbro designer [[John Warden]] at the ''Transformers Generations'' panel at Comic-Con International 2015 to describe exactly what would not happen to ''Combiner Wars'' G2-style [[Slingshot (G1)#Combiner Wars|Quickslinger]].

==Notability==
GPS is widespread among toys made in the tail-end of [[The Transformers (toyline)|Generation 1]], typically the second year of [[Pretender]]s and even some European-market exclusives, ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' and the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' series, but examples have surfaced from lines as recent as [[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|''Universe'' (2003)]], the ''[[Star Wars Transformers]]'' and the [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|2007 movie]]. Transformers toys are not the only ones to suffer from this; there have been reports of ''[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]'' and ''[[Visionaries]]'' toys' gold plastics also crumbling seemingly of their own accord; even some ''Super Sentai'' and ''[[Power Rangers]]'' toys have been known to suffer as well as reports of [[LEGO]]. Probably the strangest is accounts of retro game collectors finding ''Majora's Mask'' cartridges shatter under minimal stress. Other retro robot toy collectors have referred to it as "Popy disease", after the metallic blue plastic favored by the company Popy that led to the demise of many a Dairugger / Vehicle Team Voltron.

The toys most likely to suffer from Gold Plastic Syndrome are those with gold or bronze plastic with a metallic swirl to it. There are other known cases with different colors of plastic—though usually there is a tell-tale swirl in the plastic.

===Cause===
[[File:SkyquakeGPSback.jpg|thumb|upright=1.55|left|Gleargh]]
Because this is not exactly an area of scientific notability, there aren't any full studies into Gold Plastic Syndrome that we know about. Basically, it is thought that certain plastics weren't mixed as well as others, possibly because of the metallic pigment or colouring, so they break down more quickly.

It's not much of a theory, really; think more of a hypothesis. Here's a more detailed attempt:

{{bigquote|The problem likely arises, as with many composites, when the bonding between the polymer and the dye/particles breaks down. This could occur do to a natural chemical/phase change of the plastic, due to oxidation, for example, or by another mechanism, say the forces incurred by the toy being played with, or more likely, due to some combination thereof. In any case, when the bonds between the particles and the polymers break down, you would get small voids in the plastic structure. If this occurs frequently enough, the structure would become effectively porous (that is, it would be filled with lots of tiny voids/cracks where the polymers and particles have come apart). With even a slight amount of force, some of these cracks/voids could expand, even slightly, to the point where they intersect another void and join, making an even bigger crack. Once a critical crack length is reached, the sample fractures. So effectively, the plastic becomes more brittle, and this would also explain it "crumbling" as well as cracking.''|Aernaroth from ''The Allspark.com'' suggests a cause for GPS}}

In short, the poorly-bonded plastic is so honeycombed with air gaps that the pressure required for movement will crumble it.

Hasbro have attributed it to "the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic", and have apparently reduced the amount in similar plastics of more recent vintage to prevent further occurrences.<ref name="hasbrogps">[http://www.transformerland.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3481 Hasbro Transformersland.com Q&A, August 2009:] "When we used gold metallic plastic in the past we discovered, along with many of you, that it becomes brittle over time. As we became aware of this situation, we took the necessary steps to reduce the amount of gold fleck included in the plastic to eliminate this issue. Ultimately, this should no longer be an issue due to these corrective steps that we have taken."</ref> Later Hasbro said that they believe they've "alleviated the issues associated with the 'gold' plastic issue" through "trial and error." <ref>http://www.toyark.com/news/transformers-toy-news-2/hasbro-transformers-june-2010-qna-2867/</ref>

All in all, the actual causes of Gold Plastic Syndrome aren't a very big deal to Transformers fans—it's really pretty academic. Of more concern is the ''RESULTS'' (i.e., poor Electro crumbling to bits like an Oreo left in milk too long), and what to look out for. There's no certain cure here, no fix. If a toy has GPS, it '''will''' die if handled and transformed normally.

Seibertron.com has reported that Ace Hardware's "Lub-E" product may prevent GPS breakage, having applied it to an Electro pre-photo-shoot. This claim needs further verification, as it may very well be a coincidence that that specific Electro did not break at that moment. Other discussions of Lub-E or comparable shock oil products have recommended ''submerging the toy in the lubricant entirely,'' which many collectors would find unacceptable even ''if'' it worked.

===The Symptoms===
[[File:GPSSkyquakescopeclose.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|right|Nooo!]]

Gold Plastic Syndrome usually has a few clear signs. Knowing how to tell the difference between Gold Plastic Syndrome and normal plastic breakage is very important for a Transformers fan who is collecting vintage toys. It's the difference between giving up on that toy completely (since if it has GPS, it's ''likely'' most other samples of the toy will as well) and buying a new copy.
*GPS usually takes place in metallic-coloured plastics, most notably gold plastic and bronze plastic; they tend to have distinctive "swirly," "sparkly" appearance.
*GPS breaks are NOT accompanied by stress fractures. There is usually NOT any visible wear before the breakage. This is really important. Plastic breaks. This is a reality of toy collecting, plastic gets old and it breaks. Gold plastic syndrome is breakage without warning.
*GPS breaks often leave a powdery residue and shards of plastic (though not always), the result of the plastic actually physically crumbling. Take a look at the picture of Skyquake's scope—okay, the bits of his scope—to the right. You can actually see some of the left-over shards of plastic. Keep in mind this picture was taken years after the break actually occurred—these are new shards of plastic which came off these pieces of scope during the process of moving the parts around for photography. Plastic should '''not''' be that brittle or delicate.
*GPS breakages don't need to involve any excess stress or force on a toy—simply handling a toy or opening its box can cause the breakage. If your toy breaks despite careful handling it's more likely to be GPS.
*GPS breaks often have rough, uneven edges with no stress lines around them. This is important—usually when plastic snaps it snaps cleanly (as is common with clear plastic), or it bends first (leaving a torn-off piece, or clear stresses around the break). If a break is uneven, with different colours and textures in it, yet there are no stress fractures around the wound, and especially if it leaves a powdery residue as well, it's almost certainly a GPS break. Take a look at the photo of Skyquake above for a good example of the ragged break. Okay... not good. What's the other word that's LIKE "good", but not actually good? Oh yeah. Horrifying. A HORRIFYING example.
*GPS plastics will sometimes feel brittle to the touch, sometimes making cracking noises as they're handled.

A really easy test to tell if you have GPS breakage is this—if a piece breaks off, try snapping it again. If it's normal plastic breakage, the broken piece should bend or bow, since it would have had only one fracture point and otherwise remained malleable; in that circumstance, even if it were brittle clear plastic, you would be able to glue it back into place, or at least get a replacement part. On the other hand, if the broken piece continues to repeatedly crack apart like a potato chip when hit with pressure from any angle, then you've almost definitely got Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==GPS misconceptions==
'''ALL GOLD PLASTIC WILL DIE!'''
:Not true. It's only a specific composite of gold plastic only used during a specific era that will die, most prominently used from 1988 (second year Pretenders are notorious for it) and through to about the end of ''Beast Wars'' in 2000, although there are still a few very rare cases of post-millennium figures with this issue up until 2015. As far as we know modern toys do not suffer from GPS due to a reduction in the amount of metallic flakes in similar, but more recent toys.<ref name="hasbrogps" /> Toys with flexible nylon-based gold plastics, such as [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Superbase Optimus Prime's]] elbows, are not susceptible to GPS supposedly because of the plastic's composition. Even on toys well known for GPS, some of their gold plastic is less prone to break. Gold plastic which is nice and thick is much less likely to snap than gold plastic which is thin. Gold plastic which is under constant stress—like that at a joint—is also more likely to break. That said, some really nice solid parts can shatter like eggshells if it's real GPS we're talkin' about.

'''OKAY, BUT THEN ALL GOLD PLASTIC FROM 1988 TO THE EARLY 2000s WILL DIE!'''
:Thankfully, no! There are various examples of figures built between the eighties and the early 2000s featuring similar-looking gold or bronze plastic - sometimes even exhibiting some of those much-dreaded swirly patterns - where such an issue has never been reported, like [[Archadis]], [[Guiledart]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 2|G2 Bumblebee (the Go-Bot version specifically)]], [[Transquito]], [[Snarler]], 2003's version of [[San D-Go]], and perhaps most ironically, [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Generation 1|Goldbug]]. Gold chrome, like that seen in [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Transmetal Cheetor]] and (the other version of) [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|G2 Bumblebee]], is also completely immune from GPS since it's merely painted rather than actually being gold plastic.

'''MY TOY BROKE, IT MUST BE GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME!!!'''
:There are plenty of ways for plastic to break that aren't related to Gold Plastic Syndrome. Repeated stress on a plastic, dropping a toy, a toy with metal parts that damage the plastic parts, thin plastic, or simply the use of translucent plastic, which is more brittle. Just because a toy breaks doesn't mean it's Gold Plastic Syndrome. Look for the symptoms (listed above) and ask around before assuming that every single copy of this toy is destined to die a painful and horrible death.

'''ONLY GOLD PLASTIC GETS GOLD PLASTIC SYNDROME!'''
:Not ''quite'' true. Observations suggest that it should probably be called "Metallic Plastic Syndrome". It's those metallic plastics, most commonly the gold and bronze plastics used for almost ten years by Hasbro and Takara, from around 1989 to 1998. However, it's possible that any colour of plastic could be susceptible, given enough time. So keep a close eye on your Fire Convoy, kids; that pretty metallic swirl in his plastic isn't promising... maybe.

'''MY TOY IS DOOMED!'''
:Okay... not ''exactly'' a misconception. Your toy is ''probably'' doomed... but there is a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

:You see, the thickness of the plastic seems to affect GPS. Also, the amount of stress on it affects it. While some toys are known for breaking just by having their packages opened—guys like Randy, Roadblock and ''Generation 2'' Slingshot—others, like Skyquake and Pyro, can remain intact if they are handled with extreme care (and never ever transformed, of course) because the parts that are made of GPS plastics are large and thick and otherwise robust. GPS is an inconsistent process—eventually your toy '''will''' crumble, but there's no telling how long it will take. With delicate handling (read: almost none) you can maintain a GPS-afflicted toy in your collection for quite some time.

:Also remember that the evidence for Gold Plastic Syndrome is ''completely'' observational. There seems to be some evidence that different plastic batches were less affected, that some releases of the toys were less affected. You might luck out and get an Electro that never crumbles to dust, or you might be really unlucky and get multiple Electros, all of which break horribly. This page is a caution more than anything else. Know what you're getting into when you buy a toy known to be afflicted by GPS.

==Toys commonly accredited as GPS sufferers==

====''The Transformers''====
[[File:Bristleback-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|"Bristleback"? More like, ''Brittleback'', amirite? Hahahahaa... Oh god, why.]]
* '''[[Scorponok (G1)#BlackZarak|BlackZarak]] (1988)'''
: The first known sufferer of GPS and easily one of the most depressing cases due to his rarity and hefty aftermarket pricing, BlackZarak's GPS affliction is nothing short of legendary. Forget transforming him - simply standing him up is a risk. His golden feet and shield have to be under stress to function as intended, leading to cases of shattered toys fresh out of the box, or even ''[[Mint in sealed box|when still inside it.]]'' The Headmaster figure, double cannons, and city antennas are all likewise gold plastic and all need to be inserted or swiveled into position, and his pack-in partner [[Black Roritchi#Toys|Black Roritchi]], almost entirely made of gold plastic, transforms by folding in half. This is a toy to be handled as little as possible, if ever.

* '''[[Pretender Monster]]s [[Bristleback#Toys|Bristleback]] and [[Slog (G1)#Toys|Slog]] (1989)'''
: The inner robots for both Bristleback and Slog suffer, but at different severities. Bristleback has multiple points of failure, the most obvious being the thin edges of his fist-holes, which can snap if his gun is pushed too far in. When forming Monstructor, sliding the combiner's fist in place can sometimes be enough to create a large crack through his legs, sometimes even splitting them entirely. (If you're feeling crafty, you might try shaving a tiiiny bit off the sides of the fist's connector plug. Better that less-than-mint condition than the "very broken" type.) And while his monster-limbs are fairly thick plastic, which is ''usually'' safer, they are also attached ''really tightly'', which means applying too much pressure to turn them can cause fractures. Slog is not especially susceptible on his own despite the sheer amount of gold plastic, but forming Monstructor requires another toy ([[Birdbrain#Toys|Birdbrain]]) to be inserted up inside his gold-plastic torso, which can put too much stress on the thinner sides if jostled or pushed in at a bad angle. Their Japanese counterparts, [[Gairyu]] and [[Kakuryu (G1)|Kakuryu]], lack gold plastic, and thus can be used as substitutes without any fear of breakage.

* '''Ultra Pretenders [[Roadblock (G1)#Toys|Roadblock]] and [[Skyhammer (G1)#Toys|Skyhammer]] (1989)'''
: These two are particularly notorious. Roadblock's innermost robot has three peg holes, two in the fists and one on his back, that are particularly susceptible to cracking and shattering, leaving many a Roadblock hand-less... or arm-less, as sometimes the posts attaching his arms to his torso will crumble around the pin keeping them in place. Meanwhile, the entire bottom of Skyhammer's large vehicle shell is made of gold plastic and it is '''''very''''' prone to breakage. Not to mention how much gold plastic is on his inner shell and his [[robot mode]].

* '''[[Killbison#Toys|Killbison]] (1989)'''
: One of the comparatively few Takara-market-only toys of the era to have this problem. His arms and back (including the head) are metallic-gold plastic. Most of this plastic is fairly thick, giving it a fair amount of resilience, but his fists and the joint for [[Liokaiser#Toys|Liokaiser]]'s fold-out foot are thinner and run a higher risk of breakage.
[[File:GPSSkyquakescope.jpg|thumb|200px|Well, ''crap''.]]

*'''[[Predator (subgroup)|Predator]] missile launchers (1992)'''
:The missile launchers shared by all six Predator toys are likely to self-destruct in two ways. Loading a missile when the toy is holding the launcher can cause the peg itself to give before the rather strong internal spring does. Additionally, launching a missile is a gamble. Either the plastic is able to bend enough to release the internal catch, or it isn't and snaps off.

*'''[[Skyquake (G1)#Toys|Skyquake]] (1992)'''
:Skyquake is another toy notable for having a gimmick which makes the whole thing worse. He actually has two colours of metallic plastic on him: One is a dark bronze, the other a light bronze. It is the light bronze plastic that is most likely to break. Unfortunately, the light bronze plastic also forms Skyquake's scope. You're supposed to put a Predator jet's scope slide into that part of him. But the union is not pleasant for the one on the receiving end. Take a look at the picture to the right. These are the parts left of Skyquake's scope after another Predator tried to unite with him. Actually... that's not even all the parts, that's just all that could be found. This is a gimmick which should '''''never''''' be attempted by modern collectors. Never, ever, ever, ever. For the same reason, don't transform him: the scope won't withstand being swung around and latched into position (the plastic around the swivel-pins is particularly thin) or having his stabilizer fins leveraged inside it. The moving plate over the [[light-piping|light piping]] on the back of his head is that brittle light bronze too, but it is at least loose and thick enough to be less risky.

*'''[[Thunder Clash#Toys|Thunder Clash]] (1992)'''
:Skyquake's Autobot counterpart has fewer parts jeopardized by metal-swirly plastics, but the toy's ankles are definite risks, as is the handgun peg if not handled with care. Removing the ratchet "catch" from Thunder Clash's feet and sanding the handgun's peg a bit will also help by reducing the force put on those parts without noticeably altering the toy. The [[Optimus_Prime_(G1)/toys#Machine_Wars|''Machine Wars'' Optimus Prime]] redeco swapped out the metal-swirly plastics for more durable plastics.

*'''[[Pyro (G1)#Toys|Pyro]] (1993)'''
:Pyro has a gold plastic waist which puts him at high risk of cracking in half during transformation, and clipping his gold feet into position in robot mode is a bad idea too. The elbow ratchets are also risky due to the constant spring stress. And of course, his rifle handle is prone to shearing off.

*'''[[e-Hobby]] ''[[The Transformers: Collector's Edition]]'' [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Collector's Edition|Megatron Black Version]] (2001/2009)'''
: Tragically, this rare one-off reissue has metallic brown plastic that can crumble if one attaches the sword or rifle in the hand in robot mode or a stock in Walther P-38 mode.
{{-}}

====''Generation 2''====
[[File:Electrobrokenknee.jpg|thumb|200px|Oh, God, my knee! MY KNEEEEEEE!!]]
* '''[[Electro#Toys|Electro]] (1994)'''
:There's a ''reason'' that Electro sits up at the top of this page. Poor guy just can't catch a break, it seems. Wait... actually, no. That's the ''entire problem''. The poor guy totally ''can'' catch a break. All the time. Because he is ''designed to die''. Basically ''anything'' on Electro's body is susceptible to shattering thanks to having many many thin joints made out of metallic gold plastic.

* '''[[Slingshot (G1)#Generation 2|Slingshot]] (1994)'''
:Yet another iconic sufferer of GPS, Slingshot is ''infamous'' for coming apart straight out of the package.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/alt.toys.transformers/msg/2b8b3dec846e5479?hl=en</ref> Worse, he's another toy whose gimmick will destroy him, like Skyquake. Slingshot's head is a post which is designed to plug into [[Silverbolt (G1)#The Transformers|Silverbolt]] (or any other "Scramble City" style torso-bot) so that Slingshot can form an arm or a leg. If you're unlucky, you're going to end up with his head trapped inside a connector joint.

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====''Beast Wars''====
[[File:Goldplasticgrimlock.jpg|200px|thumb|A mighty Dinobot warrior... bested by his own crumbling joints.]]
[[File:Brownplasticsyndrome.jpg|thumb|200px|The one part of Megatron's Movie Jazz cosplay he ''didn't'' want to recreate.]]

*'''[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#Beast Wars|Grimlock]] (1997)'''
:''Beast Wars'' Grimlock uses metallic gold plastic ball joints for his hips, which is not really a good thing. Common breakages include the insides of his legs (where his chest pegs into them in [[beast mode]]) and his mutant mask (which is very thin).

* '''[[Silverbolt (G1)#Beast Wars|Silverbolt]] (1997)'''
:The [[Magnaboss (BW)#Beast Wars|Magnaboss]] component Silverbot (not [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|the ''other'' more well-known Beast Wars Silverbolt]]) despite having a ''dangerously'' large amount of metallic bronze plastic, is... actually fairly stable. The main breakage point is where his tail connects to his body. As well, [[Skywarp (BW)#Beast Wars II|Skywarp]], his Japanese counterpart, is just as likely to suffer from this. That said, just... be careful, okay? Be careful.

* '''[[Megatron (BW)/toys#MegaTransmetal|Transmetal Megatron]] (1998) ''(Hasbro version only)'' '''
:Hasbro's Transmetal Megatron has a tendency to snap at the waist, the shoulders, the... well, anything that's made of that dark semi-metallic brown plastic. This is technically Brown Plastic Syndrome, but regardless of what you call it this toy may end in sadness. This breakage may be due to GPS, a [[design flaw]], or a combination of both; the Takara version's immunity to this issue (because its brown parts are black plastic instead) seems to suggest that GPS may have a role.

* '''[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#OptimalOptimus|Optimal Optimus]] (1998)'''
:Optimal Optimus uses sparkly dark brown plastic for his wheels and turrets, which can suffer from GPS. The block that holds the batteries is the most likely to break, as the "soft" ratchet joint requires the affected plastic to bend. The pieces that connect his wings to his arms are also made from the same sparkly brown plastic.

* '''[[Fuzor]] [[Torca (BW)#Toys|Torca]] (1998) '''
:Torca's legs, hip armor panels, tail hinge and sides are all prone to Gold Plastic Syndrome.

* [[Mutant (BW)|Mutant]] '''[[Soundwave (BW)#Toys|Soundwave]] (2000)'''
:Poor Soundwave has his ''entire fraggin' body'' composed of gold plastic, so it's a crapshoot. The softer plastics are far less likely to crumble, but the places on his body where the sides hinge open as part of his transformation have a high risk of snapping.

* ''' ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' [[Dinobot (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Dinobot]] (2006)'''
:Sadly, this version of Dinobot is less special for being a commemorative toy from the 10th anniversary of a beloved cartoon and more for being a horrifying timebomb, as he has ''two'' kinds of metallic swirled plastic, both of which seem to have hit their expiration dates around 2013. In other words, basically any part on him is highly fragile, although he's most likely to break at the neck, hips, and helmet. At this point, keeping the toy MISB is the best way to display him.

{{-}}
====''Beast Wars II''====
[[File:Bigmos GPS examples.jpg|200px|thumb|More of a minor fracture, really.]]
* '''[[Bigmos#Toys|Bigmos]] (1998)'''
:His GPS problems are bizarrely ''not'' his many many many metallic gold plastic parts; his ''turquoise''-colored plastic parts are the brittle ones, to the point of snapping right out of the package. Notable breakage points include the mosquito leg connectors snapping right off, tight hip/thigh swivels resulting in crumbling, and occasionally the robot feet can break due to being really thin pieces. Basically, be very gentle with anything molded in turquoise, be very gentle and take extra caution when twisting tight joints.

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====''Beast Wars Neo''====
[[File:Randy-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|'Tis but a scratch!]]
* '''[[Randy (BW)#Toys|Randy]] (1999)'''
:Randy is one of the ''legendary'' Gold Plastic Syndrome toys. Imagine, if you will, a toy with an entirely spring-loaded transformation... and an outer shell ''made entirely out of metallic gold plastic''. Ouch, right? The stress of staying in beast mode in package, the mode with the very compressed springs, is often enough to break the joints holding his beast-mode sides on before you even open the package. If you're lucky enough to have one still intact, keeping him in robot mode is the best way to ''keep'' him intact. For a while longer, at least.

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====''Beast Machines''====
[[File:BMSnarl-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Sadly, changing up his exercise routine ''won't'' help his shin splints.]]
* '''[[Snarl (BM)#Toys|Snarl]] (2000)'''
: Not the most fragile GPS victim but nonetheless one of the most risk-prone, Snarl is one of those figures that uses an extensive amount of swirly gold plastic throughout his entire body, and as a result, there is ''a lot'' that can go wrong when handling him. All manner of extremities are known to occasionally snap off of Snarl's body, most easily among these being the ankles and leg covers. To make matters worse, it seems that the longer Snarl figures are left in sealed packages, the more brittle they are upon opening said packages.

* '''[[Striker#Toys|Striker]] (2000)'''
: As with Snarl, Striker is yet another figure that isn't as fragile as some of the toys mentioned on this page but is still at a very high risk of breakage just by virtue of the sheer amount of gold plastic used on him: he features an ''entirely'' golden dinosaur shell which relies on ball joints to move and shift, and as a result, said joint pegs are particularly prone to snapping over time. He also has a lot of gold plastic pegs that tab into gold plastic slots, which is, of course, a recipe for disaster. Transforming Striker could prove to be a suicide mission... for him.

{{-}}
====''Choro-Q''====
*'''[[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#metallic|Rodimus Convoy Metallic Version]] (2001)'''
:Sadly, the pinned metallic flake plastic hinges on this version of ''Choro-Q'' Rodimus have become prone to breaking after two decades.
{{-}}

====''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)====
[[File:RIDMegabolt-GPS.jpg|200px|thumb|Really, what could go wrong with gold plastic pins tabbing into small tight gold plastic pegs?]]
*'''[[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Robots in Disguise (2001)|Air Attack Optimus Primal]] (2002)'''
: The biggest toy in the ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline, Air Attack Optimus Primal is actually based on ''Beast Machines'' Optimus Primal, thus making him a particularly desirable toy by virtue of being the most accurate version of said design... Which only makes it all the more tragic that he features large expanses made of sparkly brown plastic, which, like with Optimal Optimus (see above), can be prone to shattering. Owch. This condition most often results in the feet breaking. Thankfully, there is an alternative, as the 2018 ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' reissue does not suffer from GPS.

*'''[[Megabolt#Toys|Megabolt]] (2003)'''
: Megabolt doesn't use as much gold plastic as some of the toys mentioned on this page, but the portions where he does use gold plastic just to happen to be very significant: his limbs, shoulders / alternate mold face place, and above-head cannon are all cast primarily in gold plastic, which is ''not'' a good thing. The most common fracture points include his forearms, the holes that lock his arms in place in crawling head mode, lower legs near the knees, and his head. On top of this he has a number of other design flaws that can lead to non-gold-plastic parts snapping off, so, good luck!
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====''Universe'' (2003)====
[[File:UniSuperion-GPS.jpg|200px|thumb|''You know my hips don't lie''... Or last very long.]]
* '''[[Micromaster]] [[Superion (Universe)#Toys|Superion]] (2003)'''
: While his individual robots are unscathed from the GPS plague, many of Superion's essential combiner [[kibble]] parts are aggressively afflicted: namely, his rifle, hands (which are just white-painted gold plastic), and worst of all, his hip piece. The latter chunk is especially prone to breakage, which isn't helped by the fact that the leg components need to very firmly clip onto it... Meaning that, in a good portion of loose copies, those poor fragile little pegs will be shattered. <ref name="tfwsuper">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-toy-discussion/300674-warning-universe-micromaster-superion-suffers-gold-plastic-syndrome.html TFW2005 thread about Micromaster Superion suffering from Gold Plastic Syndrome, with multiple reports]</ref> On an unrelated annoyance, the peg that connects [[Ro-Tor (Universe)|Ro-Tor]] to Superion's torso piece also tends to break despite no gold plastic being involved, so; if you've always wanted a toy with both shattering gold plastic ''and'' poor quality control then here you go! Best thing to do with this one is to probably just use other Micromaster combiner kibble to assemble his robot mode.

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====Unicron Trilogy====
[[File:CybertronRepugnus-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|"A minor case of GPS"? Yeah, imagine how 'minor' it'd feel if it was ''your'' jaw falling off, prick.]]
*''' ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Repugnus (Cybertron)#Cybertron|Repugnus]] (2006/2010)'''
:Surprisingly the only "Unicron Trilogy" toy that's known to be afflicted by GPS (and indicative of a broader trend as GPS instances start diminishing during this time) and a fairly minor case of it to boot, Repugnus' robot mode "hands"/''Spinosaurus'' head are made of black-painted gold plastic. Surprisingly, he is pretty resilient besides this — a quick search on the secondary market reveals that the overwhelming majority of copies are perfectly intact — but it's still not unheard for his thin jaw parts to break into pieces when inserting his flail weapon into his hands, even if uncommon. His thigh covers are made of the same plastic but, due to their static position and lack of moving parts, are very unlikely to break — so, overall; your Repugnus ''should'' be fine if you're careful.

{{-}}

====''Star Wars Transformers''====
[[File:2006Chewbacca-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Use the Force, Luke... Wait, no, actually, DON'T — AAHHHHH!!!!!]]
*'''[[General Grievous]] (2006)'''
:Grievous' pelvis, arms and legs are all made out of gold plastic with many thin parts in the jointing, leaving them especially prone to breakage.

* '''[[Millennium Falcon]]/[[Han Solo]] & [[Chewbacca]] (2006)'''
:Another infamous example, Chewbacca's half of the Millenium Falcon suffers from aggressive GPS, with only a few parts using gold plastic but most of them being aesthetically and structurally essential: his head, hands, upper arms, and upper legs are all vulnerable to shattering apart after being subjected to even the lightest of stress. To make matters worse, his upper legs are on a ratchet joint ''and'' need to be pushed in and out of his lower leg portions for the transformation... And they also have a tendency to occasionally lock up. Which means you'll ''have'' to apply extra strength to pull them out, and you might even be able do it... In chunks. Yeah, it ''won't'' survive. His upper arms also frequently fall victim to the GPS plague: it is not uncommon for them to come broken out of the packaging. <ref>http://www.seibertron.com/toys/gallery.php?id=2481&size=0&start=101</ref> Han Solo, the other half of the Falcon, has one a cover that flips down from his crotch when transforming which is also cast in the same doomed metallic-brown plastic, but since it is painted grey, it's hard to tell until it eventually breaks.

{{-}}

====Movie toys====
[[File:Protoform-StarscreamGPS.jpeg|thumb|200px|Enough body horror to make Cronenberg sick.]]
* '''[[Starscream (Movie)/toys#Deluxe Class toys|Protoform Starscream]] (2007)'''
:Part of the preview wave for [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|the 2007 movie toyline]], Starscream might not have left the best impression in the long term as the plastic hinges that connect the two small wings to his body are especially brittle, and because the plastic housing the joints is thin, it eventually gives way over time to a crumbly mess. The thumbs are also prone to breakage.

*''' ''Revenge of the Fallen'' [[Stratosphere#Toys|Stratosphere]] (2009)'''
: Stratosphere has gold plastic in his shoulders and thighs, and there have been reports of these parts crumbling. Additionally, more commonly-reported breakages are the toy's lower knees and the hinges connecting the wings—but neither of these parts are the ones made of gold plastic! Poor guy can't catch a break—or, well he can.

* '''[[Costco]] exclusive [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#BattleOpsCostco|Battle Ops Bumblebee]] (2010)'''
:This version of Bumblebee has metallic dark gray plastic in the upper and lower body that display textbook GPS symptoms. The figure will eventually self-destruct during transformation due to said plastic's use in most of the leg and car roof joints. Ironically, the gold ''painted'' portions are mostly a different, more resilient plastic.
{{-}}

====''Transformers (2010)''====
[[File:CreatorPrimus-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|A plague so horrifying that not even the Transformers God can survive it.]]
*'''[[Primus#Transformers_.282010.29|Creator Primus]] (2010)'''
: One of the latest examples but a very severely-afflicted one to boot, Primus features swirly metallic blue parts virtually ''everywhere'' across this body, with his head, torso, arms, upper legs, missiles, and a few other bits here and there using the dreaded plagued plastic. Eventually, it seems that they hit their expiry dates 13 years later, and now they're very prone to crumbling, with the most aggressively affected area being his arms.<ref>https://twitter.com/mechtavius/status/1667326036537753601</ref> To make matters worse, his shoulders are on a ratchet joint, so bending his arms ''requires'' one to press down on them with a modicum of force that the figure might not withstand. Considering the relative rarity of this figure, it's probably for the best to be very careful when handling him... Or, really, to just not touch him at all. Really, maybe even avoiding looking at him the wrong way is for the best.
{{-}}

====''Unite Warriors''====
[[File:UWMotormaster-GPS.jpg|thumb|200px|Phew, at least that's the last toy to suffer such a fate... ''For now''.]]
*'''[[Motormaster (G1)#Unite Warriors|Motormaster]] (2015)'''
: The last figure that's currently known to suffer from GPS, multiple copies of ''Unite Warriors'' Motormaster have been reported as heavily prone to breaking apart on the waist right after being taken out of the box—and of course, once one peers closer, they'll find that same familiar swirly plastic, this time in gunmetal grey.<ref>https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/uw-motormaster-has-disintegrated-from-the-waist.1096466/</ref> In contrast, others who've purchased the figure at at later point have reported never facing this issue at all even after years of owning him, which might suggest that later runs of the Stunticons 5-pack have fixed this issue. Regardless, for those who do not want to take the risk, a popular solution involves replacing Motormaster's waist with that of [[Motormaster (G1)#Combiner Wars|his cheaper Hasbro version]].

{{-}}

====Transformers-related GPS sufferers====
* The "[[Vacuum metallizing|chrome]]" version of ''[[Diaclone]]'' '''[[Delta Magnus|Powered Convoy]]''', the [[pre-Transformer]] version of [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Notes|Ultra Magnus]], has this problem with its swirly ''blue'' plastic. Given the age and relative rarity of this toy, this is particularly troublesome for hardcore collectors.

* While not a Transformer, ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s '''[[Serpentor]]''' is also known to suffer from this problem, especially through his hips, given the groin-breakage-prone leg construction of the standard 1980s ''G.I. Joe'' figure.

*The first Golden Lagoon-based '''X Yearly Version 5-pack''' released by [[Blokees]] also experienced this issue, particularly with their swirly gold elbow and knee hinge joints, which are problematic given their release as a high-priced set.

==Toys commonly discredited as GPS sufferers==
A number of other toys experience breakages while also having gold parts and/or swirly plastic bits, and inevitably, this often leads them to being incorrectly labeled by collectors as GPS sufferers. When it comes to these particular toys, however; the issues are most likely attributable to structural problems with the part designs themselves rather than their plastics.

* The ''Armada'' '''[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#SuperBase|Super Base Optimus Prime]]''' figure's elbows/biceps are made of gold plastic, and the lower joint has been known to break very easily. However, the plastic doesn't exhibit the "crumbliness" typical of GPS; instead, it seems likely that the break occurs when the elbow joints are lined up for them to sit behind the combined mode's back. In this configuration, the red and blue joints don't have room to bend around each other. The way to alleviate this issue is to pull the shoulder out, ''then'' bend the top joint (the red one) first, before moving the arms in any other direction.

* ''Energon'' '''[[Scorponok (Energon)#Energon|Scorponok]]''' has pale gold plastic on the (largely painted) front panels of the shoulders, and moving the shoulders for transformation (particularly into jet mode) can cause the panels to tear in half. However, the plastic itself isn't the problem; rather, it seems to be the result of the toy's design, where the corners of the front panels aren't quite symmetrical, and the one with more clearance is on the opposite side. A [[Variant|running change]] saw these panels swapped to alleviate this issue. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHXKDmxeuHs Swapping the panels to the opposite sides], has a higher chance of reducing breakages.

*''Alternators'' '''[[Swerve (G1)#Alternators|Swerve]]''' has become a common GPS suspect given that his leg joints, elbow joints, poseable fists, thighs, and rocket launcher are all made out of gold plastic — but it's the first of these elements that is generally considered the most problematic, with a few instances of breakages being reported over the years. However, this gold plastic does not exhibit the 'swirliness' of other GPS-afflicted toys, which suggests that, similar to ''Armada'' Optimus Prime and ''Energon'' Scorponok, this is also most likely the product of poor quality control arising from a tight construction rather than an issue with the plastic itself.

*''Alternators'' '''[[Mirage (G1)/toys#Alternators|Mirage]]''', in contrast, features an extensive amount of swirly plastic throughout the figure's entire car mode and this plastic has been frequently reported to suffer from "hairline cracks", leading to the occasional claim that he's a GPS sufferer <ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/alternators-binaltech-fandom-unite-lets-see-some-pics.235171/page-165#post-20719899 A TFW2005 thread where Mirage's status as a potential GPS victim is discussed]</ref> — however, these are almost always concentrated on one specific portion of the car mode (they often show up as lines between the windshield and the front wheelwell), so it seems more likely that the cause for these hairlines is some stress applied on that specific portion of the vehicle rather than the plastic itself. No instances of full-on breakage have been reported, and unlike what's expected from a GPS-afflicted toy, the figure seems to consistently show up intact on secondary market listings: thus, like Swerve, the broader consensus seems to be that he is not a GPS sufferer.

* 2007 ''Transformers'' movie [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] '''[[Scorponok (Movie)#Legends Class toys|Scorponok]]''' has a tail stinger made of soft and bendy golden plastic, which tends to harden over time and become prone to breaking. As the "bendy" aspect suggests, the root cause of this problem seems to simply be the use of an inferior plasticizer, rather than traditional Gold Plastic Syndrome.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
At some point during the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], a vaccine for Gold Plastic Syndrome was developed by [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]]. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II}} [[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle]] claimed to be the only licensee of the cure in the [[Nexus (cluster)|Nexus]] Cluster. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Swindle's Spiel, 2015/10/03}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
In [[Primax 185.0 Beta]], the [[S.T.A.R.S.]] weaponized Gold Plastic Syndrome and invented the [[Photodegradation|Photo Degradation Protocol]] in a failed attempt to fight off [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron's]] mindless hordes of [[Decepto-Pack]]-enhanced human slaves. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/06/04}}

===''Prime Wars Trilogy'' marketing material===
[[First Aid (G1)#PWTG2|First Aid]] contracted GPS during the war against the [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian Empire]]. The disease prevented him from properly combining into [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]]. {{storylink|Ratchet (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Customization class Generation 2 Ratchet bio}}

==See also==
*[[Unpaintable plastic#Photodegradation|Another common problem since 2018.]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcjAUN5Ssj8 Demonstration of Gold Plastic Syndrome in effect at YouTube]

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Diseases]]
[[Category:Toys]]

Generation 1 toylines in Latin America

2025-12-04T01:08:20Z

EarthSparkGears: /* See also */

{{nav-G1}}

While most territories throughout the span of '''the Generation 1 ''Transformers'' toyline''' primarily received the original toys manufactured by [[Hasbro]] and [[Takara]] (and the few national companies that did get licensing to manufacture their own copies, like [[Joustra]] in [[France]] and [[El Greco]] in [[Greece]], having mostly just produced figures identical to their international counterparts save for a few minor variants), a remarkable set of oddities happened beyond the U.S. border, as [[Mexico]] and a good portion of [[South America]] throughout the mid-80s would instead get to manufacture and market their own regional versions of the Generation 1 toyline with far less oversight on part of Hasbro. The result was a wide variety of small self-contained toylines, frequently sporting exotic variants of existing figures and even sometimes featuring entirely new toys, almost all of which would remain exclusive to their respective countries.

A more elaborate description of these toylines and the circumstances behind their releases is present in each of their companies' respective articles, with the primary interest of this page being in providing a holistic overview of the Latin American Generation 1 toy scene and a handy comprehensive list of all toys released throughout it.

==Overview==
[[File:Antex-Robocars.jpg|thumb|upright=1|270px|Odd toy decos, check. Cardbacks that looks like cheap photocopies, check. Stickers that have already peeled off ''inside'' the sealed packaging, check. Yup... They're South American Transformers alright.]]
While it's difficult to explain in broad strokes what led to this arrangement, common sense suggests that it was most likely the result of protectionism and tariffs making it difficult for Hasbro to export their products to a good portion of Latin America. The historical conditions that led to this being the case are complex — they're a mixture of post-colonial economics, recurring cycles of political instability, and a general distrust of reliance on the Global North all culminating in a rise of [[wikipedia:Import substitution industrialization|import substitution industrialization]] policies — but as the broad consensus on the economic history of the region goes:

{{bigquote|According to data compiled by the Fraser Institute, '''in 1980 Latin American was one of the most protectionist regions in the world'''; import tariffs across all countries and sectors – including those export sectors with no import tariffs – were, on average, 42 percent. For comparison, at that time average import tariffs were only 15 percent in the so-called East Asian Tigers nations.''|Sebastian Edwards, ''Protectionism and Latin America’s historical economic decline'' <ref>[https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/document/2023-03/protection.pdf Sebastian Edwards, Protectionism and Latin America's historical economic decline], Journal of Policy Modeling, Volume 31, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 573-584 (ISSN 0161-8938)</ref>}}

As a result, the more profitable deal seems to have been handing the ''Transformers'' license and some molds over to individual companies within those countries and more or less giving them free reins in terms of manufacturing and selling their own nationally-made ''Transformers'' toylines, which Hasbro would then profit from through a royalties agreement. Such an arrangement was not previously unseen in the toy market — for instance; the [[Kenner]] ''[[Star Wars]]'' figures released a couple of years before were also manufactured across a few Latin American countries under a similar licensing deal — but Hasbro seems to have been far, ''far'' more liberal in regards to licensing out the ''Transformers'' across the region, handing out the brand to significantly more companies and apparently being a lot less strict in regards to how exactly those companies would have to produce and market their Transformers toys.

The result of such an anarchic and decentralized approach was a tapestry of different micro-toylines releasing across the region, with odd toy decos, unusual marketing decisions, and inconsistent quality control and distribution practices becoming defining characteristics of the Latin American leg of the franchise during the 1980s. [[Mini-Vehicle|Mini-Vehicles]] would get released in every color under the rainbow, characters would get arbitrarily renamed in the absence of any accompanying media, toys made in one country would get repackaged as generic non-''Transformers'' robots in another, figures from other transforming robot toylines would get imported and rebranded as ''Transformers'' to fill in the gaps, and at one point, even [[Best Join|a literal Transformers knockoff]] would be [[Radio AM Robot|sold as a ''Transformers''-branded toy]]: Truly, these were some wild times for the brand.

Despite - or, rather; ''because of'' - this, the Latin American ''Transformers'' releases have become some of the most coveted vintage Transformers toys on the secondary market, with the rarity of these figures and their frequently unusual color variants appealing to every kind of collector from casual fans interested in owning odd variants of their favorite characters to hardened [[Completist|completists]] who *need* to own ''all'' the odd variants so as to fulfill their primal toy-gathering urges... Which, inevitably, has also led to most of these toys now fetching ridiculously high prices.

==Mexico==
[[File:IGA-Logo.png|center|180px|link=IGA]]
::''Main article: [[IGA]]''

''Transformers'' was released by [[IGA]] in Mexico in 1985. From all the Latin American toylines, this would arguably be the most normal one... And yet, it still has ''a lot'' of quirks.

For the most part, most 1985 toys are similar to their Hasbro counterparts, though with plenty of minor coloring and molding differences: for instance; Prowl would feature a handful of black bits not seen in the Hasbro version, Hoist would feature Trailbreaker's head, and a number of figures like Red Alert and Ratchet would lack paint in a few small spots. The only seriously major variants would come from the Minicars: Bumblebee and Cliffjumper would both get three entirely new extra decos in blue, white, and silver.

Apparently the line did not do well, and 1986's releases were little more than [[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]] and, perhaps most weirdly, a handful of first-year Mini-Vehicles recolored roughly like their third-year retools — so; Pipes would be a redecoed Huffer, Swerve would be a redecoed Gears, and so on! The line was fully canceled shortly after. A number of these toys somehow ended up in some European markets years after the line was over (most famously, they were imported to [[Yugoslavia]] thanks to national toy company Marcanka <ref>[https://tfsquareone.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-arrivals-early-july-part-4.html New Arrivals - Early July 2014 (Part 4)] on htfsquareone.blogspot.com</ref>)... Which is when it was discovered that multiple toys featured ''lead paint'' in their deco applications. Oops.

{{Note|Please be advised that the "red eyes" should only appear on imported specimens sold at European retail. Toys purchased at Mexican retail most likely wouldn't have them.}}

;1985/1986
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini-Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Brawn]] (simplified face){{fact}}}}
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#IGA|Bumblebee]] (red, yellow, blue, white, silver)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#IGA|Cliffjumper]] (red, yellow, blue, white, silver)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Gears (G1)#Toys|Gears]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Toys|Huffer]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Toys|Windcharger]] (no paint on face)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Outback (G1)#IGA|Outback]] (non-modified Brawn mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Pipes (G1)#IGA|Pipes]] (all-blue, blue/white; non-modified Huffer mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Swerve (G1)#IGA|Swerve]] (non-modified Gears mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Tailgate (G1)#IGA|Tailgate]] (white, yellow; non-modified Windcharger mold)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot Cars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bluestreak (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Bluestreak]] (no red paint on face, flat grey windows)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hound (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hound]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Ironhide (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ironhide]] (unpainted diecast shoulder connectors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Prowl (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Prowl]] (3 variants of "black" Prowl)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Ratchet (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ratchet]] (no hand stickers but red cross on roof; unpainted diecast shoulder connectors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Sideswipe]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Trailbreaker]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Wheeljack]] (different factory stickers)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{bp-a1|[[Grapple (G1)#Toys|Grapple]] (with red feet or corrected orange feet)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hoist (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hoist]] (Trailbreaker head)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Inferno (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Inferno]] (reversed arms, then corrected)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Red Alert (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Red Alert]] (no red paint on doors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Smokescreen]] (regular and re-colored unmodified Bluestreak mold)}}
|
|
[[File:Prowl-Mexico.jpg|250px|thumb|IGA's Prowl, with extra black bits.]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Jumpstarter]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Twin Twist (G1)#Toys|Twin Twist]] (with and without red face)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Topspin (G1)#Toys|Top Spin]] (with and without red face)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Grimlock]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Snarl (G1)#Toys|Snarl]] (red eyes, no paint on diecast backpiece connector)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot Commander'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]] (with and without red eyes, with and without factory stickers on diecast cab section)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot City'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]]}}</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=4|
[[File:Bumblebee-IGA.jpg|250px|thumb|IGA's Bumblebee ''(White and blue versions pictured)'']]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Constructicon (G1)#Toys|Constructicons]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bonecrusher (G1)/toys#Toys|Bonecrusher]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hook (G1)/toys#Toys|Hook]] (with & without red eyes on Devastator head)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Long Haul (G1)/toys#Toys|Long Haul]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mixmaster (G1)/toys#Toys|Mixmaster]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{Bp-d1|[[Scavenger (G1)/toys#Toys|Scavenger]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scrapper (G1)/toys#Toys|Scrapper]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Devastator]] (giftset, with & without red eyes on Devastator head)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Triple Changer#Toys|Triple Changers]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Astrotrain]] (with and without red eyes)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blitzwing (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Blitzwing]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Seeker (body-type)#Toys|Decepticon Jets]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Skywarp (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Skywarp]] (plastic purple nose & landing gear)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Starscream]] (silver, plastic nose & landing gear)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Thundercracker]] (plastic nose & landing gear, dull blue)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ramjet (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ramjet]] (sparkly red plastic)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thrust (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Thrust]] (sparkly red plastic)}}
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Decepticon Communicator'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Soundwave]] (black painted feet)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Decepticon Leader'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Megatron]] (made in France!)}}
|}
{{-}}

{{-}}

==Brazil==
<center>[[Image:TransformersEstrela-Logo.png|120px|link=Estrela]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ[[Image:Estrela_logo.jpg|120px|link=Estrela]]</center>
::''Main article: [[Estrela]]''

Easily the most well-known of the Southern-Hemisphere ''Transformers'' releases, [[Estrela]]'s batch of six Mini-Vehicles — now renamed into "Robocars" — were the bulk of the toys released by the company in 1985. They were put out across [[Brazil|Brazilian]] stores in two colors each, one based on its Hasbro original and one new — save for the mysterious "[[Bumper (G1)#Toys|Bumper]]" mold, who was part of this assortment (now under the name [[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]]) and, due to his lack of a proper ''The Transformers'' release, had one of his decos taken from ''[[Micro Change]]'' instead. The line was filled out with redecoed [[Jumpstarter]]s called "Salt-Man" ("''salto''" meaning "jump" in Spanish and Portuguese) and some brand-new molds being introduced to ''Transformers'' for the first time with the [[Eletrix]] and [[Bat-Robô|Bat-Robôs]], respectively deriving from [[Yonezawa Toys]] and [[Asahi Corporation]]. The line also received a number of merchandise, including a [[Jogo dos Transformers|board game]], and even its own unique logo as seen above.

Most coveted among the Estrela toys is a second round of Robocars redecos, the "[[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]] vs [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]" series, which split the toys into brand-new good & evil (respectively) factions. While a lot of Estrela toys like the Salt-Men, the Eletrix, and the Bat-Robôs aren't particularly uncommon, these twelve toys —particularly the more radically-changed Malignus— have become extraordinarily expensive on the secondary market, easily earning triple-digit sums for even loose samples. Still-carded toys are exceptionally rare.

Estrela would continue working with Hasbro throughout the following years, with the company shifting their focus from distributing rather than manufacturing Transformers toys across Brazil. They would end this relationship in 2007 as Hasbro shifted towards their own South American distribution chains, and a messy decade-long lawsuit would follow regarding royalties over some of the (non-Transformers) Hasbro-derived toylines that Estrela still manufactured.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini-Vehicle|Robocars]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Estrela|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (red/grey or white/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Estrela|Carrera]] (Cliffjumper) (red/black or gold/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Estrela|Jipe]] (Brawn) (green/yellow or light beige/dark beige)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Gears (G1)#Estrela|Pick-Up]] (Gears) (blue/red or orange/red)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Estrela|Volks]] (Bumblebee) (yellow/black or silver/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Salt-Man'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man X]] (white/red or white/green)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man Z]] (black/yellow or blue/red)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Eletrix]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Esporte]]}}
{{bp-multi|[[Jipe (Eletrix)|Jipe]]}}
{{bp-multi|[[Porsche (Eletrix)|Porsche]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Estrela-BatRobôPickUp.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Estrela's Bat-Robô Pick-Up]]
|}

;1986
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
<ul class="iconlist">
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-op|[[Carrera (G1)|Carrera]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
{{bp-op|[[Sedan (Optimus)|Sedan]] (green/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-op|[[Volks (G1)|Volks]] (orange/black or red/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-mal|[[Camaro#Toys|Camaro]] (black/pink or teal/yellow)}}
{{bp-mal|[[Jipe (Malignus)#Toys|Jipe]] (black/purple or blue/white)}}
{{bp-mal|[[Pick-Up (Malignus)#Toys|Pick-Up]] (maroon/pink or green/purple)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Bat-Robô]]''' <ref>There's some ambiguity as to when exactly the Bat-Robôs were released: On one hand, they feature similar packaging to Estrela's first batch of ''Transformers'' figures rather than the later Optimus x Malignus rebranding, but on the other hand, they do not show up on Estrela's 1985 catalog and were only advertised in Brazil's localization of the ''Transformers'' comics in issue 11 alongside the Optimus x Malignus toys. As a result, 1986 is generally considered the more tentative date.</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Pick-Up (Bat-Robô)|Pick-Up]] (orange/black or green/blue)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Turbo (G1)|Turbo]] (red/white or blue/grey)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Camaro-Purple.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Estrela's Malignus Camaro. Gorgeous. And expensive.]]
|}

{{-}}

==Argentina==
[[Argentina]] might have received the greatest variety of ''Transformers'' toys in Latin American retail during the Generation 1 toyline, with the original Hasbro-made figures releasing across several Argentinian stores but a pair of national companies also taking on the mantle of manufacturing and distributing their own figures. Even the Brazilian-made Robocars would also enter Argentina... In an ''unusual'' way.
===Antex===
<center>[[Image:TransformersEstrela-Logo.png|120px|link=Antex]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ[[Image:Antex_logo.gif|120px|link=Antex]]</center>
::''Main article: [[Antex]]''

A bit of an odd case, it appears that Argentine company [[Antex]] got its ''Transformers'' license from Estrela, rather than Hasbro, which is kind of dubious on the "did Estrela actually have the authority to do that" mark. Antex would then release its own batch of Robocars and Salt-Men, with the packaging being direct translations of their Estrela counterparts, even featuring their same unique ''Transformers'' logo. And, of course, most of these would feature entirely new decos, generating yet another assortment of uniquely colored Mini-Vehicles.

Similar to Estrela, Antex would go on to officially distribute ''Transformers'' toys in the country throughout the 90s, with many imported ''[[Generation 2]]'' figures arriving to Argentina with Antex branding on the packaging. Antex would also re-release their Salt-Men during this time as [[Robot-Man X]] and [[Robot-Man Z]] under ''Generation 2'' packaging, with the toys being unchanged from their original run. A large number of on-card/boxed Antex toys would be found and sold en masse on Ebay and the likes during the early 2010s, making copies of these figures a bit more affordable than most of the South American originals featured here.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Robocars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Antex|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (blue/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Antex|Carrera]] (Cliffjumper) (white or green)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Antex|Volks]] (Bumblebee) (red or orange)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Salt-Man'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man X#Toys|Salt-Man X]] (red/white or green/white)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man Z#Toys|Salt-Man Z]] (blue/yellow or black/white)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
[[File:G1-toy SaltManX Antex.jpg|thumb|300px|Antex's Salt-Man X (Later sold under the ''Generation 2'' line as [[Robot-Man X]])]]
|}

===Invasion Galactica===
<center>[[Image:InvasionGalactica-Logo.png|210px|link=Invasion Galactica]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎</center>
::''Main article: [[Invasion Galactica]]''
An especially oddball set of releases (which is already saying ''a lot'' considering everything else on this page), a handful of the original Estrela-made Robocars would also be roughly repackaged and sold across a few Argentinan stores under new single-side blister cards featuring the name "[[Invasion Galactica]]" and generic art of a UFO blasting the characters in their very crudely cut-out Estrela bubbles. These releases might be one of the longest-running mysteries in the entire ''Transformers'' franchise: no manufacturing and/or distributor information exists on the packaging and virtually no information about who exactly was responsible for them has ever been discovered, with the most common running theory being that they were the product of national retailers repackaging foreign products to avoid taxation from protectionist laws.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Robocars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Estrela|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (red/grey or white/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Gears (G1)#Estrela|Pick-Up]] (Gears) (blue/red or orange/red)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:InvasionGalacticaCamaro.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Robocar Camaro, sold in "Invasion Galactica" packaging.]]
|}

===Comando Toys===
[[File:ComandoToys-Logo.png|center|200px|link=Comando Toys]]
::''Main article: [[Comando Toys]]''

Another Argentinian toy company, [[Comando Toys]], would also later earn the rights to manufacture and distribute their own Transformers products across the country... And their only fully-fledged transforming toy would consist of a radio originally manufactured by Taiwanese company [[Best Join]] as a [[Knockoff|bootleg]] mish-mashing various disparate elements of ''Transformers'' toys. Yes, now sold as an official ''Transformers'' toy.

On the more merchandise side of things (thus not necessarily a "toy" by this wiki's classification), Comando Toys also released a [[Walkie Talkie Robot|non-transforming ''Godmars''-based walkie talkie]], once again bearing ''Transformers'' branding. Weird stuff.

;1987
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Radio AM Robot]] (available in baby blue/dark blue/grey and dark grey/red)}}
|width="40%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:ComandoToys-RadioAMRobot.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Comando Toys' Radio AM Robot]]
|}
{{-}}

==Venezuela==
[[Image:Rubiplas-Logo.png|center|200px|link=Rubiplas]]
::''Main article: [[Rubiplas]]''

In contrast with the wide spectrum of colorful Mini-Vehicle releases from all across Latin American, the tiny [[Venezuela|Venezuelan]] [[Rubiplas]] line is a lot less esoteric, with most figures having the same color schemes as their original Hasbro releases and therefore looking mostly identical save for a frequent lack of extra paint applications and some different shades of plastic (Rubiplas' Bumblebee, for instances, looks very, ''very'' bright and saturated as a result). The only real stand-out is their weirdly-colored [[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]], now deco'd in red and yellow.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Brawn]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]] (red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Rubiplas|Windcharger]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Bumblebee]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Cliffjumper]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:G1toy-Rubiplas-Huffer.jpg|250px|thumb|Rubiplas' Huffer]]
|}
==Peru and Chile==
[[File:Lynsa-Logo.png|180px|center|link=Lynsa]]
::''Main article: [[Lynsa]]''

[[Peru|Peruvian]] company [[Lynsa]] made their own cheaper-to-produce versions of the original Mini-Vehicle range, often with less-to-no paint applications, decals or chrome, as well as multiple different color variants for each mold, which they would then both sell domestically and also export to [[Chile]]. There are supposedly upwards of ''three dozen'' different mold/color combinations altogether, many of them unique to the Peruvian line, but the ravages of time have made samples stunningly rare and reliable information scarce.

Another pair of companies - Abramowicz in Chile and BASA / HUDE in Peru - also released ''Transformers'' toys their respective countries, but these were simply imported rather than manufactured by those companies. The Lynsa figures were, thus; a cheaper alternative to these pricier figures.

;1987
{{note|Since, as mentioned, it's speculated that there might be '''even more''' as-of-now undocumented color variations of each mold, this section might or might not be incomplete.}}
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Mini-Vehicles'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Brawn]] (olive green/cream and cream/olive green <ref>The two color schemes are inverted, with one Brawn's green parts being the other's cream parts and vice-versa.</ref>)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Bumblebee]] (yellow/black, red/black, peach/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Cliffjumper]] (red/black, peach/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Gears (G1)#Lynsa|Gears]] (light blue/red, dark blue/yellow, orange/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Lynsa|Huffer]] (light peach/blue, peach/yellow, blue/yellow, red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Lynsa|Windcharger]] (red/gray, blueish gray/blue, green/yellow)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Lynsa-Gears.jpg|300px|thumb|Lynsa's Gears]]
|}

{{-}}

==Legacy of Latin American toylines==
[[File:FamiliarReflections Swerve Tailgate.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Hey, we exist!]]
Odd and inconsistent as they might be, the Latin American Generation 1 toylines were inextricable components of the success of the ''Transformers'' brand in their respective countries and are often remembered warmly by fans in these regions: the fact that many of these smaller toylines existed in place of their larger and more substantive international equivalents ultimately didn't stop them from becoming a beloved portion of many childhoods, and likewise, the odd variants and marketing decisions also gave a regional identity of sorts to the brand within those countries. Unfortunately, though, these toylines and their legacy have since been mostly overlooked by modern official ''Transformers'' fiction and pretty much all but ignored by Hasbro and Takara when it comes to the modern ''Transformers'' toy market.

References to Latin American-original characters in media are not completely unseen, but rarely have they received more development besides small cameos. Estrela's Malignus faction would show up as a revolutionary mob in a few 2008 ''[[Transformers: TransTech|TransTech]]'' text stories, and later, the ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' text stories released from 2014 to 2016 would feature both the Optimus and Malignus as more prominent factions in a handful of chapters. Comando Toys' Radio AM Robot would also be briefly namedropped as an in-universe musician in the 2010 "[[A Team Effort]]" ''[[Wings Universe]]'' story. All of these were part of the very niche and fan-oriented works published by [[Fun Publications]] (usually under the ''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Transformers Timelines]]'' banner) and were usually only either posted online or, sometimes, in the subscription-based [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]]. Estrela's Pick-Up and Camaro would inspire the color schemes of ''[[Shattered Glass]]'' [[Swerve (SG)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (SG)|Tailgate]], two characters that would, again; only get minor appearances mostly in the form of Fun Publications' text stories. On the side of media that received more "mainstream" releases, a number of cameos from ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' are also based on the Latin American portion of the franchise - [[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]], [[Volks (Animated)|Volks]], and [[Carrera (Animated)|Carrera]] all got brief "blink-it-and-you'll-miss-it" appearances as background characters - and later, Sedan would also get a mini-cameo in [[Kreon]] form in the [[Transformers Legends Special Chapter|''Transformers Legends'' Special Chapter]], the Bat-Robô version of Pick-Up would briefly show up in ''[[A Cliffjumper(s) Tale]]'' and... This is basically about it.

[[File:Legacy-Wreck-N-Rule-Twin-Twist.jpg|270px|thumb|This is the closest to a modern [[CHUG]] version of a Latin American toy... And it's not even ''actually'' based on the Latin American version of that toy. Bummer.]]
===Modern toys===
Despite the fact that there have been numerous Transformers toylines (and, in a sense, [[CHUG|a nearly two-decades-long meta-toyline!]]) specifically oriented around producing modern versions of older Transformers, with all of the original characters that received Latin American toy variants getting multiple new figures, and numerous obscure and forgotten characters frequently popping up across these newer toylines — often in the form of redecos and retools — it might come off as a surprise that virtually none of the Latin American Transformers have been directly represented in this form. There are two modern toys which can ''kinda'' be [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as Latin American homages, though the extent to which this is even intentional is debatable to begin with: "Puffer", a nickname given to both the Mexican IGA and earlier French [[Joustra]] versions of [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] which use the Huffer mold as a basis, was [[Puffer|later canonized as an official character and released as part of the ''Kingdom'' toyline in 2021]]... Even though the version he's primarily based on is his lighter blue European counterpart rather than his darker Mexican equivalent. And ''[[Titans Return]]'' [[Twin Twist (G1)#Titans Return|Twin Twist]] would get re-released in the 2022 ''[[Transformers: Legacy]] Wreck N' Rule Collection'' in his red and blue [[Diaclone]] color scheme, which also happens to be the one instance of a Diaclone Jumpstarter color scheme that Estrela reused for [[Salt-Man Z]] in Brazil, so... There's that as a small, potentially even unintentional double-homage for all the Estrela fans out there. To make this sting even more, there have been numerous modern figures based on [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|other]] [[The Transformers (European toyline)|regional]] permutations of Generation 1, so the Latin American branch feels particularly neglected by Hasbro.

Unfortunately, it seems that we're still a long way from seeing a complete CHUG Optimus and Malignus team or a ''[[Masterpiece]]'' Radio AM Robot. But until then, we can at least take comfort in the fact that, as far as the first half of the 2020s is concerned, there have been 200% more characters that can double as homages to their South American counterparts compared to previous years, so who knows what the future might hold!
{{-}}

==See also==
* [[:Category:South American-original characters|Category:South American-original characters]]
* [[Grendene]], a Brazilian shoe brand responsible for the [[Grendene Transformers watch]] (and also the sole post-[[Lynsa]] instance of a regular transforming ''Transformers'' toy being exclusive to Latin America)
*Beyond standard toys, multiple Latin American companies would also produce ''Transformers'' merchandise:
** [[Karsten]], a Brazilian textiles company that made home decor sets for Estrela's ''Transformers'' toyline.
** [[Multibrink]], another Brazilian company that made assorted merchandise for the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 franchise)|2015 ''Robots in Disguise'' franchise]].
** [[Garoto]], a Brazilian chocolatier that made merchandise for ''[[Dark of the Moon]]''.
** [[D'elicce]], another Brazilian chocolatier that made [[evergreen]]-style ''Transformers'' merchandise

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 toylines| Transformers (toyline)]]

User:EarthSparkGears

2025-12-04T01:05:51Z

EarthSparkGears: i made talkpage : )

A lazy guy who edits obscure pages and will be forgotten by time.

You

2025-12-04T01:02:15Z

EarthSparkGears:

{{factions|autobot|decepticon|NEST}}
[[File:You island of fear.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I'm blonder than I remember.]]
[[Special:MyPage|'''You''']] are (probably) a [[human]] from [[Earth]]. You sometimes get caught up in the dealings of extraterrestrial mechanical lifeforms known as the [[Transformer]]s. You often get recruited by the heroic [[Autobot]] faction to help in their struggle against the evil [[Decepticon]]s.

[[Sideways (AVP)|Sideways]] has nothing kind to say about [[Your mom (disambiguation)|your mother]]. [[Slug (AOE)|Slug]] also has nothing kind to say about you, though he rarely says anything kind about anyone.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1===
====''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon====
With the Masterforce, You too can [[Transformation|transform]]! {{storylink|You Too Use the Masterforce to Transform}}

====S.T.A.R.S. continuity====
[[File:STARS IDcard Back.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|A valid form of identification in seven states and Guam.]]
The [[Autobot]]s need humans like you to join [[S.T.A.R.S.]] (for only $6.50) and help thwart evil. Members were issued standard equipment including a [[Command Center (G1)|Transformers Control Center]], a S.T.A.R.S. [[iron-on patch]], a [[S.T.A.R.S. membership card]], and an Autobot [[Tech-Spec Manual]]. {{storylink|The battle is far from over!}}{{storylink|S.T.A.R.S. continuity}}

In addition to needing you to join S.T.A.R.S., the Autobots need you to tell your friends about ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' and how they can obtain an [[:File:SpecialMission DirectMail Poster.jpg|exciting movie poster]]. {{storylink|The Autobots Have a Special Mission for:}}

[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] was looking for someone to serve as S.T.A.R.S. Commander and began training you to fill that role. {{storylink|You Have Been Chosen.}}
{{--}}

====''The Transformers'' Adventure Game Books====
{{notemultipath}}
=====Dinobot War=====
A mishap with a buried alien flying saucer at [[Disneyland]] (maybe) sent you back in time. You (might have) met the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] and (probably) helped save the [[Autobot]]s from being murdered while they lay dormant in the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]]. {{storylink|Dinobot War}}
=====Peril from the Stars=====
You (likely) helped [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] prevent [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] getting his hands on a space-borne weapons capsule. {{storylink|Peril from the Stars}}
=====Island of Fear=====
Some reports place you being eaten by a leopard while mixed up in a confrontation between [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] and some [[Mini-Vehicle|Mini-Autobots]]. {{storylink|Island of Fear}}

=====Highway Clash=====
You were (perhaps) thrust into the deadly struggle between [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] as they fought over a lorry-load of microchips. {{storylink|Highway Clash}}

=====Swamp of the Scorpion=====
During another deadly struggle into which you were thrust, you (apparently) encountered [[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]] and [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] in a swamp. You were also a Nebulan. {{storylink|Swamp of the Scorpion}}

=====Desert of Danger=====
At some unspecified point in the space future you (definitely) secured employment co-piloting an interstellar cargo ship and (most likely) got mixed up in the seedy underworld of [[Nebulos|Nebulan]] nightclubs and Transformer-smuggling. Luckily [[Hot Rod (G1)|one of]] the Transformers you smuggled was a lot friendlier than [[Weirdwolf (G1)|the other]] and together you (presumably) prevented the reactivation of some ancient Decepticon robotic infantry. {{storylink|Desert of Danger}}

====''Find Your Fate Junior''====
{{notemultipath}}
=====Dinobots Strike Back=====
{{note|For this adventure, you are mostly removed from the story; you are not portrayed as a character that interacts with anyone, and your decisions are attributed to characters in the story.}}
In the event that Swoop prevented the Dinobots from going on a mind-controlled rampage, and subsequently lost his memory via a bop to the head, you were the only one to remember the events that transpired on the day the Dinobots were guarding [[Hidden Valley]]. {{storylink|Dinobots Strike Back}}

=====Battle Drive=====
{{note|For this adventure, you are mostly removed from the story; you are not portrayed as a character that interacts with anyone, but you are held accountable for the decisions you make throughout the story. As such, you are either scolded or congratulated by the book's narrator depending on what fate you cause to befall onto mankind and the Autobots.}}
In one of the possible sequence of events, you tried to save the Autobots from an ambush by writing in a book. This came far closer to working than logic would suggest.
In an alternate adventure, you wake up suddenly in the middle of a wild chase between Prowl and the Decepticons, realizing that the adventure up to now had been a dream. But if it was a dream, what were you doing in the book wearing your pyjamas?{{storylink|Battle Drive}}
{{note|This book implies that by making some decisions quicker, you may increase your chances of success. No matter at which speed decisions are made, however, the outcomes remain the same.}}

=====Desert Flight=====
{{note|For this adventure, you are mostly removed from the story; you are not portrayed as a character that interacts with anyone, and your decisions are attributed to characters in the story.}}
In one possible sequence of events, Megatron's anti-gravity device hit your neighbourhood, sending you and everyone else on Earth to float helplessly out into space.

You also had the power to turn back time once, by holding up a page up to a mirror. Doing so prevented the Autobots from being vaporized by a [[neutron bomb]]. {{storylink|Desert Flight}}

=====Decepticon Poison=====
{{note|For this adventure, you are mostly removed from the story; you are not portrayed as a character that interacts with anyone, but you are held accountable for the decisions you make throughout the story. As such, you are either scolded or congratulated by the book's narrator depending on what fate you cause to befall onto mankind and the Autobots.}}
In one possible scenario, you are the only human who came to know how closely the Decepticons came to poisoning the water supply, turning all humans into mindless Decepticon slaves. And you would keep that secret to yourself until the end.

In another possible path, wherein Prowl's actions caused the Autobots to die a slow agonizing death while the Decepticons readied to turn humanity into mindless slaves by poisoning their water supply, Prowl wished you had picked a different path. As did you, as you and everyone you knew would soon become a mindless drone.

In yet another possible path, where you got Bumblebee to be tortured by Laserbeak to death, you were asked whether you felt awful for your bad decision. {{storylink|Decepticon Poison}}

=====Autobot Alert!=====
{{note|Autobot Alert! treats your nature as a participant in the story differently depending on which story paths are taken. In one main story branch, you are treated as not being actually present as the story occurs.}}

In one possible scenario, Hot Rod used Perceptor's latest invention, a “rapid-fire, high-intensity rifle cannon” to take out Cyclonus. The blast was so powerful that it knocked you to the floor, despite you just reading about it in a book!

In another scenario, you were reflexively about to bow down to Galvatron's image on the TV screen, (after he demanded you do so) before being prompted not to by the book.

{{note|In another story branch, you are treated as an active participant in the events that unfold. You are most likely an Autobot under the command of Ultra Magnus in this story branch, instead of the assumed “default” of being a human swept up in the Autobots’ adventures.}}

In one possible scenario, you present when an Autobot Alert rang out throughout Metroplex. You learned of two Decepticon plots simultaneously occurring. One of which was the theft of a coded message meant for Ultra Magnus's eyes only. If Ultra Magnus decided to prioritize theft of the coded message, you were part of the captive audience that listened to Kup divulge information about an ancient Autobot formula. You then took off towards the Autobots’ desert research centre along with a number of other Autobots. Once there, you and the rest of the Autobots learned from Springer that the cybertite sphere containing the formula was discovered by humans during the 16th century. If the Decepticons had decoded Springer's message, they would be searching off the coast of California, where the ship containing the sphere had sunk. If they hadn't decoded the message, the Decepticons would still be digging in the nearby crater.

If Ultra Magnus decided to assume that the Decepticons had already decrypted the message, he ordered his forces to split up to more efficiently address the situation. You were part of the main group of Autobot forces led by Ultra Magnus towards the California coast. Arriving at the scene, Ultra Magnus's troops were informed by Powerglide (who had flown ahead of the land-bound group) that he had discovered the location of the sunken ship containing the cybertite sphere. Simultaneously, Blurr caught up with the group to inform them that the Decepticons were quickly approaching. Ultra Magnus called upon you, one of his most trusted advisors to make a critical decision. He asked you whether the Autobots should attempt to raise the sunken ship themselves, or to hide and ambush the Decepticons once they had done it themselves? Whether the Autobots succeeded or failed from this point on depended on the actions of other Autobots. {{storylink|Autobot Alert!}}

====St. Michael ''The Transformers'' Sticker Book====
{{notemultipath}}
While biking, you came upon a cave with a shimmering mist within. Intrigued, you wandered inside, only to find yourself stumbling through a field of star, plummeting towards a rocky planet. You lost consciousness, and reawakened, only to find yourself emerging from a different ave altogether. Around the entrance, looking down towards you were the Autobots [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]], [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Sandstorm (G1)|Sandstorm]] and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]. Together you embarked on a journey to fix their downed spacecraft while fighting the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s, [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] and [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]. Whether or not you succeeded depending on your decisions and you cunning, speed, and strength. {{storylink|The Transformers Sticker Book (St. Michael)|The Transformers Sticker Book}}

====Calm Sleep Stories====
You allowed the weary Autobots to rest behind your home. For your troubles, Optimus Prime regaled you in soothing tones with an explanation of the Autobot-Decepticon War, how transformation works, other Autobots on his team, and their first encounter with a drive-in movie. He also thanked you for being a kind, and generous person. {{storylink|History of the Transformers}} Some time later, you again offered your residence to the Autobots, unknowingly quelling an argument between Bumblebee and Ironhide. In gratitude, Optimus told you of how the disagreement had started, along with a story of how he and Jetfire reconstructed the [[Benevolous Bridge]] on Cybertron. {{storylink|Building Bridges with Optimus Prime}}

===Animorphs===
====Toy packaging====
You are one of the many humans menaced by the [[Yeerk]] invasion of Earth. Because of their need to maintain secrecy, the [[Animorph]]s cannot tell you who they are, or where they live. [[Rachel]] believes that her lion morph will be able to save many people in the battle for Earth, including you. {{storylink|Rachel|Rachel's packaging bio}}

===Live-action film series===
====Toy packaging====
Very few [[human]]s are actually aware of it, but the unleashing of the power of the [[AllSpark]] has given life to machines world-wide. By purchasing a Real Gear ROBOTS product, you too now know this secret. Congratulations! Now, join the battle! {{storylink|Real Gear Robot|Real Gear Robots packaging blurb}}

[[Speed Dial 800]] serves as your robotic companion. {{storylink|Speed Dial 800|Speed Dial 800's packaging bio}}

====LG Promotional website continuity====
The Nonbiological Extraterrestrial Species Team needed your help in locating Decepticons hidden on Earth. Once you completed the missions, you became a full-fledged member of [[NEST|N.E.S.T.]][http://www.LGNEST.com]

====Titan Comics====
Various puzzles, features, and games have been provided for you to prove your intellectual mettle. You may have the chance to [[Transformers Comic issue 2.14#Articles and Features|battle Megatron's intellectual challenges]], try to [[Transformers Comic issue 2.17#Articles and Features|beat Starscream to a strategic item]], apply [[Transformers Comic issue 23#Articles .26 features|for residency on Cybertron]], or even [[Transformers Comic issue 2.3#Free Gift|become Megatron himself to terrify your progenitors!]] {{storylink|Transformers (Titan Magazine)|Transformers (Titan)}}

===Transformers ''Animated''===
====Prime Suspect====
After [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] saved you from being run down by a rogue truck, the police attempted to apprehend him for some breaking and entering that took place the night before. You joined up with [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] and the Autobots to investigate and clear his name by tracking down the real culprit — [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]. {{storylink|Prime Suspect (Animated)|Prime Suspect}}

====Quest for the AllSpark====
On another occasion, you encountered Sari, who told you that the Autobots had abandoned her. As it turned out, [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] was attacking them with remote-controlled devices, and they'd set about hiding the [[AllSpark]]. {{storylink|Quest for the AllSpark}}

====Web of Deception====
A boat ride you were enjoying with Sari on [[Lake Erie]] was interrupted by a torpedo attack, which you were saved from by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]. It turned out that Optimus had been kidnapped, so you, Sari and the rest of the Autobots tracked the culprit, [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]], into an underwater cave system. There you discovered that he'd kidnapped Prime for [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], who intended to turn the Autobot into a [[technorganic|techno-organic]], however you soon had her defeated. {{storylink|Web of Deception}}

====Time-Quake====
On another occasion, strange temporal disturbances across [[Detroit]] led you to team up with [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]]. Locating the time machine that was causing the problems, the pair of your were plunged back in time and had to locate the time machine's control spheres to return to the present. You subsequently helped the Autobots track down the culprit behind the time machine's activity. {{storylink|Time-Quake}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
[[Vector Prime]] frequently interacted with you, answering your questions and occasionally letting you know about other versions of you in the [[multiverse]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime}}

==Games==
===Hunt for the Decepticons===
You were recruited to the Autobot cause to help track down the Decepticons still at large on Earth. After assisting [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] in capturing [[Axor]] in Shanghai, Optimus sent you to [[Paris]] to take down [[Terradive (TF 2010)|Terradive]]. You were issued an "Autobot training facility issued fighter" to take to the skies after the Decepticon, and were able to send him plummeting down after making good use of your jet's weapons. You were next sent to South America to stop Starscream from plundering energy from a mine. With a blaster and forcefield in hand, you were able to send this Decepticon fleeing. Pleased with your success rate, Optimus then inducted you into the Autobots, and taught you the history of the Cybertronian civil war. In preparation for your next mission, a fight against Megatron himself, the Autobots trained you in a variety of skill sets. You improved your speed under [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]'s supervision, increased your strength with [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]], honed your dexterity skills with [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]], and practiced with firearms with Bumblebee. Once you had completed your training, Optimus received word that Megatron was planning to attack [[New York City]] in retaliation for many of his troops having recently been defeated. You were sent out to deal with the Decepticon threat once more, and succeeded in driving Megatron away, once more via the help of your trusty shield and blaster. With this task completed, Optimus recalled you to Autobot headquarters so that he and his troops could thank you personally for your contributions to the Autobot cause. You were also invited to continue using their secret training facility if you wished to do so. {{storylink|Hunt for the Decepticons}}

===''Transformers: The Ride – 3D''===
Upon enlisting as a new [[NEST|N.E.S.T.]] recruit, you were assigned to work with the new Autobot [[Evac (Ride)|Evac]] and entrusted to transport the last shard of the AllSpark to a safe location from the Decepticons. However, [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] broke into the base you and Evac were stationed at and stole the AllSpark, clawing at you before retreating. After [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]] retrieved the shard and gave it back to you and Evac, the two of you took off in the city, where [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] was waiting to guide you both to safety, only for Megatron to then arrive and attack.

As you and Evac tried to get away, several Decepticons gave chase to you both. Despite assistance from [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]], you and Evac were pulled into [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]'s [[Vortex Grinder]], only surviving thanks to Evac shielding you both at the last moment. But just as you emerged unharmed, Starscream grabbed the both of you by his [[grappling hook]]. Flung into a building by the airborne Decepticon, you and Evac encountered Optimus and Megatron locked in battle. Bravely, Evac charged at Megatron, taking you with him, and sent all three of you plummeting down the building after Evac disabled Megatron with the AllSpark shard.

Thankfully, you and Evac were caught by Bumblebee at the last second, saving you from smashing against the pavement. Optimus congratulated the two of you on a job well done, and Evac took you back to N.E.S.T. headquarters, saying that you can ride with him anytime. {{storylink|Transformers: The Ride – 3D}}

===''Hunt the Beasts'' online game===
After the Autobots intercepted a disturbing communication from [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] to [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], you were tasked to investigate Shockwave's laboratory looking for information on the threat posed by Shockwave's runaway experiments. {{storylink|Hunt the Beasts}}

{{note|Unlike your other Transformers appearances, it is not clear that you are [[human]] in this mission. A quote from [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] to you suggests otherwise. "As the humans say, 'You are our eyes and ears on the ground.'"}}

===''Transformers: Forged to Fight''===
Fearing that it could be corrupted by the [[Quintesson]]s in the hands of a Cybertronian, Optimus Prime gave you, as the new commander, the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Forged to Fight}}

===''Transformers: Battlegrounds''===
As a latecomer of the [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]] evacuation, you were found by a Decepticon [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|seeker]]. About to be blasted, you were fortunately rescued by [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] who kicked the seeker out. He asked [[Teletraan-X (Cyberverse)|Teletraan-X]] to take you to a safe place, but after realizing that the city was a real labyrinth, they decided to hire you as their guide on Earth and to follow your instructions to move and attack. {{storylink|Transformers: Battlegrounds}}

===''Transformers: Heavy Metal''===
When the Decepticons under the leadership of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] invaded Earth, Bumblebee and [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] asked you to join the [[Guardian Program]], so you could help them defend the planet and collect [[Mini-Con]]s. {{storylink|Transformers: Heavy Metal}}

==Known toy design work==
Did you know you've been known to design the toys yourself on occasion? [[Fan polls|It's true!]] Look at you go.

===''Generations''===
====''Thrilling 30''====
*[[Windblade (G1)#Generations|Windblade]]

====''Combiner Wars''====
* [[Victorion#Combiner Wars|Victorion]] ([[Pyra Magna#Combiner Wars|Pyra Magna]], [[Jumpstream#Combiner Wars|Jumpstream]], [[Dust Up#Combiner Wars|Dust Up]], [[Stormclash#Combiner Wars|Stormclash]], [[Skyburst (G1)#Combiner Wars|Skyburst]], [[Rust Dust#Combiner Wars|Rust Dust]])

==Notes==
*You're pretty awesome.

[[Category:Animated humans]]
[[Category:Generation 1 humans]]
[[Category:Generations designers]]
[[Category:Hasbro designers]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Movie humans]]
[[Category:NEST]]
[[Category:Prime characters]]
[[Category:Real people]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen humans]]

Car Show Blow Up

2025-12-04T01:00:06Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Featured characters */

{{comicstory|
|prev=Insecticon Attack!
|seriesissue=[[Big Looker Storybook|''The Transformers'']]
|next=The Story of Wheelie, the Wild Boy of Quintesson
|image=Carshowblowup frontcover.jpg
|caption="Too much ''fun'', ah guess.... THEY ALL BLEW UP!!!"
|title="Car Show Blow Up"
|publisher=[[Marvel Books]]
|date=1986
|written by=[[Dana Rosenfeld]]
|art by=[[Earl Norem]]
|pagecount=24pp
|ISBN= ISBN 0-87135-107-2 ISBN 9780871351074
}}
'''The Decepticons' greatest conquest yet will come if they can steal a human made robot car!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DecepticonsCarShow.jpg|left|180px|thumb|I think the Jetson house is over there.]]
It's late afternoon in [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] is complaining about the long day of work. [[Autobot]] leader [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] uncharacteristically laughs at that and implies that it's rare for Hoist to work at all. [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] and [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] zoom in to interrupt all this witty banter. They've heard about a human car show that'll be featuring a voice-controlled robot car. The Autobots are impressed enough by this primitive tech that they want to check it out.

Nearby, [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], his loyal lieutenant [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], and the other [[Decepticon]]s are spying on [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] from the shadows. Galvatron envies the way the Autobots collect energy from it, but can't spare his warriors to build his own such city. On learning of the car show, Galvatron devises a brilliant plan to steal the robot car, "rip apart its circuitry, and use it to create an army of robots who will build [[Decepticon City (G1)|Decepticon City]] for me."

Hot Rod sings "Wheeeee!" as he races towards town. "Come on, Kup! I'm beating you!" Hot Rod and Kup reach the car show and see the Decepticons arrive. They don't like the look of it, and Kup tells Hot Rod to "scoot", 'cause this is too dangerous for a young'un like him.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons decide that, rather than risking a serious beating at the hands of the sort of horrible and war-hardened humans that attend suburban car shows, they'll play with the fuse box to cause a blackout and then grab the robot car in the confusion.

The seasoned veteran Kup is able to sneak in successfully, but then speaks his thoughts to himself aloud and is caught by Starscream. The Decepticons hand Kup some really lame put-downs, then tie him up rather half-heartedly and leave him in the corner so he can be sure to foil their plans later.

Hot Rod arrives home to report on what's going down. He's driven so fast that he's out of breath. Back at the car show, Rumble summarizes the Cons' plans: "Just pull this thing here, and all the lights will blow. Poof! Surprise! All dark." The Autobots roll into the stadium in car mode, but the Decepticons are too excited about the fuse box they've found to notice.

Kup heroically sticks out his leg and trips Galvatron as he goes to push the switch. Galvatron falls down with a comical "OOF!" right in front of Magnus. Galvatron is a hostage! But so is Kup. Starscream threatens to start shooting people if the Autobots don't release his beloved leader right away. But suddenly, Hot Rod sneaks in and frees Kup! The Autobots leap to freedom. The Decepticons are so surprised they forget to fire, and minutes later are running away for their lives. The audience and the robot car are safe!

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (1)
* [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (2)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (3)
* [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] (4)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (6)
* [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (7)
* [[Kup (G1)|Kup]] (8)
* [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (14)
* [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (16)
* [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (17)

|c2=
* [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]] (9)
* [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (10) (see errors)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (11)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (12)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (13)

}}

==Quotes==
"We will steal the robot car, rip apart its circuitry and use it to create an army of robots who will build Decepticon City for me. That's what I need, robots so simple that they do not question my orders, but do as they're told — a race of slave robots!"
:—'''Galvatron''' unveils his master plan

"What have we here? Why, it's a scruffy little Autobot. Old, too. You need a little polishing up. Looking a little moldy."

"Really now. I may not be the youngest Autobot around, but I don't steal cars, like you rotten Decepticons are planning to do."
:—'''Kup''' skewers Starscream with his rapier wit.

==Notes==
* Like many 1986 storybooks, this story is not obviously part of any major continuity. Ultra Magnus and Galvatron are the leaders, while older characters such as [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] are still alive and following their orders.

* Even though Norem had painted his characters with Autobot and Decepticon symbols, black line symbols were superimposed over them in a very cheap manner. This appears to have been a process applied to artwork by other artists like [[John Speirs]] who didn't apply the faction symbols to his characters, and so was redundantly done to later books by Norem too.

* Warning: no actual car shows blow up over the course of this story. In fact, nothing does.

* Even for a little kid's book, the Decepticon plot is pretty nonsensical. 1) They already have way more advanced technology than a remote-controlled car. 2) If they "rip its circuits apart," they can't use it for much of anything, can they? 3) How would they build an "army" from the parts of one car? (It's okay, they were still probably thrown off by Ultra Magnus laughing a few pages back.)

===Errors===
[[Image:Carshowblowupkup.jpg|right|150px|thumb|See, this guy says I look better in black too.]]
*Starscream is painted like [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] on one page when he has captured Kup.
*Windcharger's head is colored red instead of gray.

==External links==
*[http://www.camphortree.net/tf/books/big-looker/carshow.html "Car Show Blow Up"] at Steve-o's Transformers Site

[[Category:Generation 1 storybooks]]

Insecticon Attack!

2025-12-04T00:57:44Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Synopsis */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=[[Big Looker Storybook|''The Transformers'']]
|prev=Decepticon Hijack
|next=Car Show Blow Up
|image=Insecticon Attack Cover.jpg
|caption=When Transformers meets Godspell.
|title="Insecticon Attack!"
|publisher=[[Marvel Books]], Rh Value Publishing
|date=1985
|written by=[[Dana Rosenfeld]]
|art by=[[John Speirs]]
|pagecount=24pp
|ISBN=ISBN 9780871350787 ISBN 0-87135-078-5
}}
'''The Decepticons take control of Grapple, whose mad architecture skillz will allow them to infiltrate the power plant!'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:InsecticonAttackPage09.jpg|left|250px|thumb|A peaceful scene, until you remember he's the size of a crane truck and so there's probably [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|a few smooshed deer]] under him.]]
[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] and the [[Autobot]]s are chilling out outside of their headquarters, when [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] mentions he saw some [[Decepticon]]s the other day in a mountain pass. This news stresses out [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], who drives off to his special secret place.

Meanwhile, [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] is ranting at his troops. He needs power, and whoever can steal it from the power plant will be promoted to second in command.

Beachcomber is chilling out by his secret mountain pond, when he realizes that [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] is nearby, doing the same thing. Grapple wishes things were peaceful and stuff, but doesn't realize he's being spied on by the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]], who think an architect can surely help them get into the power plant. [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] sends [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] off to tell Megatron about this great news, but as soon as Kickback transforms he's spotted by Beachcomber. Bombshell [[cerebro-shell]]s Grapple and makes him attack Beachcomber. Beachcomber beats a hasty retreat.

The thoroughly freaked-out Beachcomber reports the incident to Optimus Prime, who suspects the Decepticons.

Megatron thinks the whole thing is pretty funny, and has the captive Autobot look over the power plant plans. Unfortunately for him, the Autobots come marching up to his front door just then, and attack him in his meeting chambers. The battle scares Bombshell so badly that he forgets all about controlling Grapple, and so [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] is able to pull out the cerebro shell with his magnetic powers.

Megatron, unaware of this, gloats about his great victory, and summons his slave to his side. But Grapple kicks Megatron's legs out from under him, which makes him fall on top of [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]. The Autobots have won! They go home, fix Grapple, and celebrate their great victory.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (3)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (4)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (7)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (8)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (9)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (10)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (13)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (15)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (16)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (6)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (6)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (6)
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] (6)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (6)
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]] (6)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]] (11)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (12)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]? (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"How many times do I have to tell you that I need a way to steal energy from the power plant? How else can I fuel my nuclear-powered fusion cannons and defeat the Autobots?"
:—How CAN you fuel your ''nuclear-powered'' cannons, '''Megatron'''? How indeed?

"He has discovered my secret place," he sighed. "I'll just watch him for a while. Maybe he'll go away."
:—Show us on the doll, '''Beachcomber'''.

==Notes==
* Beachcomber is pretty much wearing a burka.
* So, wait. The Decepticons already HAVE plans of the power plant. So they need Grapple... to read the plans for them? The super-advanced space robots can't read a floor plan?
* Seriously. "Megatron tumbled down and landed right on top of Skywarp and Starscream. By the time the dust cleared, the Autobots had won!" That's what it says.

===Errors===
* Grapple is (rather infamously) drawn with his own head atop [[Hook (G1)|Hook]]'s body through most of the book, though at times he has a windshield chest that makes him a little bit closer to his proper design. Despite being pretty much on-model inside the book, Grapple's head is drawn very off-model on the cover.
* Strangely, Bombshell is colored correctly on the cover but Kickback's black and purple have been replaced with white and additional yellow.
* The art in general doesn't always quite line up with the text. For example, the Autobots swarm into Megatron's "meeting chamber"... yet a second later, they're fighting outside in the mountains. On another page, Bombshell is shown brutally blasting Grapple in the back of the head, while the text says nothing about it.
* Despite the title, no Insecticons do any attacking within the story.

==External links==
* [http://www.insecticons.com/fyf/attack/att-00.html "Insecticon Attack!"] at Insecticons.com

[[Category:Audiobooks]]
[[Category:Generation 1 storybooks]]

File:Insecticon Attack Cover.jpg

2025-12-04T00:55:45Z

EarthSparkGears:

An extremely horrifying off-model [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] stares through the mists at [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] and albino [[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]. From the cover of [[Marvel Books]]' [[Big Looker Storybook]] "[[Insecticon Attack!]]". Art by [[John Speirs]].

{{G1bookcover|source=Insecticon Attack!}}
[[Category:Images by John Speirs]]

Jack Angel

2025-12-04T00:49:57Z

EarthSparkGears: /* The Transformers */

{{disambig3|Jack}}
[[File:Jackangel.jpg|thumb|He's loving angels instead.]]
'''Jack Angel''' ([[October 24]], [[1930]] — [[October 19]], [[2021]]) was an American voice actor. Among his many roles, some of his most notable are King Zarkon from ''Voltron'', [[Nicholas Fury|Nick Fury]] from ''[[Spider-Man]]: The Animated Series'', Wet Suit from ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'', and Chunk in ''Toy Story 3''. He passed away on October 19, 2021, five days before his 91st birthday.

==Roles==
===''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''===
{{collist|3|
*[[Arcana]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] ("[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]" only)
*[[Brobdingnagian scientist]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]" onward, due to the death of [[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Katsu Don]]
*[[Merrick]]
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*[[Teranova|Professor Teranova]]
*"[[Quintesson]] #3" (third major recurring Quintesson voice)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] ("[[Sea Change]]" only) (coughs only)
*[[Wulf|Sir Wulf]]
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|"U-Haul Robot"]]
*[[Throttlebot]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]")
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]
}}

===BotCon 2014 ''Prevenge'' script reading===
*''[[2005 IDW continuity|2005 IDW]]'' [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]

==Convention appearances==
*[[BotCon 2014]]

==Notes==
*Angel was scheduled to appear at BotCon 2011 but illness prevented his attendance. [[Chris Ho]], otherwise known as internet personality "Vangelus", replaced Angel for [[The Stunti-Con Job]] script reading panel.
*He recorded a fake threat to [[James Roberts]] for AutoAssembly 2013, claiming to be angry about how Roberts wrote Magnus ("made him smile, you sick freak!").
*Angel was one of the eight voice actors featured in [[Shout! Factory]]'s cast reunion in the 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection of the original series.
*According to Angel had [[Unicron]] returned in future seasons of ''The Transformers'', [[Wally Burr]] wanted him to take over the role from the late [[Roger C. Carmel]] as he did with Cyclonus.

==External links==
*[http://www.jackangel.com/ Jack Angel's official website]
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0029460/ Jack Angel at the Internet Movie Database]

===Interviews===
*December 2007—TFW2005 ([https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/jack-angel-interview.159431/ Part 1], [https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/jack-angel-interview-part-ii.159697/ Part 2])

{{DEFAULTSORT:Angel, Jack}}
[[Category:English voice actors]]

Jack Angel

2025-12-04T00:47:04Z

EarthSparkGears: /* The Transformers */

{{disambig3|Jack}}
[[File:Jackangel.jpg|thumb|He's loving angels instead.]]
'''Jack Angel''' ([[October 24]], [[1930]] — [[October 19]], [[2021]]) was an American voice actor. Among his many roles, some of his most notable are King Zarkon from ''Voltron'', [[Nicholas Fury|Nick Fury]] from ''[[Spider-Man]]: The Animated Series'', Wet Suit from ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero]]'', and Chunk in ''Toy Story 3''. He passed away on October 19, 2021, five days before his 91st birthday.

==Roles==
===''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''===
{{collist|3|
*[[Arcana]]
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] ("[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]" only)
*[[Brobdingnagian scientist]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]" onward, due to the death of [[Roger C. Carmel]])
*[[Katsu Don]]
*[[Merrick]]
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]
*[[Teranova|Professor Teranova]]
*"[[Quintesson]] #3" (third major recurring Quintesson voice)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] ([[Sea Change]]) (coughs only)
*[[Wulf|Sir Wulf]]
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]
*[[Sentinel Prime (G1)|"U-Haul Robot"]]
*[[Throttlebot]] ("[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2]]")
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]]
}}

===BotCon 2014 ''Prevenge'' script reading===
*''[[2005 IDW continuity|2005 IDW]]'' [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]

==Convention appearances==
*[[BotCon 2014]]

==Notes==
*Angel was scheduled to appear at BotCon 2011 but illness prevented his attendance. [[Chris Ho]], otherwise known as internet personality "Vangelus", replaced Angel for [[The Stunti-Con Job]] script reading panel.
*He recorded a fake threat to [[James Roberts]] for AutoAssembly 2013, claiming to be angry about how Roberts wrote Magnus ("made him smile, you sick freak!").
*Angel was one of the eight voice actors featured in [[Shout! Factory]]'s cast reunion in the 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection of the original series.
*According to Angel had [[Unicron]] returned in future seasons of ''The Transformers'', [[Wally Burr]] wanted him to take over the role from the late [[Roger C. Carmel]] as he did with Cyclonus.

==External links==
*[http://www.jackangel.com/ Jack Angel's official website]
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0029460/ Jack Angel at the Internet Movie Database]

===Interviews===
*December 2007—TFW2005 ([https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/jack-angel-interview.159431/ Part 1], [https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/jack-angel-interview-part-ii.159697/ Part 2])

{{DEFAULTSORT:Angel, Jack}}
[[Category:English voice actors]]

Sea Change

2025-12-04T00:42:50Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Animation and technical errors */

{{episode
|image=SeaChange Alana riding Seaspray.jpg
|caption=Taking inter-species relationships to the [[Transformer romance#Transformer - organic|next level]].
|series=G1toon
|ep=49
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=44
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
|next2=Hoist Goes Hollywood (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=35
|prev3=Blaster Blues
|next3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Sea Change"
|season=2
|season ep=33
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=700-48
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQuQ_lhsKE
|videosite=YouTube
}}

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

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

==Synopsis==
[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] is pulling a water skiing [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] around a lake, but Bumblebee wipes out while trying to jump a ramp. 'Bee decides to call it a day, as the first star comes out. Seaspray makes a wish on the star, but keeps it a secret, otherwise it won't come true.

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

[[File:SeaChange Autobots in Cosmos.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Seaspray! Bumblebee! This nice prince of the Zigerian system says he'll electronic mail us a million [[Shanix]] if I send him one thousand to unlock his account first!"]]

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

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

[[File:SeaChange Seaspray Bumblebee at pool.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|She's sitting in the pool because they've stolen her dress to make dusters!]]

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

Heading to the river, the Autobots are discovered by [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], and the rest of the Decepticons swoop in. Seaspray [[Transformation|transforms]] and takes the Autobots down the river—and right over the waterfall. Perceptor, Seaspray, and Cosmos are rescued by the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee is captured. The Autobots are taken to the Tlalakans underwater city, the only place that the Decepticons have not conquered. They meet [[Tlaloc]], their king, who loans them some warriors to rescue Bumblebee and storm the city. However, Cosmos and Perceptor are too damaged. It's just Seaspray and his men. Er, mermen. After the mermen and Alana change back into humans, some of the mermen set bombs under the city, heralding the start of the attack. The Decepticons go to attack the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee activates a homing beam. He signals Seaspray, who rescues Bumblebee and damages Deceptitran. The Tlalakans withdraw, taking Bumblebee with them, while Seaspray and Alana go to the well. Unfortunately, Laserbeak follows Bumblebee underwater...

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

[[File:SeaChange Mermaid Seaspray and Alana.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Robo-Conan & Robo-Sonya]]

In the forest, the Tlalakans are being chased by the droids, but manage to reach the Well of Transformation. Seaspray asks if Alana really believes he would die if he went in, but Alana points out that they're both machines. Feeling dejected, Seaspray resolves to go into the Well, as Alana cries out in horror. Believing him dead, Alana muses that she ''did'' love Seaspray...only for Seaspray to emerge as a blond muscle man, but with robot feet (and for some reason, still has his gargling voice). The two jump into the Well and change into merpeople. They discover that the city is under attack by the Decepticons, but Seaspray doesn't have any weapons systems as a merman. Spotting them, Megatron orders Rumble to follow. Rumble begins firing, only for his body to also be affected by the Well. Alana begins to tell Rumble to think of a big tree, or become lost. Rumble survives...as a tree. Seaspray resumes his old robot mode, while Alana takes one of her own, as a measure for fighting Decepticons, but she likes her color (guess what [[Elita One (G1)|it]] [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|is]]). On the surface, Seaspray and Alana head to the above water city (with Alana transforming into a gondola) and attack Deceptitran's forces.

[[File:SeaChange Alana Deceptitran.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Boy, you are too fat to be my ''botfriend''!]]

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

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Deceptitran]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (16)
|h3=[[Tlalakan (species)|Talalkans]]|c3=
* [[Chac]] (3)
* [[Alana]] (4)
* [[Mok]] (5)
* [[Tlaloc]] (17)
* [[Rarto]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, look! The first star of the evening. Whaddaya say we make a wish?" 
"I know what ''my'' wish is... no more water skiing!"
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee'''

"Oh no...my paint job's... ruined."
:—borrowing a page from [[Carnage in C-Minor|Broadside]] and [[B.O.T. (episode)|Gears']] playbook, '''Cosmos''' sweats the small stuff before collapsing

"She kissed me! She kissed me!" 
"Ah, dream on, bubble-brain..."
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee''' on Seaspray's love life

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

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

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 28th May 1985
* Script revised by Doug Booth: 30th May 1985
* First draft storyboards completed: 8th June 1985
* Dialogue recording: 20th June 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:SeaChange Deceptitran.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* More interplanetary dealings by Megatron! He's apparently built himself some kind of little empire off-screen, given the content of this episode and "[[The Gambler]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Seaspray picks up Deceptitran's distress call. He has to muck with some component inside his chest to do it.
** Cosmos is explicitly shown changing size when he transforms inside Autobot Headquarters; he converts to ship mode, then suddenly enlarges enough to accommodate his three passengers.
* Cosmos flies straight out of the volcano's cone, a rarely-used but apparently viable means of leaving Autobot Headquarters.
*Bumblebee's original [[bio]] notes that he's good at underwater operations, and of course Seaspray is made for such work. Still, the implication of both bios is that the ''other'' Autobots ''aren't'' real good underwater... but here, as with every other underwater episode, all of them are equally at home. In fact, Bumblebee is portrayed [[Humanization|coughing and sputtering]] after going over the falls.
* As with the [[Atlantis, Arise!|Sub-Atlanticans]], the Tlalakans can talk underwater.
* Dirge mentions [[robo-rat]]s.
*Rumble says destroying Seaspray and Alana will be a "piece of carborundum".
* Seaspray's faceplate can apparently change colour when smitten. Powerglide does not show the same reaction when put in the same situation in "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]".
* Rumble calls Astrotrain an [[astro-turkey]]. Although pretty clearly an insult in its original context, TakaraTomy's ''[[World of the Transformers]]'' online featurette declared it to be a Cybertronian creature.
* Exactly why Seaspray and Rumble are able to survive and even use the [[Well of Transformation]] isn't really explored within the episode. The concept of the [[Spark]] wasn't established at this point in the franchise, but is an excellent explanation as to why Deceptitran's drones are destroyed while full-fledged Transformers are not.
* Rumble is frigging stupid.

===Real-world references===
[[File:SeaChange Bumblebee wipeout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It went almost as well as Dinobot football.]]
[[File:SeaChange Tlalakans escaping.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The term "sea change" simply means [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20change a significant transformation,] though, {{w|Ariel's Song|when Shakespeare coined it}}, he was talking about the substance of a body literally being changed by the sea (such as bone being replaced with coral).
* This episode marks the Autobots' third foray into Earth sports, as Bumblebee gives water skiing a try (see also "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" and "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]") The Stunticons will later have a go at it in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]".
* The vaguely Meso-American aesthetic of the natives and the word "Tlalakan" itself suggests that the planet is meant to evoke {{w|Tlalocan}}, the "heaven" in Aztec cosmology reserved for those who died by drowning or had an otherwise water-related death. That's, uh, actually pretty morbid!
* One of the Tlalakan natives is even named {{w|Tlaloc}}, after the Aztec god of rain and water who ruled Tlalocan. Hopefully, he didn't demand child sacrifices like the real one...
*Conversely, another of the natives is named Chac, which is very similar to {{w|Chaac}}, who was a Mayan god of rain.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Lightsaber]]s clashing and slashing equipment as the drones whip the workers.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter]]s as Cosmos first approaches the city, and again when Astrotrain makes the same approach.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak takes off to pursue Seaspray.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Laserbeak flies into Astrotrain.

===Animation and technical errors===
* As he's water skiing, Bumblebee is supposed to ski up to the ramp and then over it, but instead he's floating a few feet above the water before he even gets to it. Then a layering error has him flying past the ramp (in front of it, looking tiny) instead of going over it. Then part of his feet and skis disappear after he clears the ramp.
*Ventriloquist bots:
** "Because that is my programming!" - Deceptitran's mouth doesn't move as he laughs after delivering this line.
** Prime's mouthplate doesn't move as he restates Perceptor's analysis.
** Perceptor groans in pain twice after the crash... but the second time, it's the more visibly damaged Cosmos who's on-screen.
** Alana has already moved underwater when she says "I'll see you there".
** The shot of the Autobots going over the waterfall is repeated before and after the commercial break. The first time, the Autobots are crying out as they fall; the second time, they're silent.
** Seaspray orders Bumblebee to go with the Tlalakans, but one of the Tlalakans is shown mouthing his words.
** "Hey, what's going on?!" - tree-Rumble's mouth doesn't move as he speaks this line.
** Tree-Rumble's cough (as he falls in the water) is provided by [[Jack Angel]].
* Coloring errors:
** When the guards dump Chac, Alana's legs are colored green, as if she's wearing pants. (Heavens forefend!)
**While analyzing the distress signal, Perceptor's helmet is red.
** "We came as soon as we got your request for help" - two bits of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in.
** Seaspray's back is yellow instead of white as Laserbeak flies overhead.
** One of Soundwave's hands is white as he captures Bumblebee.
** As the firing Decepticons advance on the undersea city, Rumble has Frenzy's color scheme.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of dark gray as he flies out of the city to attack the rebels.
** "They must not escape!" - Deceptitran's mouth is the same gray as his face, where it is darker gray in other scenes. The same error happens as he responds to Cosmos's arrival over the city.
** When Deceptitran radios Megatron to tell him the energon supplies are in jeopardy, Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are blue instead of white; then his visor changes from red to white.
** Soundwave is colored as Perceptor, and Astrotrain as Cosmos, when the Decepticons leave to save the energon.
** When the droids first start firing on the Decepticons, the walls are shown glowing energon pink, but they haven't reached the energon stockpile yet.
** Around the time when Megatron calls a retreat, Soundwave's visor is white.
** "Destroy the Autobot!" - as the Decepticons run along, Soundwave's missing his eject button, has some black stripes on his chest, and has blue cheekguards again.
* Missing body parts:
** As we look over Perceptor's shoulder in Autobot Headquarters, his head is missing! His cannon's also missing some of its black coloration.
** When Seaspray and Bumblebee are seen carrying Cosmos, only Cosmos' upper half is there! Perceptor's missing his Autobot symbol as he walks behind the other Autobots.
** As Seaspray warns Mok, his left arm is missing.
** "It's those blasted rebels again" - Astrotrain's right wing is missing.
** When Rumble is ordered by Megatron to follow Seaspray and Alana, his rear-mounted weapon disappears as he moves forward; meanwhile, Megatron's gun barrel is missing.
* When Alana runs to assist Chac, the first cell is reversed, making her appear to be on the wrong side of the screen for an instant.
* Lots of misaligned glow effects in this episode:
** When Seaspray starts to receive the distress message, a glow effect is shown, but it's not illuminating any of his components.
** In the first shot of Cosmos beginning to enter the atmosphere, the heat flame effect is off to one side of him.
** When the droids open fire on Cosmos, the laser beams are misaligned so that they're not coming from the guns, but from a bit to the right of the guns.
** When they first attack the city to rescue Bumblebee, a couple of the rebel's shots aren't aligned with their guns.
** The glow of Bumblebee's homing beacon is not inside the lines of the buttons he's pushing in two successive shots. Neither are the glowing components on Seaspray's side as he receives the signal.
* In the nighttime establishing shot of Autobot Headquarters, the ship is tilted much more steeply than usual, almost vertical to the ground.
* In the first shot of the newly arrived Decepticons, Rumble's model is replaced by one Deceptitran's droid's. Also, Dirge and Soundwave are both missing their Decepticon symbols.
* As Deceptitran tells Megatron about the Autobots, he's floating above the floor instead of sitting on it.
* Soundwave's 'con symbol is missing again as he moves to capture Bumblebee.
* Flying Autobots:
** Perceptor and Bumblebee are showing "flying" along underwater without moving their limbs, despite not having any means of propulsion. Seaspray should be using his propellers, but he's not.
* Missing [[Transformation#The noise|transformation noise]]:
** After randomly declaring that "we may be able to repair ourselves after all" for no apparent reason, Perceptor transforms to robot mode with no transformation sound.
** The Decepticons land and transform in sequence to pursue Seaspray into the energon warehouse, but only a single transformation sound effect plays. Dirge finishes his transformation in silence.
* When Alana tells Seaspray to take the tunnel to the surface, Seaspray stops - but his propellors are drawn as though they're still spinning, even though they're not moving.
* Seaspray's shot (which severs Deceptitran's arm) doesn't get the usual Autobot laser sound effect.
* Megatron tells Dirge and the droids to chase Seaspray and Alana, but only the droids go. One of the droids freezes in place behind Megatron as he lands.
* When Rumble moves forward to start the attack, the perspective of his body doesn't correspond to the perspective of his gun.
* Wrong laser sounds:
** Dirge gets a non-standard laser effect as he fires at Seaspray.
** Megatron's fusion cannon doesn't make its standard sound as he laughs during the attack.
[[File:G1-Cartoon-SeaChange-Rumble-Tree.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rumble's plan to attract hot tree huggers goes awry.]]
* After Rumble's and Seaspray's transformative glow effects vanish, the backgrounds don't change back to normal with it.
* When Rumble is changed into a tree, he appears to be simply a tree with a mouth and eye holes, but during his close-up, his face is its regular, robotic self, apart from the fact his visor is now two separate eyes. The tree images in general look rather unfinished.
* The animators did a pretty good job of remembering that Deceptitran is missing an arm, but it briefly reappears as Alana and Seaspray approach for the second time.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Cosmos in space.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Inside: Seaspray, Bumblebee, Perceptor, and two of every animal in its kind.]]
[[File:SeaChange Energy syphon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|He's like 50 Dr. Arkevilles.]]
*In all of its other appearances, Cosmos's interior is shown to have light grey walls with a dark grey floor. For this episode only, his interior is the same burnt orange color as the interior of Autobot HQ.
* Moreover, he's got a carrying capacity far greater than what was shown in "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" (though comparable to what's shown in "[[Quest for Survival]]".) He ''does'' turn away Optimus Prime as being too big to fit, implying that there is ''some'' kind of size limit on his interior.
* In "The Ultimate Doom" it was shown that Dr. Arkeville couldn't even fill 1 energon cube with his brain power, yet the energy from Chac instantly fills a cube. Deceptitran's equipment appears to do a full-body power drain from the Tlalakans, as opposed to just using "mind energy" as Starscream did.
* When the Decepticons attack Seaspray and Alana after Lazerbeak follows Bumblebee into the sea, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] fights alongside the other Decepticons, even though he is not present in any other scene.
*Although Tlaloc appears to be among the mer-Tlalakans leading the escaping prisoners away, he later expresses surprise that Alana and Mok are free.
* As usual, it's a bit weird that Perceptor transforms to microscope mode to look at a screen.
* Why is Dirge setting up a probe to extract information from Bumblebee? Megatron's got Soundwave right there, and [[Roll for It|he's done this]] [[War of the Dinobots|multiple times before]]. Aside from being [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette-guy]], it's kind of his main thing.
* After Alana and Seaspray rescue Bumblebee, Megatron orders "Dirge! Droids! Follow them!" However, Dirge, who is standing right next to him, doesn't move. And he's still depicted with Megatron in the very next scene, when Megatron is dealing with the hysterical Deceptitran.
*It's implied that the Tlalakans can only change form while in the Well of Transformation, yet Alana's transformation between robot and gondola modes uses the same effect as a Tlalakan changing, rather than a traditional Transformer transformation (as you would expect from her having imitated Cosmos's species) and she's nowhere near the Well. Likewise, she changes from a pink metal robot into a brown wooden boat.
*Also, how is Alana able to shoot lasers when transformed? It looks like they just come out of her body!

===Trivia===
* Nearly every discrepancy in the episode, big and small, is the result of the trimming that the first-draft script went through to get it down to a 22-minute episode:
** The "wish on a star" scene originally had Seaspray noticing a human couple together near the water, making clear to the viewer and to Bumblebee what his unfulfilled wish was. Bee gives him some ribbing about it a few times later on... but it's also why he mentions wishing on a star at the episode's conclusion.
** The subplot of Perceptor and Cosmos's damage is almost entirely cut. The script calls for Perceptor to be visibly damaged as he's carried out of Cosmos, a visual that didn't make it into the animation. Later the Tlalakans showed Perceptor an organically developed welding torch, prompting his otherwise random line about repairing themselves. The two were to be shown with detached limbs as they worked to get them fully functional again, then frantically reattaching them as the Decepticons attacked!
** A cut scene would have featured Astrotrain greedily devouring the stored energon, then drunkenly transforming to locomotive mode and smashing into a wall. He subsequently "sleeps it off" for the rest of the episode, with Dirge periodically checking in on him, explaining why he's absent for nearly all of the scenes on the alien planet. This also explains Megatron's strange insult to him during the retreat; originally Megs called him a "sot" -- a drunkard -- rather than a "sponge".
** Dirge also grumbles during one of these checkins that he "never should have left Cybertron".
** Dirge's memory probe originally uncovered a scene of little baby Bumblebee transforming for the first time, with his momma and daddy looking on proudly.
** The chemistry/tension between Seaspray and Alana is expanded and ratcheted up a bit; at one point, complaining that the Tlalakans see him as nothing but a bunch of nuts and bolts, Alana replies that she *likes* his nuts and bolts!
* Number of times someone says "Destroy the Autobots": 4
* "I'm, uh, sorry about what happened to your city," says Seaspray, in a hilariously avoidant use of the passive voice - "what happened" to it was that ''Seaspray blew it up!''

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Grand Amour'''" ("The Great Love")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*All the logo transitions were cut. It is unknown if it was that way for the original broadcast or if the episode was chopped for the DVD release.
::*As usual, some dialog is changed to avoid pronouncing Laserbeak's name:
:::*Bumblebee's line "Oh no! Laserbeak!" becomes "Oh no! Decepticons!".
:::*Megatron's line "I read you, Laserbeak" becomes "Go ahead, I'm listening", making it confusing who he is talking to.
::*And also as usual, some lines are absent from the dub:
:::*Seaspray's line "Hey Bumblebee, what do you think of water skiing so far?" is missing.
:::*Cosmos' explanation "Well actually, searching my memory banks, I found the sequencing is quite similar to transmissions intercepted during the third Cybertron war" is missing.
:::*Deceptitran does not say "How good it is to see Decepticons again!", he immediately starts on screen with "You must be exhausted after your long journey".
:::*The dialogue between Soundwave and Rumble as they inspect if the Autobots survived is missing.
:::*Perceptor's line "Cosmos! We may be able to repair ourselves after all" is missing.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il pianeta Tritone'''" ("The Planet Tritone")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*While Tlalakan's name is never pronounced in the episode itself like in English, the title suggests that it's called Tritone, which is the Italian word for "merman", but also the Italian name of [[w:Triton (mythology)|Triton]], son of Poseidon. Interestingly, Triton is already the name of [[w:Triton (moon)|a real existing moon]].
::*After Seaspray recives the helping request, Bumblebee's line: «Hey, you're right!» is oddly changed to: «Hey, you guessed correctly!».
::*In "third cybertronian war", "cybertronian" is translated as "cubetronica" which... means nothing in Italian. "Cybertronian" is generally rendered in Italian as "cybertroniano" in male form and "cybertroniana" in female form.
::*Rumble is voiced by at least two different actors in this episode.
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Cambio di marea'''" ("Change of Tide")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The title is somehow a translation of the literal meaning of "sea change", not considering that it actually means "transformation". Hence, the title has no connection to the actual plot.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henshin no Izumi'''" (変身の泉, "The Spring of Transformation")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 16]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bàngwǎn de Xīngxīng '''" (傍晚的星星, "Stars at Nightfall")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mudança no Mar'''" ("Sea Change")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Morje menyayetsya'''" (Море меняется, "The Sea Is Changing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Seaspray.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And they look at you ... and they KNOW. And they say "Who's Alanna?"]]
*'''Seaspray''' (Legends Class, [[2017]])
**''Accessories'': Blaster/roof

:''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Seaspray's inner forearms have [[Alana]]'s name (though spelled "Alan'''n'''a") engraved in [[Alphabet#Autobot script|Ancient Autobot]] in reference to this episode. Apparently he ran out and got the Autobot equivalent of a tattoo.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 11 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rjc2FYqZXWb0ZWz8kSXkwV-gPRihpFYG/view?usp=sharing First draft script, submitted 28th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zn2HPBqxNFsnavpHsHVYByJbP5SLwA1M/view?usp=sharing Episode script, revised by Doug Booth 30th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xL0o7SgCMCqWxAwMG0-lK5bAbjjLGg_J/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-48-sea-change.html Gallery of first draft storyboards]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BM_e63erCeyF4IhpuedhE8-1SxN2dN5w Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Gears (ES)

2025-12-04T00:39:20Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Gears}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Gears is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:gears es.JPG|upright=1.67|thumb|"Grumble... I suppose this wimpy cameo is better than doing nothing for 36 years."]]

'''Gears''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Great War.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Gears fought on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Gears, like [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Thundercracker (ES)|Thundercracker]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers' war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]

Cliffjumper (ES)

2025-12-04T00:38:52Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Cliffjumper}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Cliffjumper is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:cliff es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|His face is so small it becomes oddly cute for a Cliffjumper.]]

'''Cliffjumper''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Transformers war.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great war (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Cliffjumper fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and later on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Cliffjumper, like [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], and [[Thundercracker (ES)|Thundercracker]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]

Ratchet (ES)

2025-12-04T00:38:11Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Ratchet}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:ratchet es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|At least this time, he won't be [[The Transformers: The Movie|shot down for using a tiny pistol]].]]

'''Ratchet''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Transformers war.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Ratchet fought on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Ratchet, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Thundercracker (ES)|Thundercracker]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

Ironhide (ES)

2025-12-04T00:37:24Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Ironhide}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Ironhide is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Ironhide es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67]]

'''Ironhide''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Great War.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Ironhide fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and later on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Ironhide, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Thundercracker (ES)|Thundercracker]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

Jazz (ES)

2025-12-04T00:36:18Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Jazz}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Jazz is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Jazz es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|]]

'''Jazz''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the war.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Jazz fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and later on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Jazz, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Thundercracker (ES)|Thundercracker]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

Bluestreak (ES)

2025-12-04T00:35:19Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Bluestreak}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Bluestreak is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:blue es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|Why is he so shy? Is he just so afraid that modern day kids will think he's related to [[Prowl (ES)|Prowl]] if they see his head?]]

'''Bluestreak''' is an Autobot that fought in the Transformers war when it was taking place on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Bluestreak fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Bluestreak, like [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Thundercracker (ES)|Thundercracker]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]

Thundercracker (ES)

2025-12-04T00:34:03Z

EarthSparkGears: /* EarthSpark cartoon */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Thundercracker}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Thundercracker is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:thunder es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|The [[Thundercracker (G1)#2019 IDW continuity|second time]] in a row he has way less screen time than [[Nova Storm (ES)|a rainmaker.]]]]

'''Thundercracker''' is a Decepticon that fought in the Great War when it was taking place on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Thundercracker fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Thundercracker like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Decepticons]]

Thundercracker (ES)

2025-12-04T00:33:37Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon}}
{{disambig3|Thundercracker}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Thundercracker is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:thunder es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|The [[Thundercracker (G1)#2019 IDW continuity|second time]] in a row he has way less screen time than [[Nova Storm (ES)|a rainmaker.]]]]

'''Thundercracker''' is a Decepticon that fought in the Great War when it was taking place on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' War]] by [[Alex Malto]], Thundercracker fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Thundercracker like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Decepticons]]

Animorphs

2025-11-29T17:29:03Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Fiction */

{{disambig2|the toyline based on the book series and television show|the organic beings empowered with the ability to "morph"|Animorph}}
<div class="center">[[Image:AniLogo.png|none|242px]]</div>

[[Image:Animorphspromoart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Enjoy the toyline based on a story about the horrors of war and how it corrupts everyone involved, kids!]]

In 1999, [[Hasbro]] released a small toyline based on the popular '''''{{w|Animorphs}}''''' book series by K. A. Applegate. The line was released under the ''Transformers'' brand name, though the two franchises have no relation to each other, story-wise. ''Animorphs'' toys were stocked on shelves alongside ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Transmetal 2]] toys, and their presence may explain why the Transmetal 2 series was so small (only 17 toys).
{{TOCclear}}

==Toys==
''Animorphs'' toys featured a small cast of human characters that transformed into various animals. Most figures also had a third "mid-morph" mode that represented a halfway point in the morphing process. There were also 2 alien "[[Andalite]]" characters, one hero ([[Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill]], referred to as "Ax" for short) and one villain ([[Visser Three]]).

As the line trickled to a close, two of the later figures ([[Marco#Beetle|Marco/Beetle]] and [[Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill#AxPanther|Ax/Panther]]) became fairly rare and difficult to find. A very small third wave of figures, [[Jake (Animorphs)#Manta|Jake Stingray/Manta]] and [[Taxxon#Toys|Taxxon/Alien]], never saw release in the United States at all, though they were produced in limited numbers in European markets.

With the cancellation of the line, a series of planned animal-to-animal toys was [[retool]]ed and released under the ''Beast Wars'' banner as the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]].

===Deluxe===
Each Deluxe toy came packed with a small [[Yeerk]] figure in either orange, purple, or red translucent plastic.
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
*[[Cassie#Toys|Cassie/Wolf]]
*[[Jake (Animorphs)#Toys|Jake/Tiger]]
*[[Marco#Toys|Marco/Gorilla]]
*[[Rachel#Toys|Rachel/Lion]]
*[[Tobias#Toys|Tobias/Hawk]]
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 2'''
*[[Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill#AxPanther|Ax/Panther]]
*[[Jake (Animorphs)#Bear|Jake/Grizzly Bear]]
*[[Marco#Beetle|Marco/Beetle]]
|
|width="40%" valign="top"|'''Wave 3''' (Europe only)
*[[Jake (Animorphs)#Manta|Jake Stingray/Manta]]
*[[Taxxon#Toys|Taxxon/Alien]]
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Animorph-toy CassieWolf.jpg|thumb|200px|Deluxe Class [[Cassie#Toys|Cassie/Wolf]]]]
|}
{{--}}
===Mega===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
*[[Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill#Toys|Ax/Scorpion]]
*[[Visser Three#Toys|Visser Three/Inferno Creature]]
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 2'''
*[[Tobias#Mega|Tobias]] (human/hawk)
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:Animorph-toy TobiasMega.jpg|thumb|200px|Mega Class [[Tobias#Mega|Tobias]]]]
|}
{{--}}
===Ultra===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="40%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
*[[Visser Three#Ultra|Visser Three]] (Andalite/"[[Hork-Bajir]]"/Inferno Creature)
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[Image:Visser_Three_Ultra_Toy.jpg|thumb|200px|Ultra Class [[Visser Three#Ultra|Visser Three]]]]
|}
{{--}}

===Super===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="40%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1'''
*[[Tri-Rex#Toys|Tri-Rex]] (''Tyrannosaurus rex'' [[combiner]])
:*[[Cassie#TriRex|Cassie]] (human/tail)
:*[[Jake (Animorphs)#TriRex|Jake]] (human/head)
:*[[Marco#TriRex|Marco]] (human/body)
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[Image:Tri-Rex toy.jpg|thumb|200px|Super Class [[Tri-Rex#Toys|Tri-Rex]]]]
|}
{{--}}

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] salvaged parts for [[Death's Head (Animated)|his ship]] from [[Taxxon]] sources. {{storylink|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|The AllSpark Almanac}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
[[Vector Prime]] clarified that the ''Animorphs'' universe takes place elsewhere in the [[Megaverse]] and was only associated with ''Transformers'' due to a small bit of reality drift. {{storylink|Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 3, 2015|Ask Vector Prime}}

==Notes==
[[File:Animorphs_Mutants_Wave_Two.jpg|thumb|They transform from "didn't happen" to "never happened".]]
*The ''Animorphs'' line was poorly received by ''Transformers'' fans due to its unrelated mythology as well as the execution of the action figures. On the bright side, the ''Animorphs'' toyline paved the way for later crossovers, including the ''[[Star Wars Transformers]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Crossovers|Crossovers]]'' brands.
*Several Animorphs toys with a human form feature articles of ragged clothing being worn by a character... But what exactly is happening to them is unclear. The clothing being ripped and wrecked seem to imply that the clothes are being destroyed due to the characters morphing, as is described happening in the Animorphs novels. Yet, the toy line advertises more heavily the television series over the books, and in said program the characters' clothes morphed alongside them into their animal forms, and the toys' sculpting and paint details hint that this is what is also happening with these figures. It can be speculated that either their garments are getting first torn to shreds and then subsequently morphing along the character into their animal forms, or that the Animorphs' clothes are in shambles due to being worn in combat.
*Had the line continued and the [[Mutant (BW)|Mutants]] remained Animorphs, future waves would have followed comprised of a hornet/poison dart frog (Andalite), ram/Komodo dragon (human), and vulture/piranha (human). These never got past the [[control drawing|control art]] stage.<ref> [[Transformers Beast Wars: Beast Generations]], p113</ref>
*There was also a set of [[Taco Bell]] toys where the animal shell could be "transformed" to expose the human inside, [[Pretender]]-style. However, these toys were made by Discovery Concepts, not Hasbro, and thus are not proper ''Transformers'' toys like the ones above.
*On the opposite side of things, the Animorphs franchise makes a handful of references to ''Beast Wars'' in its different incarnations; in the book ''The Separation'', one of Mean Rachel's morphs is described as looking "like someone had taken a Barbie doll and a Beast Wars Transformer and melted them together in the microwave", while the first episode of the TV show starts with a scene of the characters playing the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)|PS1 game]] (albeit with all ''Beast Wars'' branding omitted).

==References==
<references/>

==See also==

*[[Star Wars Transformers]]
*[[Transformers: Crossovers|Crossovers]]
*[[Transformers Disney Label|Disney Label]]

==External links==
*{{w|Animorphs|Animorphs at Wikipedia}}
*[[wikia:animorphs:Main Page|Seerowpedia, the Animorphs wiki]]

[[Category:Animorphs franchise| ]]
[[Category:Crossover toylines]]
[[Category:Franchises]]

The Transformers (CBS pitch)

2025-11-26T16:02:03Z

EarthSparkGears:

[[File:CarandCable1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.5|Well, now he's not getting that schlond poofa anymore.]]

Everyone knows ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''! It was one of the most popular cartoons of the '80s! You don't need us to explain the adventures of the [[Autobot]] spy Muffler and his human friends getting into wacky antics trying to survive and wage a guerrilla war on a [[Decepticon]] controlled [[Earth]].

Just kidding, that's obviously not the cartoon we got.

In early [[1984]], though, it was possible that wouldn't be the case. A radically different version of the show was pitched by [[Marvel Productions]], its series bible written before "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More Than Meets The Eye]]" even had a final script. For decades, there was no information about this pitch, barring mentions in writer [[Jeffrey Scott (writer)|Jeffrey Scott]]'s resume<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 203)</ref> and a brief discussion in a production memo.

Forty years later, that all changed.

==Background==
In [[1981]], animation studio {{w|DePatie-Freleng Enterprises}} was sold to [[Marvel Comics]], becoming Marvel Productions. Both were located on different sides of the country, with Productions in [[California]] and Comics in [[New York (state)|New York]]. Despite this new merger, the two companies didn't get on well at all. In [[1983]], Marvel Productions ignored the work that Comics had created for the unproduced series ''[[Mysterians]]'', rejecting the serious action premise for a goofy, Hanna-Barbera-esque one largely centered on kid supporting characters and a wacky dog.<ref>[http://jimshooter.com/2011/06/secret-origin-of-transformers-part-1.html/ "The Secret Origin of the Transformers - Part 1"]</ref>

By 1984, the same thing happened with ''Transformers''. Fueled by the massive success the ''Transformers'' toyline was projected to be (and ultimately was), Hasbro rushed to expand the still in-production miniseries into a full show, naturally turning to Marvel Productions to do so. However, rather than sell it to syndication as with the miniseries, Marvel Production attempted to sell the show to the network [[CBS]]. One of the network requirements were female characters, but we're not sure if they had others or if the writers just decided to reuse other stock tropes they knew networks liked.

Enter Jeffrey Scott. A former Hanna-Barbera employee most known for his work on ''Super Friends'' at the time, Scott was hired by DePatie-Freleng in 1979 for ''Spider-Woman'' and ''Spider-Man'', by Stan Lee and Lee Gunther<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 9)</ref>, the latter which would be delayed to 1981 due to the merger. While at Marvel, Scott worked on ''Dungeons and Dragons'', and story edited the fever dream that was ''Pandamonium''. Besides writing scripts, Scott also developed series bibles for animated series: in 1984 alone, he wrote the unproduced ''The Right Stuff'', ''The Secret Wars'', ''Menudo'', and would later devise the smash hit ''Muppet Babies''. Thus, Scott was tasked with creating a development bible for this new ''Transformers'' series.

==First bible==
[[Image:CarAndCable5.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|No, that's not Bumblebee. He's Toad. ...no, really.]]

On [[February 22]], Scott began work on the series bible, including the basic premise, style of the show, and the characters' personalities. Difficulties arose due to a lack of reference material, seemingly giving him little more than a list of names and altmodes, with Scott specifically requesting 'bio cards'. In fact, he was given so little to work with, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] isn't even referred to by name. Impressively, he finished the first bible just three days later on [[February 25]]. In this version, the Autobots had finally destroyed the last of the Decepticon rebels after eons of war, bringing peace to their planet. However, they had only destroyed their robot forms, while the Decepticons' "electronic life-entities" had fled into space to try and acquire new bodies. They eventually found their way to Earth and built a base in the [[Bermuda Triangle]], spending the next 50 years hijacking various military crafts to rebuild their forces. The Autobots spent years searching the universe for their enemy, eventually tracking them down to Earth and reigniting their war once again.

The Autobots assume control of various Earth vehicles to blend into the new world, with their leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] taking control of a truck owned by the human William 'Duke' Convoy. Unwilling to steal Duke's truck from him, the human is 'drafted' into the war, using his knowledge to help the Autobots. However, Optimus is not the only Autobot to have a human driver: the Autobot Toad (originally meant to be [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] until they decided "NO MINI-CARS") assumed the form of a green VW belonging to a teenage girl named Wendy Fairchild, and now he's stuck with her. The other main Autobots include [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (the only female Autobot), [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] as secondary characters rounding out the rest of the cast.

From their underwater headquarters, the Decepticons plot to conquer Earth. The Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] carries a canister with him which holds the energy forms of an army's worth of Decepticon soldiers. All he needs to do is place one of these energy orbs into his cannon and shoot it at a mechanical object, and it will be transformed into a Decepticon warrior. The other Decepticons are [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (the disloyal second in-command), [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (used by Soundwave to spy on the Autobots as well as the other Decepticons), [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (a female Decepticon who hates Jazz for destroying her body back on Cybertron), [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. They have also joined forces with Arthur Kroll, a human who aids the invaders so that he may rule over the rest of humanity after the Decepticons have conquered Earth.

The bible includes a list of "story springboards":

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; width: 100%;"
|-
{{Episode list
|Title=Rotten To The Core
|ShortSummary=Megatron takes control of the New York subway system and implants "glowing energy orbs" into the trains, turning them into an army of Deception warriors! Optimus Prime and Duke join forces with a group of teens to help save the day.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Titanium Germ
|ShortSummary=When the Autobots try to stop Megatron from converting Alaskan oil rigs into new robot soldiers, Jazz is exposed to a deadly substance that infects and slowly kills him. Now the Autobots have to save their friend and stop Megatron!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Anything For A Friend
|ShortSummary= Converting a nuclear submarine into a new warrior, the Decepticons take control of the seas. Optimus is forced to leave his truck body and poses as an old battleship to try and stop the threat. He's nearly destroyed in the ensuing battle, and Duke must form a 'mind-link' with him to try and restore the Autobot leader to life.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Not On The First Date
|ShortSummary=Wendy is forced to abandon her first date when Megatron plots to bring an army of Japanese electronic devices to life. It's up to her and Toad to stop him!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Time For Trouble
|ShortSummary=Kroll reveals the existence of a government time machine to Megatron. With the device transformed into one of their soldiers, the Decepticons can escape into another time—unless the Autobots stop them!
}}
|}

Hasbro and Sunbow would provide feedback on this bible, clarifying that [[Transformer]]s were mechanical beings, not electrical. They also didn't want any pre-existing characters to be female, and suggested that Optimus meet the human hero after being repaired when severely damaged in the desert. As a result, the bible was brought more in line with the preexisting premise. CBS also had input, wanting to tie the pitch into the miniseries as well as give Duke a dog that could sniff out Decepticons. Remember that for later.

==Revised series bible==
[[Image:CarandCable2.jpg|thumb|150px|No, that's not Bug Bite. He's Muffler.]]

Scott completed a revised draft of the bible, now 41 pages long, on [[March 3]]. By this point, he had been provided with [[Bob Budiansky]]'s character profiles and a copy of the first act of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". As a result, the pre-existing characters were brought more in line with their bios, and the plot was given the same backstory of the Transformers crashing on Earth and being awoken millions of years later by a volcanic eruption. However, by the year 1988, the Decepticons' superior numbers have allowed them to conquer much of the Earth, taking control of its manufacturing facilities and leaving humanity as little more than slaves, with <s>Megatron</s> Negator giving them only a sliver of control over the remains of the economy to keep society running. Dissent is impossible due a secret police of disguised Decepticons, who keep the human population under constant surveillance. However, the Autobots continue to operate from the shadows, attempting to free humanity and stop the Decepticons for good.

Most of the roster of characters would be carried over from the previous draft, with some minor alterations. The main Autobot lineup now included Optimus Prime, Jazz, Firecycle, Mirage, Muffler (a renamed Toad), and Trailbreaker. The Decepticon roster now featured Negator, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Whirlpool.

==Cast==

===Autobots===
*'''Optimus Prime''': Leader of the only six remaining Autobots. His bio is a rework of Budiansky's write-up but with a few new twists. Described as "IMENSELY KIND, AND HIS COMPASSION EXTENDS TO ALL LIVING THINGS, INCLUDING THE "TWO-LEGGED FLESH FORMS" OF EARTH." Views humans "AS NO DIFFERENT THAN AUTOBOTS, EXCEPT THAT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE CLOTHED IN FLESH INSTEAD OF METAL." Still has that weird three modules aspect of the bio with [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] being present, though he doesn't appear in the script. However, here the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] trailer is "AUTOBOT HQ" which besides transporting Autobots is "A REPAIR CENTER FOR DAMAGED AUTOBOTS" which can perform "ELECTRO-SURGERY."

*'''Jazzz''': Optimus' cool, happening right hand man. His bio is a very slight reworking of his profile. Uses the early three z's spelling.

*'''Firecycle''': The only female Autobot, she transforms into a red motorcycle and is a skilled mechanic tasked with repairing her fellow Autobots. She's also a robot expert able to create many things, such as turning a toaster into a fighting robot. She has a 'Laser Heat-Ray' and a 'Zero-K Blaster' that can freeze anything. Firecycle loves Optimus Prime, but the Autobot leader fears returning her feelings after all the Autobots he's lost in centuries of war. The medic's main failing is her reluctance to hurt any living thing. She even tries to avoid driving on grass for fear of hurting the plant life. The Decepticons take advantage of this by often pretending to be injured to lure her into traps. While her role as the 'girl Autobot' and crush on Optimus originates with the previous bible's version of Sideswipe, she is otherwise a very different character. Had the proposed name of "Firewheels".

*'''Mirage''': An aristocrat turned reluctant freedom fighter. Like in the final cartoon, he can turn himself invisible. Also has a Twin Tractor Beam. Distrusted by some of the other Autobots who think he could be a spy.

*'''Muffler''': An Autobot spy and messenger, named after his noisy exhaust system. He turns into a VW Beetle (described as yellow or pink at different points in his profile). He adopted this form while trying to escape a Decepticon ambush by hiding in a used car-lot. It worked so well he was bought by Wendy Fairchild. The tenderhearted Autobot, not wanting her to have wasted her money, now serves as her car when he's not on missions. Wendy calls him "Muffy", a nickname he dislikes. Muffler has refused to use a weapon since he shot himself in the foot with a laser cannon. He has issues with his 'elctro-mechanical control functions' which prevent him from transforming properly. For instance, when transforming into robot mode, one of his legs might get stuck as a fender forcing him to comically hop around on one leg. His main strength is his klutziness. He might lose a wheel while fleeing a Decepticon, only for his pursuer to trip over it.

*'''Trailbreaker''': An incredibly fuel-ineffective Autobot, which leads him to view himself as a liability. To counter this he acts as a prankster. Once fused a game cartridge into Muffler's mind. Jerk. Has a "A LASER-GATTLING GUN" which "FIRE 32 PENCIL-THICK BEAMS AT ONCE."

===Decepticons===
*'''Negator''': The Decepticon leader. Yes, he's a renamed Megatron. His name emphasises how he's completely negative with no positive traits (The behind-the-scenes explanation seems to be that CBS weren't okay with Megatron being a handgun, with their "limitations" stating he become a "laser tank", then a "satellite particle beam cannon" in the script. Presumably Hasbro requested a name change when the character no longer resembled the toy). He has dedicated the Decepticons to subjugating all inferior lifeforms, and he views all other life as inferior to him. He's so evil that the Autobots question if he's really sentient, or some sort of empty husk animated by an ancient computer program.

*'''Soundwave''': Negator's scheming Comm-Officer. He's described as red in the script. The only cassette he has is Buzzsaw, a "STAUNCH ALLY AND CONFIDANT."

*'''Starscream''': The most notable change to his profile is the line "NEGATOR OVERLOOKS THE POTENTIAL PERSONAL THREAT STARSCREAM REPRESENTS FOR TWO REASONS: 1. STARSCREAM IS VERY GOOD AT HIS JOB, 2. NEGATOR IS BETTER." (Also, move over [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], here the Decepticon jets are known as "Strato-Warriors").

*'''Thundercracker''': Just a straight copy of his character profile with no changes.

*'''Skywarp''': "THE LEAST INTELLIGENT OF ALL DECEPTICONS", a prankster that no-one else likes. Teleports by way of a "A SPACE-WARP LOCATION TRANSFER." Carries "HEAT-SEEKING "ACID-WARHEADS" that melt into an Autobots Armour. Still features his early "Olive Drab" colour scheme.

*'''Whirlpool''': The only female Decepticon, she turns into an "AMPHIBIOUS FLYING CRAFT", that is able to fly, jet across ground and water, along with being able to travel underwater, allowing her to reach any depth beneath the waves. She possesses a twin torpedo launcher that fires a special imploding torpedo which sucks anything in range. Her rotors can also create a powerful whirlpool when underwater. Her seductive charms allow her to trick an Autobot into thinking they're on the same side, before she betrays them. Whirlpool is a former Autobot. Optimus Prime seeks to reform her, while she wants to destroy him to prove that the Decepticons are superior.

[[Image:CarandCable4.jpg|thumb|right|Muffler, the human cast and the network mandated dog sidekick.]]

===Others===
*'''Matt Conroy''': (Sunbow didn't think Duke was a good name. Imagine a cartoon where that was the [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|main character's]] name...) A twenty-nine year old truck driver who found a damaged truck by the side of the road. He repaired it planning to replace his old truck that had been repossessed by the bank. But once the repairs were done it transformed into Optimus Prime. Since then Matt has been swept up in the Transformers' war 'bitching and moaning' about the Mechanical Men from Mars who've taken over his life, but like Han Solo he'll always come through for his Autobot friends in the end. When driving Optimus the Autobot talks to him over the truck's CB radio. When Optimus transforms Matt's cab becomes part of Optimus chest and all the human can do during fights is yell "I'LL CREAM YA IF YA DENT MY TRUCK, YOU TIN PIRATE". Optimus overlooks Matt's behavior because his knowledge of Earth is useful to the Autobots. That and he likes him. Matt's mechanical skills also mean that he can jury-rig repairs to help patch the Autobots up.

*'''Burt''': Matt's pet German Shepherd with the unique ability to detect Decepticons via their smell. An otherwise friendly creature he goes wild when he senses a Decepticon. This is useful for revealing Decepticons in disguise (he's fine with Autobots, which has led Matt to wonder if the differences between Autobots and Decepticons go beyond political persuasions).

*'''Wendy Fairchild''': Once she was a normal teenager, like Dominique Dunnne in "Poltergeist" who lived in the suburbs like in "Poltergeist" with her parents and had a little brother like in "Poltergeist" (Seriously, that is the comparison CBS used. They also suggested changing Wendy to be Russian like Nadia Comeniech who, umm, wasn't Russian. This didn't happen.) Now she helps the Autobots with their fight against the Decepticons, while trying to balance her teenage life, having to come up with excuses as to why she has to suddenly ditch her date at the drive-in theater, or explain to her father why her car has laser-shots in the windscreen. As her parents work in one of the Decepticons fabrication plants she worries what would happen to them if her connection to the Autobots was revealed.

*'''Eddie Fairchild''': Wendy's younger brother, his youthful curiosity led him to uncover the secret of his sister's car. Since then lack of fear has resulted in him getting involved in the Autobots fight with the Decepticons, such as the time he hid in Muffler's backseat. He looks up to the small Autobot, pestering him with questions like what happens if you fall into a black hole or if aliens built the pyramids. He wasn't in the first bible, but appeared in Scott's notes.

*'''Arthur Kroll''': An amoral human who allied himself with the Decepticons as a way of obtaining power and wealth. While he provides them with information about the human resistance there is little trust between Kroll and the Decepticons, as ultimately the human only cares about himself. His greed and thoughtlessness often result in him becoming a hindrance to both the Autobots and Decepticons. He does not appear in the pilot script.
[[Image:CarandCable3.jpg|thumb|right|Muffler and Wendy]]

==Episodes==
The series bible reuses the episodes from the previous bible, alongside 9 new ones.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; width: 100%;"
|-
{{Episode list
|Title=The Erasing of Optimus Prime
|ShortSummary=Negator captures Optimus and takes his memory tapes, giving him the information he needs to destroy the Autobots. Matt must risk his life to steal back the tapes and rescue his friend.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Plutonium Plot
|ShortSummary=Negator plans to cut the Autobots off from their fuel supply knowing that it will only be a matter of time until they run out of energy. The Autobots must sneak into a nuclear power reactor to recharge themselves before it's too late!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Coal Day In December
|ShortSummary=Developing a 'Diamond-steeling alloy' Negator takes control of the Pennsylvanian coal fields for a new source of diamonds. The Autobots must take back control of the mines before the coldest winter in years spells the end for the people of the Eastern US.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Nobody Home
|ShortSummary=Wendy's parents are taken by the Decepticons to work in a factory forced to help create a new, deadlier kind of 'mind controlling' robot. Wendy and Eddie embark on a dangerous mission to save their parents with the Autobots help.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Operation Alpha Centuri
|ShortSummary=Negator war fleet is complete and he is ready to begin his conquest of the universe! With the help of the human resistance the Autobots build their own ship. In a 'Star Warsian' battle the Autobots manage to destroy the Decepticons fleet.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Robot With A Thousand Eyes
|ShortSummary=A Decepticon spy learns of the Autobots plan to hijack a shipment of Decepticon parts. Now they need to stop the spy from reaching Negator.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Robots Best Friend Is His Dog
|ShortSummary=Annoyed that Burt the German Shepherd has foiled another scheme, Negator sends a squad of Decepticons to capture the robot detecting dog. The Autobots and Matt plan a raid on Decepticon headquarters to rescue their four legged friend. This episode was chosen as the pilot script to represent the series.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A New Muffler
|ShortSummary=During battle Muffler is captured and rescued by his friends. But after Autobot plans begin to fail it seems that they have a spy in their midst. And suddenly Muffler isn't such a klutz....What's going on?
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Deadly Decision
|ShortSummary=A battle leaves several Autobots wounded. Firecycle tries to repair them, but a lack of supplies means that she can't save everyone. One of the Autobots will die unless she can get the supplies to save them.
}}
|}

==="A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog"===
Wendy and Eddie Fairchild are getting ready for school, when a "DECEPTICON ROBOT GUARD" passes by their house reminding them of the alien occupation of Earth.
Meanwhile, at a Decepticon run steel mill that's producing new troops, Jazzz and Trailbreaker arrive in vehicle mode sneaking in with inflatable dummies posed as their drivers. They're caught by the guards and have to transform into robot mode, forced to fight their way through the mill. Ultimately they take control of the plant, free the imprisoned workers and set up defences against further Decepticon attacks. A silent Buzzsaw watches this before heading back to Decepticon headquarters. In the Colorado Rockies, Negator plots, when he's interrupted by the spy's arrival. Despite Starscream mockery, Negator announces his plan to destroy all the Autobots.

Elsewhere, the Fairchild's parents are forced to leave for work in a Decepticon factory, as the children leave for school in their friend, the undercover Autobot Muffler. Stopped at a Decepticon roadblock, the Autobot is found out by the guards and the trio are forced to flee as they give chase.
At a roadside diner, trucker Matt's vehicle begins to drive away on its own to everyone else's confusion as he hurries to catch it. On the highway, Matt and the truck, Optimus Prime, follow Muffler's distress signal. Catching up with their friends, Optimus transforms into robot mode and destroys the pursuers. Mirage and Firecycle exit from Prime's trailer, then the Autobots receive a message from Jazzz at the mill. Arriving, they are silently stalked by hidden Decepticons. Entering the building Matt's dog, Burt suddenly starts barking at a forklift, revealing that it's a hidden Decepticon. With the ambush ruined, the Decepticon start their attack. Outnumbered by the enemy forces, Optimus gives them enough time to retreat by blasting open a water tower, the wave washing the Decepticons away. The Autobots manage to escape, but the workers are left behind to be re-enslaved.

Elsewhere, Negator realises that Burt was responsible for ruining his plan and orders the dog to be eliminated. In the woods, the Autobots repair themselves as Wendy and Eddie head to school with Burt, unaware that Soundwave is tracking them. Arriving at the school they make it to class, where a Decepticon sentry watches over them. Upset by the robot Burt starts barking. Hearing the dog from across the city, Soundwave lands at the school, reaches through a window, grabbing Burt and flies off. Back at the base, Firecycle is able to save a critically wounded Jazzz. The children arrive and tell them what happened. Things seem hopeless until Trailbreaker comes up with a plan...

The Autobots rush into the mill, taking care of the guards and freeing the workers. To their confusion Optimus orders them to continue making Decepticon parts. In the Decepticon headquarters, Negator prepares for surgery to find out how Burt is able to detect Decepticons. Suddenly, scanners announce a new shipment of parts from the mill. As the Decepticons start unloading the cargo jet, Matt jumps out of a crate, blasting laser fire. The Autobots are revealed to have used the new parts to disguise themselves as newly constructed Decepticons. Optimus provides covering fire so Matt can make it deeper inside the base as the battle continues.

Matt finds the "electro-surgery room", blowing up the surgeon and rescuing his dog. They return to the hanger, but Starscream keeps them pinned down with his lasers, preventing them from reuniting with their friends. However, Eddie rushes in, grabs a gun from a dead Deception and uses it to down the plane. Hearing Burt's barks, the Autobots prepare to leave by the jet. As it takes off, Negator transforms into "satellite particle beam cannon mode" preparing to shoot them down. However, Optimus, still outside in truck form, fires his laser rifle at him knocking him off target so he instead blows a hole in the hanger ceiling, trapping the Decepticons in rubble, giving them time to escape.
Back at the mill, the workers begin the production of new Autobots, while a grateful Burt licks Optimus as everyone laughs.

==Notes==
This script has various details that wouldn't fit in the summary:
*The series bible describes how the shows title sequence was intended to provide some brief background. It would have shown the sudden appearance of the Decepticons as they took over Earth and enslaved humanity, inter-cut with the Autobots attempts to stop them.
*Scott suggests that when we see a POV from a Transformer it would show a "Hi-tech binocular matte" which features "grid lines and changing LED numbers."
*The Decepticons have regular news broadcasts glorifying their conquest of the planet. Turning them off is illegal.
*All the non-named Decepticons are generics that aren't really described in any way. Just being large.
*During the opening fight at the mill:
**When the guard searches Jazzz's fake driver, he catches it's hand by rolling up his window and then changing into robot mode.
**Trailbreaker knocks a guard into a vat of molten steel.
**Jazzz runs through two guards, smashing them into pieces.
*The Decepticons headquarters is a massive cave carved into the Colorado mountains with a large hangar.
*The Fairchild's parents are transported to work by "a large truck" with a Decepticon standing guard in the back.
*Muffler is able to control his seatbelts and uses it to gag Eddie's mouth at the checkpoint.
*Some details from the chase sequence:
**The roadblock guards chase after them after transforming into "side hacker motor cycles."
**During the chase Muffler nearly runs down another Decepticon, which then chases after them as an army truck.
**Optimus is able to blast one of the pursuers of the road, then burst another's tire which swerves into the army truck, smashing it into pieces before it falls into a ravine.
*At the mill the Decepticons disguise themselves by camouflage rope netting.
*The Decepticons hide at the ambush site in cranes, trucks and forklifts altmodes.
*At the school we met Mr Davenport, the class teacher. He asks his student Johnny for his report of the American independence, only for the classroom's Decepticon guard to stop him as "the subject of freedom is forbidden."
*Soundwave is described as red by Eddie. This isn't an early colour scheme. Soundwave's profile didn't mention his colour scheme and all the reference material Scott had was in black and white. When he had someone describe his appearance he just had to guess.

==Development==
Even with the script, bibles and notes there's a limit to what we can infer about the development of this pitch. A lot of what we could say would just be guesswork.... But, it just so happens that Scott wrote a book about "How To Write For Animation" which includes his advice for successfully pitching a show explaining some of his creative choices.
*As Scott says in his book "your initial audience is not the viewer of the cartoon but the story editor or producer who is going to buy it." He suggests "find out what the buyer wants".<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 37)</ref> Likely, this story was inspired by the network's request for a robot detecting dog.
*The pilot's odd backstory is another example of meeting the network's requirements, what with the whole conquest of Earth happening offscreen. In the section "HOW TO WRITE A PILOT", Scott brings up the crucial detail that "99 OUT OF A 100 TIMES THE NETWORK DOESN'T WANT AN "ORIGIN " PILOT."<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 172)</ref> The reasoning being that an origin story is usually unrepresentative of the show as a whole, while a random adventure can better demonstrate what the show is going to be like on a week to week basis.
*Another piece of advice is that if "you're trying to sell a show to a network exec, you want to reveal as much of the show as you can in the pilot."<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 172)</ref>
*If this pitch had been approved its ideas would have almost certainly been reworked further. In many shows Scott would continue expanding and changing details after production commenced, finding out what worked and what didn't.<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 173)</ref> The last page of the script shows this happening here, with him suggesting a rework to the story so that the Fairchild's parents aren't featured and instead the children's quest to find them is a potential series plot point.

==Legacy==
Ultimately, CBS did not produce a ''Transformers'' cartoon in 1984. We can only guess why. While the pitch was passed over, it wasn't quite the end. On the 30th of April, Sunbow staff briefly considered including some aspects into the final show, such as a big brother figure (they didn't) and maybe reusing some the episode premises (they didn't) .<ref>[https://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible ''The Transformers'' production bible, including internal correspondence from Bryce Malek and Dick Robbins, that refers to Eddie and Matt by name]</ref> Later, the January 1985 issue of ''Comic Features'' would showcased various unproduced cartoons including artwork created for this pitch under the new title of ''Car and Cable''.<ref>[http://starlogged.blogspot.com/2012/01/marvel-productions-in-198485.html Scans of ''Comics Feature'' at the "Starlogged" blog]</ref> For years this was assumed to be Marvel creating a knockoff of their own success with ''Transformers''. We still don't know why this happened. Were Marvel seriously considering reworking this show without the ''Transformers'' elements? Did they publish concept art under a fake name to make it look like they had more shows in development? It's unclear.

And that was the end of this pitch.

Until [[2020]], when Instagram user [https://www.instagram.com/consumercollectibles/ consumercollectibles] uncovered additional concept art which featured a silhouetted Prowl menacing Muffy and his friend in a "garage scene", with the handwritten note "Trans 3 V" and cast list using the names mentioned in the memo, explicitly tying it to ''Transformers''.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/consumercollectibles/ consumercollectables on Instagram]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200803141945/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/167466-remember-that-concept-art-for-muffy-the-unmade-marvel-cartoon/ AllSpark.com forum post collecting ''Car and Cable'' art (archived)]</ref> This just raised more questions.....

Which were answered in [[2024]], when Jeffery Scott sold off all of the development material for this pitch.

At TFNation 2025, [[Jim Sorenson]] (who purchased Scott's material) and [[Chris McFeely]] hosted a reading of the pilot script which featured actors from various Transformers shows including [[Gregg Berger]] and [[Paul Eiding]] from the original cartoon.<ref> [https://www.patreon.com/posts/tfnation-2025-is-137075459 TFNation 2025 Audio Recording of 'A Robot's Best Friend is his Dog' Script Reading]</ref> The same day, the production material was released online.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qYFePnAgHL9vlhAEF5IY3db59P0WaLwx/view?usp=drive_link First Series Bible]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r0M_CIdlaEZs5SWmMQhSuO_M2ogZgQxH/view?usp=drive_link Revised Series Bible]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j-XyM7R3RXwlqScR1l_gstsu7xCI7Ayj/view A collection of Jeffery Scott's network notes]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkSIH3jScZJvThuUPxCm167I1ur0hp1M/view Story outline for A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BGi0WlVKs2I617mvIYr41wITfQIF37K6/view Script for A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Things that don't exist]]
[[Category:Unproduced scripts]]

The Transformers (CBS pitch)

2025-11-24T17:30:49Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Autobots */

[[File:CarandCable1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.5|Well, now he's not getting that schlond poofa anymore.]]

Everyone knows ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''! It was one of the most popular cartoons of the '80s! You don't need us to explain the adventures of the [[Autobot]] spy Muffler and his human friends getting into wacky antics trying to survive and wage guerrilla war on a [[Decepticon]] controlled [[Earth]].

Just kidding, that's obviously not the cartoon we got.

In early [[1984]], though, it was possible that wouldn't be the case. A radically different version of the show was pitched by [[Marvel Productions]], its series bible written before "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More Than Meets The Eye]]" even had a final script. For decades, there was no information about this pitch, barring mentions in writer [[Jeffrey Scott (writer)|Jeffrey Scott]]'s resume<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 203)</ref> and a brief discussion in a production memo.

Forty years later, that all changed.

==Background==
In [[1981]], animation studio {{w|DePatie-Freleng Enterprises}} was sold to [[Marvel Comics]], becoming Marvel Productions. Both were located on different sides of the country, with Productions in [[California]] and Comics in [[New York (state)|New York]]. Despite this new merger, the two companies didn't get on well at all. In [[1983]], Marvel Productions ignored the work that Comics had created for the unproduced series ''[[Mysterians]]'', rejecting the serious action premise for a goofy, Hanna-Barbera-esque one largely centered on kid supporting characters and a wacky dog.<ref>[http://jimshooter.com/2011/06/secret-origin-of-transformers-part-1.html/ "The Secret Origin of the Transformers - Part 1"]</ref>

By 1984, the same thing happened with ''Transformers''. Fueled by the massive success the ''Transformers'' toyline was projected to be (and ultimately was), Hasbro rushed to expand the still in-production miniseries into a full show, naturally turning to Marvel Productions to do so. However, rather than sell it to syndication as with the miniseries, Marvel Production attempted to sell the show to the network [[CBS]]. One of the network requirements were female characters, but we're not sure if they had others or if the writers just decided to reuse other stock tropes they knew networks liked.

Enter Jeffrey Scott. A former Hanna-Barbera employee most known for his work on ''Super Friends'' at the time, Scott was hired by DePatie-Freleng in 1979 for ''Spider-Woman'' and ''Spider-Man'', by Stan Lee and Lee Gunther<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 9)</ref>, the latter which would be delayed to 1981 due to the merger. While at Marvel, Scott worked on ''Dungeons and Dragons'', and story edited the fever dream that was ''Pandamonium''. Besides writing scripts, Scott also developed series bibles for animated series: in 1984 alone, he wrote the unproduced ''The Right Stuff'', ''The Secret Wars'', ''Menudo'', and would later devise the smash hit ''Muppet Babies''. Thus, Scott was tasked with creating a development bible for this new ''Transformers'' series.

==First bible==
[[Image:CarAndCable5.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|No, that's not Bumblebee. He's Toad. ...no, really.]]

On [[February 22]], Scott began work on the series bible, including the basic premise, style of the show, and the characters' personalities. Difficulties arose due to a lack of reference material, seemingly giving him little more than a list of names and altmodes, with Scott specifically requesting 'bio cards'. In fact, he was given so little to work with, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] isn't even referred to by name. Impressively, he finished the first bible just three days later on [[February 25]]. In this version, the Autobots had finally destroyed the last of the Decepticon rebels after eons of war, bringing peace to their planet. However, they had only destroyed their robot forms, while the Decepticons' "electronic life-entities" had fled into space to try and acquire new bodies. They eventually found their way to Earth and built a base in the [[Bermuda Triangle]], spending the next 50 years hijacking various military crafts to rebuild their forces. The Autobots spent years searching the universe for their enemy, eventually tracking them down to Earth and reigniting their war once again.

The Autobots assume control of various Earth vehicles to blend into the new world, with their leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] taking control of a truck owned by the human William 'Duke' Convoy. Unwilling to steal Duke's truck from him, the human is 'drafted' into the war, using his knowledge to help the Autobots. However, Optimus is not the only Autobot to have a human driver: the Autobot Toad (originally meant to be [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] until they decided "NO MINI-CARS") assumed the form of a green VW belonging to a teenage girl named Wendy Fairchild, and now he's stuck with her. The other main Autobots include [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (the only female Autobot), [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] as secondary characters rounding out the rest of the cast.

From their underwater headquarters, the Decepticons plot to conquer Earth. The Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] carries a canister with him which holds the energy forms of an army's worth of Decepticon soldiers. All he needs to do is place one of these energy orbs into his cannon and shoot it at a mechanical object, and it will be transformed into a Decepticon warrior. The other Decepticons are [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (the disloyal second in-command), [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (used by Soundwave to spy on the Autobots as well as the other Decepticons), [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (a female Decepticon who hates Jazz for destroying her body back on Cybertron), [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. They have also joined forces with Arthur Kroll, a human who aids the invaders so that he may rule over the rest of humanity after the Decepticons have conquered Earth.

The bible includes a list of "story springboards":

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; width: 100%;"
|-
{{Episode list
|Title=Rotten To The Core
|ShortSummary=Megatron takes control of the New York subway system and implants "glowing energy orbs" into the trains, turning them into an army of Deception warriors! Optimus Prime and Duke join forces with a group of teens to help save the day.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Titanium Germ
|ShortSummary=When the Autobots try to stop Megatron from converting Alaskan oil rigs into new robot soldiers, Jazz is exposed to a deadly substance that infects and slowly kills him. Now the Autobots have to save their friend and stop Megatron!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Anything For A Friend
|ShortSummary= Converting a nuclear submarine into a new warrior, the Decepticons take control of the seas. Optimus is forced to leave his truck body and poses as an old battleship to try and stop the threat. He's nearly destroyed in the ensuing battle, and Duke must form a 'mind-link' with him to try and restore the Autobot leader to life.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Not On The First Date
|ShortSummary=Wendy is forced to abandon her first date when Megatron plots to bring an army of Japanese electronic devices to life. It's up to her and Toad to stop him!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Time For Trouble
|ShortSummary=Kroll reveals the existence of a government time machine to Megatron. With the device transformed into one of their soldiers, the Decepticons can escape into another time—unless the Autobots stop them!
}}
|}

Hasbro and Sunbow would provide feedback on this bible, clarifying that [[Transformer]]s were mechanical beings, not electrical. They also didn't want any pre-existing characters to be female, and suggested that Optimus meet the human hero after being repaired when severely damaged in the desert. As a result, the bible was brought more in line with the preexisting premise. CBS also had input, wanting to tie the pitch into the miniseries as well as give Duke a dog that could sniff out Decepticons. Remember that for later.

==Revised series bible==
[[Image:CarandCable2.jpg|thumb|150px|No, that's not Bug Bite. He's Muffler.]]

Scott completed a revised draft of the bible, now 41 pages long, on [[March 3]]. By this point, he had been provided with [[Bob Budiansky]]'s character profiles and a copy of the first act of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". As a result, the pre-existing characters were brought more in line with their bios, and the plot was given the same backstory of the Transformers crashing on Earth and being awoken millions of years later by a volcanic eruption. However, by the year 1988, the Decepticons' superior numbers have allowed them to conquer much of the Earth, taking control of its manufacturing facilities and leaving humanity as little more than slaves, with <s>Megatron</s> Negator giving them only a sliver of control over the remains of the economy to keep society running. Dissent is impossible due a secret police of disguised Decepticons, who keep the human population under constant surveillance. However, the Autobots continue to operate from the shadows, attempting to free humanity and stop the Decepticons for good.

Most of the roster of characters would be carried over from the previous draft, with some minor alterations. The main Autobot lineup now included Optimus Prime, Jazz, Firecycle, Mirage, Muffler (a renamed Toad), and Trailbreaker. The Decepticon roster now featured Negator, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Whirlpool.

==Cast==

===Autobots===
*'''Optimus Prime''': Leader of the only six remaining Autobots. His bio is a rework of Budiansky's write-up but with a few new twists. Described as "IMENSELY KIND, AND HIS COMPASSION EXTENDS TO ALL LIVING THINGS, INCLUDING THE "TWO-LEGGED FLESH FORMS" OF EARTH." Views humans "AS NO DIFFERENT THAN AUTOBOTS, EXCEPT THAT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE CLOTHED IN FLESH INSTEAD OF METAL." Still has that weird three modules aspect of the bio with [[Roller (G1)|Roller]] being present, though he doesn't appear in the script. However, here the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] trailer is "AUTOBOT HQ" which besides transporting Autobots is "A REPAIR CENTER FOR DAMAGED AUTOBOTS" which can perform "ELECTRO-SURGERY."

*'''Jazzz''': Optimus' cool, happening right hand man. His bio is a very slight reworking of his profile. Uses the early three z's spelling.

*'''Firecycle''': The only female Autobot, she transforms into a red motorcycle and is a skilled mechanic tasked with repairing her fellow Autobots. She's also a robot expert able to create many things, such as turning a toaster into a fighting robot. She has a 'Laser Heat-Ray' and a 'Zero-K Blaster' that can freeze anything. Firecycle loves Optimus Prime, but the Autobot leader fears returning her feelings after all the Autobots he's lost in centuries of war. The medic's main failing is her reluctance to hurt any living thing. She even tries to avoid driving on grass for fear of hurting the plant life. The Decepticons take advantage of this by often pretending to be injured to lure her into traps. While her role as the 'girl Autobot' and crush on Optimus originates with the previous bible's version of Sideswipe, she is otherwise a very different character. Had the proposed name of "Firewheels".

*'''Mirage''': An aristocrat turned reluctant freedom fighter. Like in the final cartoon, he can turn himself invisible. Also has a Twin Tractor Beam. Distrusted by some of the other Autobots who think he could be a spy.

*'''Muffler''': An Autobot spy and messenger, named after his noisy exhaust system. He turns into a VW Beetle (described as yellow or pink at different points in his profile). He adopted this form while trying to escape a Decepticon ambush by hiding in a used car-lot. It worked so well he was bought by Wendy Fairchild. The tenderhearted Autobot, not wanting her to have wasted her money, now serves as her car when he's not on missions. Wendy calls him "Muffy", a nickname he dislikes. Muffler has refused to use a weapon since he shot himself in the foot with a laser cannon. He has issues with his 'elctro-mechanical control functions' which prevent him from transforming properly. For instance, when transforming into robot mode, one of his legs might get stuck as a fender forcing him to comically hop around on one leg. His main strength is his klutziness. He might lose a wheel while fleeing a Decepticon, only for his pursuer to trip over it.

*'''Trailbreaker''': An incredibly fuel-ineffective Autobot, which leads him to view himself as a liability. To counter this he acts as a prankster. Once fused a game cartridge into Muffler's mind. Jerk. Has a "A LASER-GATTLING GUN" which "FIRE 32 PENCIL-THICK BEAMS AT ONCE."

===Decepticons===
*'''Negator''': The Decepticon leader. Yes, he's a renamed Megatron. His name emphasises how he's completely negative with no positive traits (The behind-the-scenes explanation seems to be that CBS weren't okay with Megatron being a handgun, with their "limitations" stating he become a "laser tank", then a "satellite particle beam cannon" in the script. Presumably Hasbro requested a name change when the character no longer resembled the toy). He has dedicated the Decepticons to subjugating all inferior lifeforms, and he views all other life as inferior to him. He's so evil that the Autobots question if he's really sentient, or some sort of empty husk animated by an ancient computer program.

*'''Soundwave''': Negator's scheming Comm-Officer. He's described as red in the script. The only cassette he has is Buzzsaw, a "STAUNCH ALLY AND CONFIDANT."

*'''Starscream''': The most notable change to his profile is the line "NEGATOR OVERLOOKS THE POTENTIAL PERSONAL THREAT STARSCREAM REPRESENTS FOR TWO REASONS: 1. STARSCREAM IS VERY GOOD AT HIS JOB, 2. NEGATOR IS BETTER." (Also, move over [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], here the Decepticon jets are known as "Strato-Warriors").

*'''Thundercracker''': Just a straight copy of his character profile with no changes.

*'''Skywarp''': "THE LEAST INTELLIGENT OF ALL DECEPTICONS", a prankster that no-one else likes. Teleports by way of a "A SPACE-WARP LOCATION TRANSFER." Carries "HEAT-SEEKING "ACID-WARHEADS" that melt into an Autobots Armour. Still features his early "Olive Drab" colour scheme.

*'''Whirlpool''': The only female Decepticon, she turns into an "AMPHIBIOUS FLYING CRAFT", that is able to fly, jet across ground and water, along with being able to travel underwater, allowing her to reach any depth beneath the waves. She possesses a twin torpedo launcher that fires a special imploding torpedo which sucks anything in range. Her rotors can also create a powerful whirlpool when underwater. Her seductive charms allow her to trick an Autobot into thinking they're on the same side, before she betrays them. Whirlpool is a former Autobot. Optimus Prime seeks to reform her, while she wants to destroy him to prove that the Decepticons are superior.

[[Image:CarandCable4.jpg|thumb|right|Muffler, the human cast and the network mandated dog sidekick.]]

===Others===
*'''Matt Conroy''': (Sunbow didn't think Duke was a good name. Imagine a cartoon where that was the [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|main character's]] name...) A twenty-nine year old truck driver who found a damaged truck by the side of the road. He repaired it planning to replace his old truck that had been repossessed by the bank. But once the repairs were done it transformed into Optimus Prime. Since then Matt has been swept up in the Transformers' war 'bitching and moaning' about the Mechanical Men from Mars who've taken over his life, but like Han Solo he'll always come through for his Autobot friends in the end. When driving Optimus the Autobot talks to him over the truck's CB radio. When Optimus transforms Matt's cab becomes part of Optimus chest and all the human can do during fights is yell "I'LL CREAM YA IF YA DENT MY TRUCK, YOU TIN PIRATE". Optimus overlooks Matt's behavior because his knowledge of Earth is useful to the Autobots. That and he likes him. Matt's mechanical skills also mean that he can jury-rig repairs to help patch the Autobots up.

*'''Burt''': Matt's pet German Shepherd with the unique ability to detect Decepticons via their smell. An otherwise friendly creature he goes wild when he senses a Decepticon. This is useful for revealing Decepticons in disguise (he's fine with Autobots, which has led Matt to wonder if the differences between Autobots and Decepticons go beyond political persuasions).

*'''Wendy Fairchild''': Once she was a normal teenager, like Dominique Dunnne in "Poltergeist" who lived in the suburbs like in "Poltergeist" with her parents and had a little brother like in "Poltergeist" (Seriously, that is the comparison CBS used. They also suggested changing Wendy to be Russian like Nadia Comeniech who, umm, wasn't Russian. This didn't happen.) Now she helps the Autobots with their fight against the Decepticons, while trying to balance her teenage life, having to come up with excuses as to why she has to suddenly ditch her date at the drive-in theater, or explain to her father why her car has laser-shots in the windscreen. As her parents work in one of the Decepticons fabrication plants she worries what would happen to them if her connection to the Autobots was revealed.

*'''Eddie Fairchild''': Wendy's younger brother, his youthful curiosity led him to uncover the secret of his sister's car. Since then lack of fear has resulted in him getting involved in the Autobots fight with the Decepticons, such as the time he hid in Muffler's backseat. He looks up to the small Autobot, pestering him with questions like what happens if you fall into a black hole or if aliens built the pyramids. He wasn't in the first bible, but appeared in Scott's notes.

*'''Arthur Kroll''': An amoral human who allied himself with the Decepticons as a way of obtaining power and wealth. While he provides them with information about the human resistance there is little trust between Kroll and the Decepticons, as ultimately the human only cares about himself. His greed and thoughtlessness often result in him becoming a hindrance to both the Autobots and Decepticons. He does not appear in the pilot script.
[[Image:CarandCable3.jpg|thumb|right|Muffler and Wendy]]

==Episodes==
The series bible reuses the episodes from the previous bible, alongside 9 new ones.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; width: 100%;"
|-
{{Episode list
|Title=The Erasing of Optimus Prime
|ShortSummary=Negator captures Optimus and takes his memory tapes, giving him the information he needs to destroy the Autobots. Matt must risk his life to steal back the tapes and rescue his friend.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Plutonium Plot
|ShortSummary=Negator plans to cut the Autobots off from their fuel supply knowing that it will only be a matter of time until they run out of energy. The Autobots must sneak into a nuclear power reactor to recharge themselves before it's too late!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Coal Day In December
|ShortSummary=Developing a 'Diamond-steeling alloy' Negator takes control of the Pennsylvanian coal fields for a new source of diamonds. The Autobots must take back control of the mines before the coldest winter in years spells the end for the people of the Eastern US.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Nobody Home
|ShortSummary=Wendy's parents are taken by the Decepticons to work in a factory forced to help create a new, deadlier kind of 'mind controlling' robot. Wendy and Eddie embark on a dangerous mission to save their parents with the Autobots help.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Operation Alpha Centuri
|ShortSummary=Negator war fleet is complete and he is ready to begin his conquest of the universe! With the help of the human resistance the Autobots build their own ship. In a 'Star Warsian' battle the Autobots manage to destroy the Decepticons fleet.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Robot With A Thousand Eyes
|ShortSummary=A Decepticon spy learns of the Autobots plan to hijack a shipment of Decepticon parts. Now they need to stop the spy from reaching Negator.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Robots Best Friend Is His Dog
|ShortSummary=Annoyed that Burt the German Shepherd has foiled another scheme, Negator sends a squad of Decepticons to capture the robot detecting dog. The Autobots and Matt plan a raid on Decepticon headquarters to rescue their four legged friend. This episode was chosen as the pilot script to represent the series.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A New Muffler
|ShortSummary=During battle Muffler is captured and rescued by his friends. But after Autobot plans begin to fail it seems that they have a spy in their midst. And suddenly Muffler isn't such a klutz....What's going on?
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Deadly Decision
|ShortSummary=A battle leaves several Autobots wounded. Firecycle tries to repair them, but a lack of supplies means that she can't save everyone. One of the Autobots will die unless she can get the supplies to save them.
}}
|}

==="A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog"===
Wendy and Eddie Fairchild are getting ready for school, when a "DECEPTICON ROBOT GUARD" passes by their house reminding them of the alien occupation of Earth.
Meanwhile, at a Decepticon run steel mill that's producing new troops, Jazzz and Trailbreaker arrive in vehicle mode sneaking in with inflatable dummies posed as their drivers. They're caught by the guards and have to transform into robot mode, forced to fight their way through the mill. Ultimately they take control of the plant, free the imprisoned workers and set up defences against further Decepticon attacks. A silent Buzzsaw watches this before heading back to Decepticon headquarters. In the Colorado Rockies, Negator plots, when he's interrupted by the spy's arrival. Despite Starscream mockery, Negator announces his plan to destroy all the Autobots.

Elsewhere, the Fairchild's parents are forced to leave for work in a Decepticon factory, as the children leave for school in their friend, the undercover Autobot Muffler. Stopped at a Decepticon roadblock, the Autobot is found out by the guards and the trio are forced to flee as they give chase.
At a roadside diner, trucker Matt's vehicle begins to drive away on its own to everyone else's confusion as he hurries to catch it. On the highway, Matt and the truck, Optimus Prime, follow Muffler's distress signal. Catching up with their friends, Optimus transforms into robot mode and destroys the pursuers. Mirage and Firecycle exit from Prime's trailer, then the Autobots receive a message from Jazzz at the mill. Arriving, they are silently stalked by hidden Decepticons. Entering the building Matt's dog, Burt suddenly starts barking at a forklift, revealing that it's a hidden Decepticon. With the ambush ruined, the Decepticon start their attack. Outnumbered by the enemy forces, Optimus gives them enough time to retreat by blasting open a water tower, the wave washing the Decepticons away. The Autobots manage to escape, but the workers are left behind to be re-enslaved.

Elsewhere, Negator realises that Burt was responsible for ruining his plan and orders the dog to be eliminated. In the woods, the Autobots repair themselves as Wendy and Eddie head to school with Burt, unaware that Soundwave is tracking them. Arriving at the school they make it to class, where a Decepticon sentry watches over them. Upset by the robot Burt starts barking. Hearing the dog from across the city, Soundwave lands at the school, reaches through a window, grabbing Burt and flies off. Back at the base, Firecycle is able to save a critically wounded Jazzz. The children arrive and tell them what happened. Things seem hopeless until Trailbreaker comes up with a plan...

The Autobots rush into the mill, taking care of the guards and freeing the workers. To their confusion Optimus orders them to continue making Decepticon parts. In the Decepticon headquarters, Negator prepares for surgery to find out how Burt is able to detect Decepticons. Suddenly, scanners announce a new shipment of parts from the mill. As the Decepticons start unloading the cargo jet, Matt jumps out of a crate, blasting laser fire. The Autobots are revealed to have used the new parts to disguise themselves as newly constructed Decepticons. Optimus provides covering fire so Matt can make it deeper inside the base as the battle continues.

Matt finds the "electro-surgery room", blowing up the surgeon and rescuing his dog. They return to the hanger, but Starscream keeps them pinned down with his lasers, preventing them from reuniting with their friends. However, Eddie rushes in, grabs a gun from a dead Deception and uses it to down the plane. Hearing Burt's barks, the Autobots prepare to leave by the jet. As it takes off, Negator transforms into "satellite particle beam cannon mode" preparing to shoot them down. However, Optimus, still outside in truck form, fires his laser rifle at him knocking him off target so he instead blows a hole in the hanger ceiling, trapping the Decepticons in rubble, giving them time to escape.
Back at the mill, the workers begin the production of new Autobots, while a grateful Burt licks Optimus as everyone laughs.

==Notes==
This script has various details that wouldn't fit in the summary:
*The series bible describes how the shows title sequence was intended to provide some brief background. It would have shown the sudden appearance of the Decepticons as they took over Earth and enslaved humanity, inter-cut with the Autobots attempts to stop them.
*Scott suggests that when we see a POV from a Transformer it would show a "Hi-tech binocular matte" which features "grid lines and changing LED numbers."
*The Decepticons have regular news broadcasts glorifying their conquest of the planet. Turning them off is illegal.
*All the non-named Decepticons are generics that aren't really described in any way. Just being large.
*During the opening fight at the mill:
**When the guard searches Jazzz's fake driver, he catches it's hand by rolling up his window and then changing into robot mode.
**Trailbreaker knocks a guard into a vat of molten steel.
**Jazzz runs through two guards, smashing them into pieces.
*The Decepticons headquarters is a massive cave carved into the Colorado mountains with a large hangar.
*The Fairchild's parents are transported to work by "a large truck" with a Decepticon standing guard in the back.
*Muffler is able to control his seatbelts and uses it to gag Eddie's mouth at the checkpoint.
*Some details from the chase sequence:
**The roadblock guards chase after them after transforming into "side hacker motor cycles."
**During the chase Muffler nearly runs down another Decepticon, which then chases after them as an army truck.
**Optimus is able to blast one of the pursuers of the road, then burst another's tire which swerves into the army truck, smashing it into pieces before it falls into a ravine.
*At the mill the Decepticons disguise themselves by camouflage rope netting.
*The Decepticons hide at the ambush site in cranes, trucks and forklifts altmodes.
*At the school we met Mr Davenport, the class teacher. He asks his student Johnny for his report of the American independence, only for the classroom's Decepticon guard to stop him as "the subject of freedom is forbidden."
*Soundwave is described as red by Eddie. This isn't an early colour scheme. Soundwave's profile didn't mention his colour scheme and all the reference material Scott had was in black and white. When he had someone describe his appearance he just had to guess.

==Development==
Even with the script, bibles and notes there's a limit to what we can infer about the development of this pitch. A lot of what we could say would just be guesswork.... But, it just so happens that Scott wrote a book about "How To Write For Animation" which includes his advice for successfully pitching a show explaining some of his creative choices.
*As Scott says in his book "your initial audience is not the viewer of the cartoon but the story editor or producer who is going to buy it." He suggests "find out what the buyer wants".<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 37)</ref> Likely, this story was inspired by the network's request for a robot detecting dog.
*The pilot's odd backstory is another example of meeting the network's requirements, what with the whole conquest of Earth happening offscreen. In the section "HOW TO WRITE A PILOT", Scott brings up the crucial detail that "99 OUT OF A 100 TIMES THE NETWORK DOESN'T WANT AN "ORIGIN " PILOT."<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 172)</ref> The reasoning being that an origin story is usually unrepresentative of the show as a whole, while a random adventure can better demonstrate what the show is going to be like on a week to week basis.
*Another piece of advice is that if "you're trying to sell a show to a network exec, you want to reveal as much of the show as you can in the pilot."<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 172)</ref>
*If this pitch had been approved its ideas would have almost certainly been reworked further. In many shows Scott would continue expanding and changing details after production commenced, finding out what worked and what didn't.<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 173)</ref> The last page of the script shows this happening here, with him suggesting a rework to the story so that the Fairchild's parents aren't featured and instead the children's quest to find them is a potential series plot point.

==Legacy==
Ultimately, CBS did not produce a ''Transformers'' cartoon in 1984. We can only guess why. While the pitch was passed over, it wasn't quite the end. On the 30th of April, Sunbow staff briefly considered including some aspects into the final show, such as a big brother figure (they didn't) and maybe reusing some the episode premises (they didn't) .<ref>[https://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible ''The Transformers'' production bible, including internal correspondence from Bryce Malek and Dick Robbins, that refers to Eddie and Matt by name]</ref> Later, the January 1985 issue of ''Comic Features'' would showcased various unproduced cartoons including artwork created for this pitch under the new title of ''Car and Cable''.<ref>[http://starlogged.blogspot.com/2012/01/marvel-productions-in-198485.html Scans of ''Comics Feature'' at the "Starlogged" blog]</ref> For years this was assumed to be Marvel creating a knockoff of their own success with ''Transformers''. We still don't know why this happened. Were Marvel seriously considering reworking this show without the ''Transformers'' elements? Did they publish concept art under a fake name to make it look like they had more shows in development? It's unclear.

And that was the end of this pitch.

Until [[2020]], when Instagram user [https://www.instagram.com/consumercollectibles/ consumercollectibles] uncovered additional concept art which featured a silhouetted Prowl menacing Muffy and his friend in a "garage scene", with the handwritten note "Trans 3 V" and cast list using the names mentioned in the memo, explicitly tying it to ''Transformers''.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/consumercollectibles/ consumercollectables on Instagram]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200803141945/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/167466-remember-that-concept-art-for-muffy-the-unmade-marvel-cartoon/ AllSpark.com forum post collecting ''Car and Cable'' art (archived)]</ref> This just raised more questions.....

Which were answered in [[2024]], when Jeffery Scott sold off all of the development material for this pitch.

At TFNation 2025, [[Jim Sorenson]] (who purchased Scott's material) and [[Chris McFeely]] hosted a reading of the pilot script which featured actors from various Transformers shows including [[Gregg Berger]] and [[Paul Eiding]] from the original cartoon.<ref> [https://www.patreon.com/posts/tfnation-2025-is-137075459 TFNation 2025 Audio Recording of 'A Robot's Best Friend is his Dog' Script Reading]</ref> The same day, the production material was released online.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qYFePnAgHL9vlhAEF5IY3db59P0WaLwx/view?usp=drive_link First Series Bible]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r0M_CIdlaEZs5SWmMQhSuO_M2ogZgQxH/view?usp=drive_link Revised Series Bible]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j-XyM7R3RXwlqScR1l_gstsu7xCI7Ayj/view A collection of Jeffery Scott's network notes]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkSIH3jScZJvThuUPxCm167I1ur0hp1M/view Story outline for A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BGi0WlVKs2I617mvIYr41wITfQIF37K6/view Script for A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Things that don't exist]]
[[Category:Unproduced scripts]]

The Transformers (CBS pitch)

2025-11-19T22:48:35Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Background */

[[File:CarandCable1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=2.5]]

Everyone knows ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''! It was one of the most popular cartoons of the '80s! You don't need us to explain the adventures of the [[Autobot]] spy Muffler and his human friends getting into wacky antics trying to survive and wage guerrilla war on a [[Decepticon]] controlled [[Earth]].

Just kidding, that's obviously not the cartoon we got.

In early [[1984]], though, it was possible that wouldn't be the case. A radically different version of the show was pitched by [[Marvel Productions]], its series bible written before "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More Than Meets The Eye]]" even had a final script. For decades, there was no information about this pitch, barring mentions in writer [[Jeffrey Scott (writer)|Jeffrey Scott]]'s resume<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 203)</ref> and a brief discussion in a production memo.

Forty years later, that all changed.

==Background==
In [[1981]], animation studio {{w|DePatie-Freleng Enterprises}} was sold to [[Marvel Comics]], becoming Marvel Productions. Both were located on different sides of the country, with Productions in [[California]] and Comics in [[New York (state)|New York]]. Despite this new merger, the two companies didn't get on well at all. In [[1983]], Marvel Productions ignored the work that Comics had created for the unproduced series ''[[Mysterians]]'', rejecting the serious action premise for a goofy, Hanna-Barbera-esque one largely centered on kid supporting characters and a wacky dog.<ref>[http://jimshooter.com/2011/06/secret-origin-of-transformers-part-1.html/ "The Secret Origin of the Transformers - Part 1"]</ref>

By 1984, the same thing happened with ''Transformers''. Fueled by the massive success the ''Transformers'' toyline was projected to be (and ultimately was), Hasbro rushed to expand the still in-production miniseries into a full show, naturally turning to Marvel Productions to do so. However, rather than sell it to syndication as with the miniseries, Marvel Production attempted to sell the show to the network [[CBS]]. One of the network requirements were female characters, but we're not sure if they had others or if the writers just decided to reuse other stock tropes they knew networks liked.

Enter Jeffrey Scott. A former Hanna-Barbera employee most known for his work on ''Super Friends'' at the time, Scott was hired by DePatie-Freleng in 1979 for ''Spider-Woman'' and ''Spider-Man'', by Stan Lee and Lee Gunther<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 9)</ref>, the latter which would be delayed to 1981 due to the merger. While at Marvel, Scott worked on ''Dungeons and Dragons'', and story edited the fever dream that was ''Pandamonium''. Besides writing scripts, Scott also developed series bibles for animated series: in 1984 alone, he wrote the unproduced ''The Right Stuff'', ''The Secret Wars'', ''Menudo'', and would later devise the smash hit ''Muppet Babies''. Thus, Scott was tasked with creating a development bible for this new ''Transformers'' series.

==First bible==
[[Image:CarAndCable5.jpg|thumb|150px|No, that's not Bumblebee. He's Toad.]]

On [[February 22]], Scott began work on the series bible, including the basic premise, style of the show, and the characters' personalities. Difficulties arose due to a lack of reference material, seemingly giving him little more than a list of names and altmodes, with Scott specifically requesting 'bio cards'. In fact, he was given so little to work with, [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] isn't even referred to by name. Impressively, he finished the first bible just three days later on [[February 25]]. In this version, the Autobots had finally destroyed the last of the Decepticon rebels after eons of war, bringing peace to their planet. However, they had only destroyed their robot forms, while the Decepticons' "electronic life-entities" had fled into space to try and acquire new bodies. They eventually found their way to Earth and built a base in the [[Bermuda Triangle]], spending the next 50 years hijacking various military crafts to rebuild their forces. The Autobots spent years searching the universe for their enemy, eventually tracking them down to Earth and reigniting their war once again.

The Autobots assume control of various Earth vehicles to blend into the new world, with their leader [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] taking control of a truck owned by the human William 'Duke' Convoy. Unwilling to steal Duke's truck from him, the human is 'drafted' into the war, using his knowledge to help the Autobots. However, Optimus is not the only Autobot to have a human driver: the Autobot Toad (originally meant to be [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] until they decided "NO MINI-CARS") assumed the form of a green VW belonging to a teenage girl named Wendy Fairchild, and now he's stuck with her. The other main Autobots include [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (the only female Autobot), [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], with [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]], [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]], and [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] as secondary characters rounding out the rest of the cast.

From their underwater headquarters, the Decepticons plot to conquer Earth. The Decepticon leader [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] carries a canister with him which holds the energy forms of an army's worth of Decepticon soldiers. All he needs to do is place one of these energy orbs into his cannon and shoot it at a mechanical object, and it will be transformed into a Decepticon warrior. The other Decepticons are [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (the disloyal second in-command), [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (used by Soundwave to spy on the Autobots as well as the other Decepticons), [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (a female Decepticon who hates Jazz for destroying her body back on Cybertron), [[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]], and [[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]. They have also joined forces with Arthur Kroll, a human who aids the invaders so that he may rule over the rest of humanity after the Decepticons have conquered Earth.

The bible includes a list of "story springboards":

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; width: 100%;"
|-
{{Episode list
|Title=Rotten To The Core
|ShortSummary=Megatron takes control of the New York subway system and implants "glowing energy orbs" into the trains, turning them into an army of Deception warriors! Optimus Prime and Duke join forces with a group of teens to help save the day.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Titanium Germ
|ShortSummary=When the Autobots try to stop Megatron from converting Alaskan oil rigs into new robot soldiers, Jazz is exposed to a deadly substance that infects and slowly kills him. Now the Autobots have to save their friend and stop Megatron!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Anything For A Friend
|ShortSummary= Converting a nuclear submarine into a new warrior, the Decepticons take control of the seas. Optimus is forced to leave his truck body and poses as an old battleship to try and stop the threat. He's nearly destroyed in the ensuing battle, and Duke must form a 'mind-link' with him to try and restore the Autobot leader to life.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Not On The First Date
|ShortSummary=Wendy is forced to abandon her first date when Megatron plots to bring an army of Japanese electronic devices to life. It's up to her and Toad to stop him!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Time For Trouble
|ShortSummary=Kroll reveals the existence of a government time machine to Megatron. With the device transformed into one of their soldiers, the Decepticons can escape into another time—unless the Autobots stop them!
}}
|}

Hasbro and Sunbow would provide feedback on this bible, clarifying that [[Transformer]]s were mechanical beings, not electrical. They also didn't want any pre-existing characters to be female, and suggested that Optimus meet the human hero after being repaired when severely damaged in the desert. As a result, the bible was brought more in line with the preexisting premise. CBS also had input, wanting to tie the pitch into the miniseries as well as give Duke a dog that could sniff out Decepticons. Remember that for later.

==Revised series bible==
[[Image:CarandCable2.jpg|thumb|150px|No, that's not Bug Bite. He's Muffler.]]

Scott completed a revised draft of the bible, now 41 pages long, on [[March 3]]. By this point, he had been provided with [[Bob Budiansky]]'s character profiles and a copy of the first act of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". As a result, the pre-existing characters were brought more in line with their bios, and the plot was given the same backstory of the Transformers crashing on Earth and being awoken millions of years later by a volcanic eruption. However, by the year 1988, the Decepticons' superior numbers have allowed them to conquer much of the Earth, taking control of its manufacturing facilities and leaving humanity as little more than slaves, with <s>Megatron</s> Negator giving them only a sliver of control over the remains of the economy to keep society running. Dissent is impossible due a secret police of disguised Decepticons, who keep the human population under constant surveillance. However, the Autobots continue to operate from the shadows, attempting to free humanity and stop the Decepticons for good.

Most of the roster of characters would be carried over from the previous draft, with some minor alterations. The main Autobot lineup now included Optimus Prime, Jazz, Firecycle, Mirage, Muffler (a renamed Toad), and Trailbreaker. The Decepticon roster now featured Negator, Soundwave, Buzzsaw, Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, and Whirlpool.

==Cast==

===Autobots===
*'''Optimus Prime''': Leader of the only six remaining Autobots. His bio is a rework of Budiansky's write-up but with a few new twists. Described as "IMENSELY KIND, AND HIS COMPASSION EXTENDS TO ALL LIVING THINGS, INCLUDING THE "TWO-LEGGED FLESH FORMS" OF EARTH." Views humans "AS NO DIFFERENT THAN AUTOBOTS, EXCEPT THAT THEIR PERSONALITIES ARE CLOTHED IN FLESH INSTEAD OF METAL." Still has that weird three modules aspect of the bio with Roller being present, though he doesn't appear in the script. However, here the Combat Deck trailer is "AUTOBOT HQ" which besides transporting Autobots is "A REPAIR CENTER FOR DAMAGED AUTOBOTS" which can perform "ELECTRO-SURGERY."

*'''Jazzz''': Optimus' cool, happening right hand man. His bio is a very slight reworking of his profile. Uses the early three z's spelling.

*'''Firecycle''': The only female Autobot, she transforms into a red motorcycle and is a skilled mechanic tasked with repairing her fellow Autobots. She's also a robot expert able to create many things, such as turning a toaster into a fighting robot. She has a 'Laser Heat-Ray' and a 'Zero-K Blaster' that can freeze anything. Firecycle loves Optimus Prime, but the Autobot leader fears returning her feelings after all the Autobots he's lost in centuries of war. The medic's main failing is her reluctance to hurt any living thing. She even tries to avoid driving on grass for fear of hurting the plant life. The Decepticons take advantage of this by often pretending to be injured to lure her into traps. While her role as the 'girl Autobot' and crush on Optimus originates with the previous bible's version of Sideswipe, she is otherwise a very different character. Had the proposed name of "Firewheels".

*'''Mirage''': An aristocrat turned reluctant freedom fighter. Like in the final cartoon, he can turn himself invisible. Also has a Twin Tractor Beam. Distrusted by some of the other Autobots who think he could be a spy.

*'''Muffler''': An Autobot spy and messenger, named after his noisy exhaust system. He turns into a VW Beetle (described as yellow or pink at different points in his profile). He adopted this form while trying to escape a Decepticon ambush by hiding in a used car-lot. It worked so well he was bought by Wendy Fairchild. The tenderhearted Autobot, not wanting her to have wasted her money, now serves as her car when he's not on missions. Wendy calls him "Muffy", a nickname he dislikes. Muffler has refused to use a weapon since he shot himself in the foot with a laser cannon. He has issues with his 'elctro-mechanical control functions' which prevent him from transforming properly. For instance, when transforming into robot mode, one of his legs might get stuck as a fender forcing him to comically hop around on one leg. His main strength is his klutziness. He might lose a wheel while fleeing a Decepticon, only for his pursuer to trip over it.

*'''Trailbreaker''': An incredibly fuel-ineffective Autobot, which leads him to view himself as a liability. To counter this he acts as a prankster. Once fused a game cartridge into Muffler's mind. Jerk. Has a "A LASER-GATTLING GUN" which "FIRE 32 PENCIL-THICK BEAMS AT ONCE."

===Decepticons===
*'''Negator''': The Decepticon leader. Yes, he's a renamed Megatron. His name emphasises how he's completely negative with no positive traits (The behind-the-scenes explanation seems to be that CBS weren't okay with Megatron being a handgun, with their "limitations" stating he become a "laser tank," then a "satellite particle beam cannon" in the script. Presumably Hasbro requested a name change when the character no longer resembled the toy). He has dedicated the Decepticons to subjugating all inferior lifeforms, and he views all other life as inferior to him. He's so evil that the Autobots question if he's really sentient, or some sort of empty husk animated by an ancient computer program.

*'''Soundwave''': Negator's scheming Comm-Officer. He's described as red in the script. The only cassette he has is Buzzsaw, a "STAUNCH ALLY AND CONFIDANT."

*'''Starscream''': The most notable change to his profile is the line "NEGATOR OVERLOOKS THE POTENTIAL PERSONAL THREAT STARSCREAM REPRESENTS FOR TWO REASONS: 1. STARSCREAM IS VERY GOOD AT HIS JOB, 2. NEGATOR IS BETTER." (Also, move over [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]], here the Decepticon jets are known as "Strato-Warriors").

*'''Thundercracker''': Just a straight copy of his character profile with no changes.

*'''Skywarp''': "THE LEAST INTELLIGENT OF ALL DECEPTICONS", a prankster that no-one else likes. Teleports by way of a "A SPACE-WARP LOCATION TRANSFER." Carries "HEAT-SEEKING "ACID-WARHEADS" that melt into an Autobots Armour. Still features his early "Olive Drab" colour scheme.

*'''Whirlpool''': The only female Decepticon, she turns into an "AMPHIBIOUS FLYING CRAFT", that is able to fly, jet across ground and water, along with being able to travel underwater, allowing her to reach any depth beneath the waves. She possesses a twin torpedo launcher that fires a special imploding torpedo which sucks anything in range. Her rotors can also create a powerful whirlpool when underwater. Her seductive charms allow her to trick an Autobot into thinking they're on the same side, before she betrays them. Whirlpool is a former Autobot. Optimus Prime seeks to reform her, while she wants to destroy him to prove that the Decepticons are superior.

[[Image:CarandCable4.jpg|thumb|right|Muffler, the human cast and the network mandated dog sidekick.]]

===Others===
*'''Matt Conroy''': (Sunbow didn't think Duke was a good name. Imagine a cartoon where that was the [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|main character's]] name...) A twenty-nine year old truck driver who found a damaged truck by the side of the road. He repaired it planning to replace his old truck that had been repossessed by the bank. But once the repairs were done it transformed into Optimus Prime. Since then Matt has been swept up in the Transformers' war 'bitching and moaning' about the Mechanical Men from Mars who've taken over his life, but like Han Solo he'll always come through for his Autobot friends in the end. When driving Optimus the Autobot talks to him over the truck's CB radio. When Optimus transforms Matt's cab becomes part of Optimus chest and all the human can do during fights is yell "I'LL CREAM YA IF YA DENT MY TRUCK, YOU TIN PIRATE". Optimus overlooks Matt's behavior because his knowledge of Earth is useful to the Autobots. That and he likes him. Matt's mechanical skills also mean that he can jury-rig repairs to help patch the Autobots up.

*'''Burt''': Matt's pet German Shepherd with the unique ability to detect Decepticons via their smell. An otherwise friendly creature he goes wild when he senses a Decepticon. This is useful for revealing Decepticons in disguise (he's fine with Autobots, which has led Matt to wonder if the differences between Autobots and Decepticons go beyond political persuasions).

*'''Wendy Fairchild''': Once she was a normal teenager, like Dominique Dunnne in "Poltergeist" who lived in the suburbs like in "Poltergeist" with her parents and had a little brother like in "Poltergeist" (Seriously, that is the comparison CBS used. They also suggested changing Wendy to be Russian like Nadia Comeniech who, umm, wasn't Russian. This didn't happen.) Now she helps the Autobots with their fight against the Decepticons, while trying to balance her teenage life, having to come up with excuses as to why she has to suddenly ditch her date at the drive-in theater, or explain to her father why her car has laser-shots in the windscreen. As her parents work in one of the Decepticons fabrication plants she worries what would happen to them if her connection to the Autobots was revealed.

*'''Eddie Fairchild''': Wendy's younger brother, his youthful curiosity led him to uncover the secret of his sister's car. Since then lack of fear has resulted in him getting involved in the Autobots fight with the Decepticons, such as the time he hid in Muffler's backseat. He looks up to the small Autobot, pestering him with questions like what happens if you fall into a black hole or if aliens built the pyramids. He wasn't in the first bible, but appeared in Scott's notes.

*'''Arthur Kroll''': An amoral human who allied himself with the Decepticons as a way of obtaining power and wealth. While he provides them with information about the human resistance there is little trust between Kroll and the Decepticons, as ultimately the human only cares about himself. His greed and thoughtlessness often result in him becoming a hindrance to both the Autobots and Decepticons. He does not appear in the pilot script.
[[Image:CarandCable3.jpg|thumb|right|Muffler and Wendy]]

==Episodes==
The series bible reuses the episodes from the previous bible, alongside 9 new ones.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin: auto; width: 100%;"
|-
{{Episode list
|Title=The Erasing of Optimus Prime
|ShortSummary=Negator captures Optimus and takes his memory tapes, giving him the information he needs to destroy the Autobots. Matt must risk his life to steal back the tapes and rescue his friend.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Plutonium Plot
|ShortSummary=Negator plans to cut the Autobots off from their fuel supply knowing that it will only be a matter of time until they run out of energy. The Autobots must sneak into a nuclear power reactor to recharge themselves before it's too late!
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Coal Day In December
|ShortSummary=Developing a 'Diamond-steeling alloy' Negator takes control of the Pennsylvanian coal fields for a new source of diamonds. The Autobots must take back control of the mines before the coldest winter in years spells the end for the people of the Eastern US.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Nobody Home
|ShortSummary=Wendy's parents are taken by the Decepticons to work in a factory forced to help create a new, deadlier kind of 'mind controlling' robot. Wendy and Eddie embark on a dangerous mission to save their parents with the Autobots help.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=Operation Alpha Centuri
|ShortSummary=Negator war fleet is complete and he is ready to begin his conquest of the universe! With the help of the human resistance the Autobots build their own ship. In a 'Star Warsian' battle the Autobots manage to destroy the Decepticons fleet.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=The Robot With A Thousand Eyes
|ShortSummary=A Decepticon spy learns of the Autobots plan to hijack a shipment of Decepticon parts. Now they need to stop the spy from reaching Negator.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Robots Best Friend Is His Dog
|ShortSummary=Annoyed that Burt the German Shepherd has foiled another scheme, Negator sends a squad of Decepticons to capture the robot detecting dog. The Autobots and Matt plan a raid on Decepticon headquarters to rescue their four legged friend. This episode was chosen as the pilot script to represent the series.
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A New Muffler
|ShortSummary=During battle Muffler is captured and rescued by his friends. But after Autobot plans begin to fail it seems that they have a spy in their midst. And suddenly Muffler isn't such a klutz....What's going on?
}}
{{Episode list
|Title=A Deadly Decision
|ShortSummary=A battle leaves several Autobots wounded. Firecycle tries to repair them, but a lack of supplies means that she can't save everyone. One of the Autobots will die unless she can get the supplies to save them.
}}
|}

==="A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog"===
Wendy and Eddie Fairchild are getting ready for school, when a "DECEPTICON ROBOT GUARD" passes by their house reminding them of the alien occupation of Earth.
Meanwhile, at a Decepticon run steel mill that's producing new troops, Jazzz and Trailbreaker arrive in vehicle mode sneaking in with inflatable dummies posed as their drivers. They're caught by the guards and have to transform into robot mode, forced to fight their way through the mill. Ultimately they take control of the plant, free the imprisoned workers and set up defences against further Decepticon attacks. A silent Buzzsaw watches this before heading back to Decepticon headquarters. In the Colorado Rockies, Negator plots, when he's interrupted by the spy's arrival. Despite Starscream mockery, Negator announces his plan to destroy all the Autobots.

Elsewhere, the Fairchild's parents are forced to leave for work in a Decepticon factory, as the children leave for school in their friend, the undercover Autobot Muffler. Stopped at a Decepticon roadblock, the Autobot is found out by the guards and the trio are forced to flee as they give chase.
At a roadside diner, trucker Matt's vehicle begins to drive away on its own to everyone else's confusion as he hurries to catch it. On the highway, Matt and the truck, Optimus Prime, follow Muffler's distress signal. Catching up with their friends, Optimus transforms into robot mode and destroys the pursuers. Mirage and Firecycle exit from Prime's trailer, then the Autobots receive a message from Jazzz at the mill. Arriving, they are silently stalked by hidden Decepticons. Entering the building Matt's dog, Burt suddenly starts barking at a forklift, revealing that it's a hidden Decepticon. With the ambush ruined, the Decepticon start their attack. Outnumbered by the enemy forces, Optimus gives them enough time to retreat by blasting open a water tower, the wave washing the Decepticons away. The Autobots manage to escape, but the workers are left behind to be re-enslaved.

Elsewhere, Negator realises that Burt was responsible for ruining his plan and orders the dog to be eliminated. In the woods, the Autobots repair themselves as Wendy and Eddie head to school with Burt, unaware that Soundwave is tracking them. Arriving at the school they make it to class, where a Decepticon sentry watches over them. Upset by the robot Burt starts barking. Hearing the dog from across the city, Soundwave lands at the school, reaches through a window, grabbing Burt and flies off. Back at the base, Firecycle is able to save a critically wounded Jazzz. The children arrive and tell them what happened. Things seem hopeless until Trailbreaker comes up with a plan...

The Autobots rush into the mill, taking care of the guards and freeing the workers. To their confusion Optimus orders them to continue making Decepticon parts. In the Decepticon headquarters, Negator prepares for surgery to find out how Burt is able to detect Decepticons. Suddenly, scanners announce a new shipment of parts from the mill. As the Decepticons start unloading the cargo jet, Matt jumps out of a crate, blasting laser fire. The Autobots are revealed to have used the new parts to disguise themselves as newly constructed Decepticons. Optimus provides covering fire so Matt can make it deeper inside the base as the battle continues.

Matt finds the "electro-surgery room", blowing up the surgeon and rescuing his dog. They return to the hanger, but Starscream keeps them pinned down with his lasers, preventing them from reuniting with their friends. However, Eddie rushes in, grabs a gun from a dead Deception and uses it to down the plane. Hearing Burt's barks, the Autobots prepare to leave by the jet. As it takes off, Negator transforms into "satellite particle beam cannon mode" preparing to shoot them down. However, Optimus, still outside in truck form, fires his laser rifle at him knocking him off target so he instead blows a hole in the hanger ceiling, trapping the Decepticons in rubble, giving them time to escape.
Back at the mill, the workers begin the production of new Autobots, while a grateful Burt licks Optimus as everyone laughs.

==Notes==
This script has various details that wouldn't fit in the summary:
*The series bible describes how the shows title sequence was intended to provide some brief background. It would have shown the sudden appearance of the Decepticons as they took over Earth and enslaved humanity, inter-cut with the Autobots attempts to stop them.
*Scott suggests that when we see a POV from a Transformer it would show a "Hi-tech binocular matte" which features "grid lines and changing LED numbers."
*The Decepticons have regular news broadcasts glorifying their conquest of the planet. Turning them off is illegal.
*All the non-named Decepticons are generics that aren't really described in any way. Just being large.
*During the opening fight at the mill:
**When the guard searches Jazzz's fake driver, he catches it's hand by rolling up his window and then changing into robot mode.
**Trailbreaker knocks a guard into a vat of molten steel.
**Jazzz runs through two guards, smashing them into pieces.
*The Decepticons headquarters is a massive cave carved into the Colorado mountains with a large hangar.
*The Fairchild's parents are transported to work by "a large truck" with a Decepticon standing guard in the back.
*Muffler is able to control his seatbelts and uses it to gag Eddie's mouth at the checkpoint.
*Some details from the chase sequence:
**The roadblock guards chase after them after transforming into "side hacker motor cycles."
**During the chase Muffler nearly runs down another Decepticon, which then chases after them as an army truck.
**Optimus is able to blast one of the pursuers of the road, then burst another's tire which swerves into the army truck, smashing it into pieces before it falls into a ravine.
*At the mill the Decepticons disguise themselves by camouflage rope netting.
*The Decepticons hide at the ambush site in cranes, trucks and forklifts altmodes.
*At the school we met Mr Davenport, the class teacher. He asks his student Johnny for his report of the American independence, only for the classroom's Decepticon guard to stop him as "the subject of freedom is forbidden."
*Soundwave is described as red by Eddie. This isn't an early colour scheme. Soundwave's profile didn't mention his colour scheme and all the reference material Scott had was in black and white. When he had someone describe his appearance he just had to guess.

==Development==
Even with the script, bibles and notes there's a limit to what we can infer about the development of this pitch. A lot of what we could say would just be guesswork.... But, it just so happens that Scott wrote a book about "How To Write For Animation" which includes his advice for successfully pitching a show explaining some of his creative choices.
*As Scott says in his book "your initial audience is not the viewer of the cartoon but the story editor or producer who is going to buy it." He suggests "find out what the buyer wants".<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 37)</ref> Likely, this story was inspired by the network's request for a robot detecting dog.
*The pilot's odd backstory is another example of meeting the network's requirements, what with the whole conquest of Earth happening offscreen. In the section "HOW TO WRITE A PILOT", Scott brings up the crucial detail that "99 OUT OF A 100 TIMES THE NETWORK DOESN'T WANT AN "ORIGIN " PILOT."<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 172)</ref> The reasoning being that an origin story is usually unrepresentative of the show as a whole, while a random adventure can better demonstrate what the show is going to be like on a week to week basis.
*Another piece of advice is that if "you're trying to sell a show to a network exec, you want to reveal as much of the show as you can in the pilot."<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 172)</ref>
*If this pitch had been approved its ideas would have almost certainly been reworked further. In many shows Scott would continue expanding and changing details after production commenced, finding out what worked and what didn't.<ref>''How To Write For Animation'', Jeffery Scott (p. 173)</ref> The last page of the script shows this happening here, with him suggesting a rework to the story so that the Fairchild's parents aren't featured and instead the children's quest to find them is a potential series plot point.

==Legacy==
Ultimately, CBS did not produce a ''Transformers'' cartoon in 1984. We can only guess why. While the pitch was passed over, it wasn't quite the end. On the 30th of April, Sunbow staff briefly considered including some aspects into the final show, such as a big brother figure (they didn't) and maybe reusing some the episode premises (they didn't) .<ref>[https://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible ''The Transformers'' production bible, including internal correspondence from Bryce Malek and Dick Robbins, that refers to Eddie and Matt by name]</ref> Later, the January 1985 issue of ''Comic Features'' would showcased various unproduced cartoons including artwork created for this pitch under the new title of ''Car and Cable''.<ref>[http://starlogged.blogspot.com/2012/01/marvel-productions-in-198485.html Scans of ''Comics Feature'' at the "Starlogged" blog]</ref> For years this was assumed to be Marvel creating a knockoff of their own success with ''Transformers''. We still don't know why this happened. Were Marvel seriously considering reworking this show without the ''Transformers'' elements? Did they publish concept art under a fake name to make it look like they had more shows in development? It's unclear.

And that was the end of this pitch.

Until [[2020]], when Instagram user [https://www.instagram.com/consumercollectibles/ consumercollectibles] uncovered additional concept art which featured a silhouetted Prowl menacing Muffy and his friend in a "garage scene", with the handwritten note "Trans 3 V" and cast list using the names mentioned in the memo, explicitly tying it to ''Transformers''.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/consumercollectibles/ consumercollectables on Instagram]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200803141945/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/167466-remember-that-concept-art-for-muffy-the-unmade-marvel-cartoon/ AllSpark.com forum post collecting ''Car and Cable'' art (archived)]</ref> This just raised more questions.....

Which were answered in [[2024]], when Jeffery Scott sold off all of the development material for this pitch.

At TFNation 2025, [[Jim Sorenson]] (who purchased Scott's material) and [[Chris McFeely]] hosted a reading of the pilot script which featured actors from various Transformers shows including [[Gregg Berger]] and [[Paul Eiding]] from the original cartoon.<ref> [https://www.patreon.com/posts/tfnation-2025-is-137075459 TFNation 2025 Audio Recording of 'A Robot's Best Friend is his Dog' Script Reading]</ref> The same day, the production material was released online.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qYFePnAgHL9vlhAEF5IY3db59P0WaLwx/view?usp=drive_link First Series Bible]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r0M_CIdlaEZs5SWmMQhSuO_M2ogZgQxH/view?usp=drive_link Revised Series Bible]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j-XyM7R3RXwlqScR1l_gstsu7xCI7Ayj/view A collection of Jeffery Scott's network notes]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkSIH3jScZJvThuUPxCm167I1ur0hp1M/view Story outline for A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BGi0WlVKs2I617mvIYr41wITfQIF37K6/view Script for A Robot's Best Friend Is His Dog]

[[Category:Television series]]
[[Category:Things that don't exist]]
[[Category:Unproduced scripts]]

Rubiplas

2025-11-12T22:46:07Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Toys */

[[Image:Rubiplas-Logo.png|thumb|right|300px|Our yellow plastic will [[Neon|burn your eyes]]!]]

'''Rubiplas''' is a [[Venezuela|Venezuelan]] company that [[Generation 1 toylines in Latin America|obtained the license to manufacture and market]] ''Transformers'' toys in Venezuela during [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]].

They would release a small localized toyline during the mid 1980s, featuring mostly identical figures to their international equivalents save for different tones of plastic, and one particularly quirky Huffer variant (seen below).

{{TOCclear}}
[[File:Rubiplas-BrawnMOSC.jpg|thumb|upright=0.90|right|By this point, seeing a South American-made Transformer that ''doesn't'' look weird is actually weirder than seeing one that does.]]
==Overview==

As with other lesser-known South American Transformers licensees, very few information is known about Rubiplas as a corporate entity beyond the fact that they also manufactured ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' figures at one point, a commonality that they shared with other Hasbro-partnered companies in South America like [[Estrela]] and [[Comando Toys]]. The original Rubiplas ''Transformers'' line was ''incredibly'' short-lived, consisting of only five of the six first-year [[Autobot]] [[Mini Vehicle]]s. These toys were also considerably cheaper in production, often lacking [[paint operation]]s, [[sticker]]s, or [[Vacuum metallizing|chrome]]... but not consistently across individual releases.

Unlike most South American-original ''Transformers'' Generation 1 toylines, Rubiplas does not seem to have deviated much from the color schemes of the international toylines, save only for their use of different plastics with different shades and tones (a commonality across every other licensee brand who manufactured their own Transformers toys during this time, really). As a result, most toys are close to the [[Hasbro]] originals... While, as a product of the different plastics used, a couple of them are definitely not - particularly most <ref>Strangely, while Brawn also features an orange-ish yellow torso, he uses a dedicated tone instead of that seen in Bumblebee and others - thus suggesting that Rubiplas also had access to plastic with this more accurate shade of yellow, but just didn't use it on other figures for... Reasons.</ref> of those that feature yellow as a main color (like [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Bumblebee]] and the yellow version of [[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Cliffjumper]]), as Rubiplas' yellow plastic was notoriously very, ''very'' bright. As mentioned, the one big known exception to this uniformity with a toy's original color schemes is their yellow and red Huffer. A similar-looking Huffer - albeit without Rubiplas' trademark eye-gouging yellow - would be later released by [[Lynsa]] in Peru and Chile.

Presumably, the greater complexity involved in the assembly of Transformers compared to other toys (like their aforementioned ''G.I. Joe'' batch) was what led to the toyline's premature cancellation at only five releases. Sometime later, Rubiplas returned to marketing ''Transformers'' by securing the license to import [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] toys into Venezuela through subsidiary Faventoys. <ref>[https://figurasdeaccion.blogspot.com/2008/07/robots-venezolanos-transformers-de.html Robots Venezolanos: Transformers de Rubiplas] at Figurasdeaccion.blogspot.com</ref>

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Brawn]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]] (red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Rubiplas|Windcharger]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Bumblebee]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Cliffjumper]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:G1toy-Rubiplas-Huffer.jpg|upright=1.44|thumb|Rubiplas' Huffer]]
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://figurasdeaccion.blogspot.com/2008/07/robots-venezolanos-transformers-de.html Robots Venezolanos: Transformers de Rubiplas] (in Spanish)

[[Category:Companies]]

Frankenstein's assistant

2025-11-11T23:13:56Z

EarthSparkGears: /* External links */

{{noname-designation}}
[[File:G1e17-igor.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Yeth, marthter!]]
'''Frankenstein's assistant''' is a fictional hunchback who works as a laboratory assistant in a castle and snorts a lot.

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Michael Bell]] (English)}}
[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]], his mind temporarily in the shell of the jury-rigged [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]], watched a movie via a television signal routed through [[Teletraan I]]. The movie featured the mad Dr. [[Frankenstein]] trying to create life from dead tissue in defiance of the sage advice from his lab assistant, whom he clearly held in contempt. Upon [[Frankenstein's monster|the creature]]'s animation and subsequent fit of rage, Frankenstein's assistant indicated to the doctor that his own earlier warnings had been appropriate and the results of the experiment were unsatisfactory. {{storylink|Autobot Spike}}

==Notes==
*This character is based on the hunchbacked lab assistant played by {{w|Dwight Frye}} in the {{w|Frankenstein (1931 film)|1931 version of ''Frankenstein''}}, whose name was Fritz. Later versions of the same character archetype would be popularly named "Igor". He likely wasn't called Igor in the "Autobot Spike" script because [[Donald F. Glut|Don Glut]] was aware of this character evolution, having written novels and non-fiction books about Frankenstein.
*''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' features a malformed Decepticon named [[Igor]] in homage to this archetype.

==External links==
*{{w|Igor (fictional character)|Igors in general}} at Wikipedia (which actually mentions this portrayal of the assistant!)

[[Category:Earth culture]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon humans]]
[[Category:Real-world cultural references]]

Generation 1 toylines in Latin America

2025-11-11T23:02:25Z

EarthSparkGears: /* See also */

{{nav-G1}}

While most territories throughout the span of '''the Generation 1 ''Transformers'' toyline''' primarily received the original toys manufactured by [[Hasbro]] and [[Takara]] (and the few national companies that did get licensing to manufacture their own copies, like [[Joustra]] in [[France]] and [[El Greco]] in [[Greece]], having mostly just produced figures identical to their international counterparts save for a few minor variants), a remarkable set of oddities happened beyond the U.S. border, as [[Mexico]] and a good portion of [[South America]] throughout the mid-80s would instead get to manufacture and market their own regional versions of the Generation 1 toyline with far less oversight on part of Hasbro. The result was a wide variety of small self-contained toylines, frequently sporting exotic variants of existing figures and even sometimes featuring entirely new toys, almost all of which would remain exclusive to their respective countries.

A more elaborate description of these toylines and the circumstances behind their releases is present in each of their companies' respective articles, with the primary interest of this page being in providing a holistic overview of the Latin American Generation 1 toy scene and a handy comprehensive list of all toys released throughout it.

==Overview==
[[File:Antex-Robocars.jpg|thumb|upright=1|270px|Odd toy decos, check. Cardbacks that looks like cheap photocopies, check. Stickers that have already peeled off ''inside'' the sealed packaging, check. Yup... They're South American Transformers alright.]]
While it's difficult to explain in broad strokes what led to this arrangement, common sense suggests that it was most likely the result of protectionism and tariffs making it difficult for Hasbro to export their products to a good portion of Latin America. The historical conditions that led to this being the case are complex — they're a mixture of post-colonial economics, recurring cycles of political instability, and a general distrust of reliance on the Global North all culminating in a rise of [[wikipedia:Import substitution industrialization|import substitution industrialization]] policies — but as the broad consensus on the economic history of the region goes:

{{bigquote|According to data compiled by the Fraser Institute, '''in 1980 Latin American was one of the most protectionist regions in the world'''; import tariffs across all countries and sectors – including those export sectors with no import tariffs – were, on average, 42 percent. For comparison, at that time average import tariffs were only 15 percent in the so-called East Asian Tigers nations.''|Sebastian Edwards, ''Protectionism and Latin America’s historical economic decline'' <ref>[https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/document/2023-03/protection.pdf Sebastian Edwards, Protectionism and Latin America's historical economic decline], Journal of Policy Modeling, Volume 31, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 573-584 (ISSN 0161-8938)</ref>}}

As a result, the more profitable deal seems to have been handing the ''Transformers'' license and some molds over to individual companies within those countries and more or less giving them free reins in terms of manufacturing and selling their own nationally-made ''Transformers'' toylines, which Hasbro would then profit from through a royalties agreement. Such an arrangement was not previously unseen in the toy market — for instance; the [[Kenner]] ''[[Star Wars]]'' figures released a couple of years before were also manufactured across a few Latin American countries under a similar licensing deal — but Hasbro seems to have been far, ''far'' more liberal in regards to licensing out the ''Transformers'' across the region, handing out the brand to significantly more companies and apparently being a lot less strict in regards to how exactly those companies would have to produce and market their Transformers toys.

The result of such an anarchic and decentralized approach was a tapestry of different micro-toylines releasing across the region, with odd toy decos, unusual marketing decisions, and inconsistent quality control and distribution practices becoming defining characteristics of the Latin American leg of the franchise during the 1980s. [[Mini-Vehicle|Mini-Vehicles]] would get released in every color under the rainbow, characters would get arbitrarily renamed in the absence of any accompanying media, toys made in one country would get repackaged as generic non-''Transformers'' robots in another, figures from other transforming robot toylines would get imported and rebranded as ''Transformers'' to fill in the gaps, and at one point, even [[Best Join|a literal Transformers knockoff]] would be [[Radio AM Robot|sold as a ''Transformers''-branded toy]]: Truly, these were some wild times for the brand.

Despite - or, rather; ''because of'' - this, the Latin American ''Transformers'' releases have become some of the most coveted vintage Transformers toys on the secondary market, with the rarity of these figures and their frequently unusual color variants appealing to every kind of collector from casual fans interested in owning odd variants of their favorite characters to hardened [[Completist|completists]] who *need* to own ''all'' the odd variants so as to fulfill their primal toy-gathering urges... Which, inevitably, has also led to most of these toys now fetching ridiculously high prices.

==Mexico==
[[File:IGA-Logo.png|center|180px|link=IGA]]
::''Main article: [[IGA]]''

''Transformers'' was released by [[IGA]] in Mexico in 1985. From all the Latin American toylines, this would arguably be the most normal one... And yet, it still has ''a lot'' of quirks.

For the most part, most 1985 toys are similar to their Hasbro counterparts, though with plenty of minor coloring and molding differences: for instance; Prowl would feature a handful of black bits not seen in the Hasbro version, Hoist would feature Trailbreaker's head, and a number of figures like Red Alert and Ratchet would lack paint in a few small spots. The only seriously major variants would come from the Minicars: Bumblebee and Cliffjumper would both get three entirely new extra decos in blue, white, and silver.

Apparently the line did not do well, and 1986's releases were little more than [[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]] and, perhaps most weirdly, a handful of first-year Mini-Vehicles recolored roughly like their third-year retools — so; Pipes would be a redecoed Huffer, Swerve would be a redecoed Gears, and so on! The line was fully canceled shortly after. A number of these toys somehow ended up in some European markets years after the line was over (most famously, they were imported to [[Yugoslavia]] thanks to national toy company Marcanka <ref>[https://tfsquareone.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-arrivals-early-july-part-4.html New Arrivals - Early July 2014 (Part 4)] on htfsquareone.blogspot.com</ref>)... Which is when it was discovered that multiple toys featured ''lead paint'' in their deco applications. Oops.

{{Note|Please be advised that the "red eyes" should only appear on imported specimens sold at European retail. Toys purchased at Mexican retail most likely wouldn't have them.}}

;1985/1986
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini-Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Brawn]] (simplified face){{fact}}}}
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#IGA|Bumblebee]] (red, yellow, blue, white, silver)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#IGA|Cliffjumper]] (red, yellow, blue, white, silver)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Gears (G1)#Toys|Gears]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Toys|Huffer]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Toys|Windcharger]] (no paint on face)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Outback (G1)#IGA|Outback]] (non-modified Brawn mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Pipes (G1)#IGA|Pipes]] (all-blue, blue/white; non-modified Huffer mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Swerve (G1)#IGA|Swerve]] (non-modified Gears mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Tailgate (G1)#IGA|Tailgate]] (white, yellow; non-modified Windcharger mold)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot Cars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bluestreak (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Bluestreak]] (no red paint on face, flat grey windows)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hound (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hound]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Ironhide (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ironhide]] (unpainted diecast shoulder connectors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Prowl (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Prowl]] (3 variants of "black" Prowl)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Ratchet (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ratchet]] (no hand stickers but red cross on roof; unpainted diecast shoulder connectors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Sideswipe]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Trailbreaker]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Wheeljack]] (different factory stickers)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{bp-a1|[[Grapple (G1)#Toys|Grapple]] (with red feet or corrected orange feet)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hoist (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hoist]] (Trailbreaker head)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Inferno (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Inferno]] (reversed arms, then corrected)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Red Alert (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Red Alert]] (no red paint on doors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Smokescreen]] (regular and re-colored unmodified Bluestreak mold)}}
|
|
[[File:Prowl-Mexico.jpg|250px|thumb|IGA's Prowl, with extra black bits.]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Jumpstarter]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Twin Twist (G1)#Toys|Twin Twist]] (with and without red face)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Topspin (G1)#Toys|Top Spin]] (with and without red face)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Grimlock]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Snarl (G1)#Toys|Snarl]] (red eyes, no paint on diecast backpiece connector)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot Commander'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]] (with and without red eyes, with and without factory stickers on diecast cab section)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot City'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]]}}</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=4|
[[File:Bumblebee-IGA.jpg|250px|thumb|IGA's Bumblebee ''(White and blue versions pictured)'']]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Constructicon (G1)#Toys|Constructicons]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bonecrusher (G1)/toys#Toys|Bonecrusher]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hook (G1)/toys#Toys|Hook]] (with & without red eyes on Devastator head)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Long Haul (G1)/toys#Toys|Long Haul]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mixmaster (G1)/toys#Toys|Mixmaster]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{Bp-d1|[[Scavenger (G1)/toys#Toys|Scavenger]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scrapper (G1)/toys#Toys|Scrapper]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Devastator]] (giftset, with & without red eyes on Devastator head)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Triple Changer#Toys|Triple Changers]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Astrotrain]] (with and without red eyes)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blitzwing (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Blitzwing]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Seeker (body-type)#Toys|Decepticon Jets]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Skywarp (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Skywarp]] (plastic purple nose & landing gear)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Starscream]] (silver, plastic nose & landing gear)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Thundercracker]] (plastic nose & landing gear, dull blue)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ramjet (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ramjet]] (sparkly red plastic)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thrust (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Thrust]] (sparkly red plastic)}}
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Decepticon Communicator'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Soundwave]] (black painted feet)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Decepticon Leader'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Megatron]] (made in France!)}}
|}
{{-}}

{{-}}

==Brazil==
<center>[[Image:TransformersEstrela-Logo.png|120px|link=Estrela]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ[[Image:Estrela_logo.jpg|120px|link=Estrela]]</center>
::''Main article: [[Estrela]]''

Easily the most well-known of the Southern-Hemisphere ''Transformers'' releases, [[Estrela]]'s batch of six Mini-Vehicles — now renamed into "Robocars" — were the bulk of the toys released by the company in 1985. They were put out across [[Brazil|Brazilian]] stores in two colors each, one based on its Hasbro original and one new — save for the mysterious "[[Bumper (G1)#Toys|Bumper]]" mold, who was part of this assortment (now under the name [[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]]) and, due to his lack of a proper ''The Transformers'' release, had one of his decos taken from ''[[Micro Change]]'' instead. The line was filled out with redecoed [[Jumpstarter]]s called "Salt-Man" ("''salto''" meaning "jump" in Spanish and Portuguese) and some brand-new molds being introduced to ''Transformers'' for the first time with the [[Eletrix]] and [[Bat-Robô|Bat-Robôs]], respectively deriving from [[Yonezawa Toys]] and [[Asahi Corporation]]. The line also received a number of merchandise, including a [[Jogo dos Transformers|board game]], and even its own unique logo as seen above.

Most coveted among the Estrela toys is a second round of Robocars redecos, the "[[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]] vs [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]" series, which split the toys into brand-new good & evil (respectively) factions. While a lot of Estrela toys like the Salt-Men, the Eletrix, and the Bat-Robôs aren't particularly uncommon, these twelve toys —particularly the more radically-changed Malignus— have become extraordinarily expensive on the secondary market, easily earning triple-digit sums for even loose samples. Still-carded toys are exceptionally rare.

Estrela would continue working with Hasbro throughout the following years, with the company shifting their focus from distributing rather than manufacturing Transformers toys across Brazil. They would end this relationship in 2007 as Hasbro shifted towards their own South American distribution chains, and a messy decade-long lawsuit would follow regarding royalties over some of the (non-Transformers) Hasbro-derived toylines that Estrela still manufactured.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini-Vehicle|Robocars]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Estrela|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (red/grey or white/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Estrela|Carrera]] (Cliffjumper) (red/black or gold/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Estrela|Jipe]] (Brawn) (green/yellow or light beige/dark beige)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Gears (G1)#Estrela|Pick-Up]] (Gears) (blue/red or orange/red)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Estrela|Volks]] (Bumblebee) (yellow/black or silver/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Salt-Man'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man X]] (white/red or white/green)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man Z]] (black/yellow or blue/red)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Eletrix]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Esporte]]}}
{{bp-multi|[[Jipe (Eletrix)|Jipe]]}}
{{bp-multi|[[Porsche (Eletrix)|Porsche]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Estrela-BatRobôPickUp.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Estrela's Bat-Robô Pick-Up]]
|}

;1986
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
<ul class="iconlist">
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-op|[[Carrera (G1)|Carrera]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
{{bp-op|[[Sedan (Optimus)|Sedan]] (green/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-op|[[Volks (G1)|Volks]] (orange/black or red/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-mal|[[Camaro#Toys|Camaro]] (black/pink or teal/yellow)}}
{{bp-mal|[[Jipe (Malignus)#Toys|Jipe]] (black/purple or blue/white)}}
{{bp-mal|[[Pick-Up (Malignus)#Toys|Pick-Up]] (maroon/pink or green/purple)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Bat-Robô]]''' <ref>There's some ambiguity as to when exactly the Bat-Robôs were released: On one hand, they feature similar packaging to Estrela's first batch of ''Transformers'' figures rather than the later Optimus x Malignus rebranding, but on the other hand, they do not show up on Estrela's 1985 catalog and were only advertised in Brazil's localization of the ''Transformers'' comics in issue 11 alongside the Optimus x Malignus toys. As a result, 1986 is generally considered the more tentative date.</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Pick-Up (Bat-Robô)|Pick-Up]] (orange/black or green/blue)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Turbo (G1)|Turbo]] (red/white or blue/grey)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Camaro-Purple.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Estrela's Malignus Camaro. Gorgeous. And expensive.]]
|}

{{-}}

==Argentina==
[[Argentina]] might have received the greatest variety of ''Transformers'' toys in Latin American retail during the Generation 1 toyline, with the original Hasbro-made figures releasing across several Argentinian stores but a pair of national companies also taking on the mantle of manufacturing and distributing their own figures. Even the Brazilian-made Robocars would also enter Argentina... In an ''unusual'' way.
===Antex===
<center>[[Image:TransformersEstrela-Logo.png|120px|link=Antex]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ[[Image:Antex_logo.gif|120px|link=Antex]]</center>
::''Main article: [[Antex]]''

A bit of an odd case, it appears that Argentine company [[Antex]] got its ''Transformers'' license from Estrela, rather than Hasbro, which is kind of dubious on the "did Estrela actually have the authority to do that" mark. Antex would then release its own batch of Robocars and Salt-Men, with the packaging being direct translations of their Estrela counterparts, even featuring their same unique ''Transformers'' logo. And, of course, most of these would feature entirely new decos, generating yet another assortment of uniquely colored Mini-Vehicles.

Similar to Estrela, Antex would go on to officially distribute ''Transformers'' toys in the country throughout the 90s, with many imported ''[[Generation 2]]'' figures arriving to Argentina with Antex branding on the packaging. Antex would also re-release their Salt-Men during this time as [[Robot-Man X]] and [[Robot-Man Z]] under ''Generation 2'' packaging, with the toys being unchanged from their original run. A large number of on-card/boxed Antex toys would be found and sold en masse on Ebay and the likes during the early 2010s, making copies of these figures a bit more affordable than most of the South American originals featured here.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Robocars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Antex|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (blue/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Antex|Carrera]] (Cliffjumper) (white or green)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Antex|Volks]] (Bumblebee) (red or orange)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Salt-Man'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man X#Toys|Salt-Man X]] (red/white or green/white)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man Z#Toys|Salt-Man Z]] (blue/yellow or black/white)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
[[File:G1-toy SaltManX Antex.jpg|thumb|300px|Antex's Salt-Man X (Later sold under the ''Generation 2'' line as [[Robot-Man X]])]]
|}

===Invasion Galactica===
<center>[[Image:InvasionGalactica-Logo.png|210px|link=Invasion Galactica]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎</center>
::''Main article: [[Invasion Galactica]]''
An especially oddball set of releases (which is already saying ''a lot'' considering everything else on this page), a handful of the original Estrela-made Robocars would also be roughly repackaged and sold across a few Argentinan stores under new single-side blister cards featuring the name "[[Invasion Galactica]]" and generic art of a UFO blasting the characters in their very crudely cut-out Estrela bubbles. These releases might be one of the longest-running mysteries in the entire ''Transformers'' franchise: no manufacturing and/or distributor information exists on the packaging and virtually no information about who exactly was responsible for them has ever been discovered, with the most common running theory being that they were the product of national retailers repackaging foreign products to avoid taxation from protectionist laws.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Robocars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Estrela|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (red/grey or white/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Gears (G1)#Estrela|Pick-Up]] (Gears) (blue/red or orange/red)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:InvasionGalacticaCamaro.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Robocar Camaro, sold in "Invasion Galactica" packaging.]]
|}

===Comando Toys===
[[File:ComandoToys-Logo.png|center|200px|link=Comando Toys]]
::''Main article: [[Comando Toys]]''

Another Argentinian toy company, [[Comando Toys]], would also later earn the rights to manufacture and distribute their own Transformers products across the country... And their only fully-fledged transforming toy would consist of a radio originally manufactured by Taiwanese company [[Best Join]] as a [[Knockoff|bootleg]] mish-mashing various disparate elements of ''Transformers'' toys. Yes, now sold as an official ''Transformers'' toy.

On the more merchandise side of things (thus not necessarily a "toy" by this wiki's classification), Comando Toys also released a [[Walkie Talkie Robot|non-transforming ''Godmars''-based walkie talkie]], once again bearing ''Transformers'' branding. Weird stuff.

;1987
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Radio AM Robot]] (available in baby blue/dark blue/grey and dark grey/red)}}
|width="40%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:ComandoToys-RadioAMRobot.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Comando Toys' Radio AM Robot]]
|}
{{-}}

==Venezuela==
[[Image:Rubiplas-Logo.png|center|200px|link=Rubiplas]]
::''Main article: [[Rubiplas]]''

In contrast with the wide spectrum of colorful Mini-Vehicle releases from all across Latin American, the tiny [[Venezuela|Venezuelan]] [[Rubiplas]] line is a lot less esoteric, with most figures having the same color schemes as their original Hasbro releases and therefore looking mostly identical save for a frequent lack of extra paint applications and some different shades of plastic (Rubiplas' Bumblebee, for instances, looks very, ''very'' bright and saturated as a result). The only real stand-out is their weirdly-colored [[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]], now deco'd in red and yellow.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Brawn]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]] (red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Rubiplas|Windcharger]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Bumblebee]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Cliffjumper]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:G1toy-Rubiplas-Huffer.jpg|250px|thumb|Rubiplas' Huffer]]
|}
==Peru and Chile==
[[File:Lynsa-Logo.png|180px|center|link=Lynsa]]
::''Main article: [[Lynsa]]''

[[Peru|Peruvian]] company [[Lynsa]] made their own cheaper-to-produce versions of the original Mini-Vehicle range, often with less-to-no paint applications, decals or chrome, as well as multiple different color variants for each mold, which they would then both sell domestically and also export to [[Chile]]. There are supposedly upwards of ''three dozen'' different mold/color combinations altogether, many of them unique to the Peruvian line, but the ravages of time have made samples stunningly rare and reliable information scarce.

Another pair of companies - Abramowicz in Chile and BASA / HUDE in Peru - also released ''Transformers'' toys their respective countries, but these were simply imported rather than manufactured by those companies. The Lynsa figures were, thus; a cheaper alternative to these pricier figures.

;1987
{{note|Since, as mentioned, it's speculated that there might be '''even more''' as-of-now undocumented color variations of each mold, this section might or might not be incomplete.}}
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Mini-Vehicles'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Brawn]] (olive green/cream and cream/olive green <ref>The two color schemes are inverted, with one Brawn's green parts being the other's cream parts and vice-versa.</ref>)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Bumblebee]] (yellow/black, red/black, peach/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Cliffjumper]] (red/black, peach/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Gears (G1)#Lynsa|Gears]] (light blue/red, dark blue/yellow, orange/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Lynsa|Huffer]] (light peach/blue, peach/yellow, blue/yellow, red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Lynsa|Windcharger]] (red/gray, blueish gray/blue, green/yellow)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Lynsa-Gears.jpg|300px|thumb|Lynsa's Gears]]
|}

{{-}}

==Legacy of Latin American toylines==
[[File:FamiliarReflections Swerve Tailgate.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Hey, we exist!]]
Odd and inconsistent as they might be, the Latin American Generation 1 toylines were inextricable components of the success of the ''Transformers'' brand in their respective countries and are often remembered warmly by fans in these regions: the fact that many of these smaller toylines existed in place of their larger and more substantive international equivalents ultimately didn't stop them from becoming a beloved portion of many childhoods, and likewise, the odd variants and marketing decisions also gave a regional identity of sorts to the brand within those countries. Unfortunately, though, these toylines and their legacy have since been mostly overlooked by modern official ''Transformers'' fiction and pretty much all but ignored by Hasbro and Takara when it comes to the modern ''Transformers'' toy market.

References to Latin American-original characters in media are not completely unseen, but rarely have they received more development besides small cameos. Estrela's Malignus faction would show up as a revolutionary mob in a few 2008 ''[[Transformers: TransTech|TransTech]]'' text stories, and later, the ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' text stories released from 2014 to 2016 would feature both the Optimus and Malignus as more prominent factions in a handful of chapters. Comando Toys' Radio AM Robot would also be briefly namedropped as an in-universe musician in the 2010 "[[A Team Effort]]" ''[[Wings Universe]]'' story. All of these were part of the very niche and fan-oriented works published by [[Fun Publications]] (usually under the ''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Transformers Timelines]]'' banner) and were usually only either posted online or, sometimes, in the subscription-based [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]]. Estrela's Pick-Up and Camaro would inspire the color schemes of ''[[Shattered Glass]]'' [[Swerve (SG)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (SG)|Tailgate]], two characters that would, again; only get minor appearances mostly in the form of Fun Publications' text stories. On the side of media that received more "mainstream" releases, a number of cameos from ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' are also based on the Latin American portion of the franchise - [[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]], [[Volks (Animated)|Volks]], and [[Carrera (Animated)|Carrera]] all got brief "blink-it-and-you'll-miss-it" appearances as background characters - and later, Sedan would also get a mini-cameo in [[Kreon]] form in the [[Transformers Legends Special Chapter|''Transformers Legends'' Special Chapter]], the Bat-Robô version of Pick-Up would briefly show up in ''[[A Cliffjumper(s) Tale]]'' and... This is basically about it.

[[File:Legacy-Wreck-N-Rule-Twin-Twist.jpg|270px|thumb|This is the closest to a modern [[CHUG]] version of a Latin American toy... And it's not even ''actually'' based on the Latin American version of that toy. Bummer.]]
===Modern toys===
Despite the fact that there have been numerous Transformers toylines (and, in a sense, [[CHUG|a nearly two-decades-long meta-toyline!]]) specifically oriented around producing modern versions of older Transformers, with all of the original characters that received Latin American toy variants getting multiple new figures, and numerous obscure and forgotten characters frequently popping up across these newer toylines — often in the form of redecos and retools — it might come off as a surprise that virtually none of the Latin American Transformers have been directly represented in this form. There are two modern toys which can ''kinda'' be [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as Latin American homages, though the extent to which this is even intentional is debatable to begin with: "Puffer", a nickname given to both the Mexican IGA and earlier French [[Joustra]] versions of [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] which use the Huffer mold as a basis, was [[Puffer|later canonized as an official character and released as part of the ''Kingdom'' toyline in 2021]]... Even though the version he's primarily based on is his lighter blue European counterpart rather than his darker Mexican equivalent. And ''[[Titans Return]]'' [[Twin Twist (G1)#Titans Return|Twin Twist]] would get re-released in the 2022 ''[[Transformers: Legacy]] Wreck N' Rule Collection'' in his red and blue [[Diaclone]] color scheme, which also happens to be the one instance of a Diaclone Jumpstarter color scheme that Estrela reused for [[Salt-Man Z]] in Brazil, so... There's that as a small, potentially even unintentional double-homage for all the Estrela fans out there. To make this sting even more, there have been numerous modern figures based on [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|other]] [[The Transformers (European toyline)|regional]] permutations of Generation 1, so the Latin American branch feels particularly neglected by Hasbro.

Unfortunately, it seems that we're still a long way from seeing a complete CHUG Optimus and Malignus team or a ''[[Masterpiece]]'' Radio AM Robot. But until then, we can at least take comfort in the fact that, as far as the first half of the 2020s is concerned, there have been 200% more characters that can double as homages to their South American counterparts compared to previous years, so who knows what the future might hold!
{{-}}

==See also==
* [[Karsten]], a textiles company that produced merchandise for Estrela's ''Transformers'' toyline.
* [[Grendene Transformers watch]], the sole post-Estrela instance of a Transformers toy being exclusive to Latin America
* [[Multibrink]], the sole Latin American company that would produce Transformers merchandise (albeit ''much'' later)
* [[:Category:South American-original characters|Category:South American-original characters]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 toylines| Transformers (toyline)]]

Generation 1 toylines in Latin America

2025-11-11T22:58:09Z

EarthSparkGears: added some needed information

{{nav-G1}}

While most territories throughout the span of '''the Generation 1 ''Transformers'' toyline''' primarily received the original toys manufactured by [[Hasbro]] and [[Takara]] (and the few national companies that did get licensing to manufacture their own copies, like [[Joustra]] in [[France]] and [[El Greco]] in [[Greece]], having mostly just produced figures identical to their international counterparts save for a few minor variants), a remarkable set of oddities happened beyond the U.S. border, as [[Mexico]] and a good portion of [[South America]] throughout the mid-80s would instead get to manufacture and market their own regional versions of the Generation 1 toyline with far less oversight on part of Hasbro. The result was a wide variety of small self-contained toylines, frequently sporting exotic variants of existing figures and even sometimes featuring entirely new toys, almost all of which would remain exclusive to their respective countries.

A more elaborate description of these toylines and the circumstances behind their releases is present in each of their companies' respective articles, with the primary interest of this page being in providing a holistic overview of the Latin American Generation 1 toy scene and a handy comprehensive list of all toys released throughout it.

==Overview==
[[File:Antex-Robocars.jpg|thumb|upright=1|270px|Odd toy decos, check. Cardbacks that looks like cheap photocopies, check. Stickers that have already peeled off ''inside'' the sealed packaging, check. Yup... They're South American Transformers alright.]]
While it's difficult to explain in broad strokes what led to this arrangement, common sense suggests that it was most likely the result of protectionism and tariffs making it difficult for Hasbro to export their products to a good portion of Latin America. The historical conditions that led to this being the case are complex — they're a mixture of post-colonial economics, recurring cycles of political instability, and a general distrust of reliance on the Global North all culminating in a rise of [[wikipedia:Import substitution industrialization|import substitution industrialization]] policies — but as the broad consensus on the economic history of the region goes:

{{bigquote|According to data compiled by the Fraser Institute, '''in 1980 Latin American was one of the most protectionist regions in the world'''; import tariffs across all countries and sectors – including those export sectors with no import tariffs – were, on average, 42 percent. For comparison, at that time average import tariffs were only 15 percent in the so-called East Asian Tigers nations.''|Sebastian Edwards, ''Protectionism and Latin America’s historical economic decline'' <ref>[https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/sites/default/files/document/2023-03/protection.pdf Sebastian Edwards, Protectionism and Latin America's historical economic decline], Journal of Policy Modeling, Volume 31, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 573-584 (ISSN 0161-8938)</ref>}}

As a result, the more profitable deal seems to have been handing the ''Transformers'' license and some molds over to individual companies within those countries and more or less giving them free reins in terms of manufacturing and selling their own nationally-made ''Transformers'' toylines, which Hasbro would then profit from through a royalties agreement. Such an arrangement was not previously unseen in the toy market — for instance; the [[Kenner]] ''[[Star Wars]]'' figures released a couple of years before were also manufactured across a few Latin American countries under a similar licensing deal — but Hasbro seems to have been far, ''far'' more liberal in regards to licensing out the ''Transformers'' across the region, handing out the brand to significantly more companies and apparently being a lot less strict in regards to how exactly those companies would have to produce and market their Transformers toys.

The result of such an anarchic and decentralized approach was a tapestry of different micro-toylines releasing across the region, with odd toy decos, unusual marketing decisions, and inconsistent quality control and distribution practices becoming defining characteristics of the Latin American leg of the franchise during the 1980s. [[Mini-Vehicle|Mini-Vehicles]] would get released in every color under the rainbow, characters would get arbitrarily renamed in the absence of any accompanying media, toys made in one country would get repackaged as generic non-''Transformers'' robots in another, figures from other transforming robot toylines would get imported and rebranded as ''Transformers'' to fill in the gaps, and at one point, even [[Best Join|a literal Transformers knockoff]] would be [[Radio AM Robot|sold as a ''Transformers''-branded toy]]: Truly, these were some wild times for the brand.

Despite - or, rather; ''because of'' - this, the Latin American ''Transformers'' releases have become some of the most coveted vintage Transformers toys on the secondary market, with the rarity of these figures and their frequently unusual color variants appealing to every kind of collector from casual fans interested in owning odd variants of their favorite characters to hardened [[Completist|completists]] who *need* to own ''all'' the odd variants so as to fulfill their primal toy-gathering urges... Which, inevitably, has also led to most of these toys now fetching ridiculously high prices.

==Mexico==
[[File:IGA-Logo.png|center|180px|link=IGA]]
::''Main article: [[IGA]]''

''Transformers'' was released by [[IGA]] in Mexico in 1985. From all the Latin American toylines, this would arguably be the most normal one... And yet, it still has ''a lot'' of quirks.

For the most part, most 1985 toys are similar to their Hasbro counterparts, though with plenty of minor coloring and molding differences: for instance; Prowl would feature a handful of black bits not seen in the Hasbro version, Hoist would feature Trailbreaker's head, and a number of figures like Red Alert and Ratchet would lack paint in a few small spots. The only seriously major variants would come from the Minicars: Bumblebee and Cliffjumper would both get three entirely new extra decos in blue, white, and silver.

Apparently the line did not do well, and 1986's releases were little more than [[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]] and, perhaps most weirdly, a handful of first-year Mini-Vehicles recolored roughly like their third-year retools — so; Pipes would be a redecoed Huffer, Swerve would be a redecoed Gears, and so on! The line was fully canceled shortly after. A number of these toys somehow ended up in some European markets years after the line was over (most famously, they were imported to [[Yugoslavia]] thanks to national toy company Marcanka <ref>[https://tfsquareone.blogspot.com/2014/07/new-arrivals-early-july-part-4.html New Arrivals - Early July 2014 (Part 4)] on htfsquareone.blogspot.com</ref>)... Which is when it was discovered that multiple toys featured ''lead paint'' in their deco applications. Oops.

{{Note|Please be advised that the "red eyes" should only appear on imported specimens sold at European retail. Toys purchased at Mexican retail most likely wouldn't have them.}}

;1985/1986
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini-Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Brawn]] (simplified face){{fact}}}}
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#IGA|Bumblebee]] (red, yellow, blue, white, silver)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#IGA|Cliffjumper]] (red, yellow, blue, white, silver)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Gears (G1)#Toys|Gears]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Toys|Huffer]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Toys|Windcharger]] (no paint on face)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Outback (G1)#IGA|Outback]] (non-modified Brawn mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Pipes (G1)#IGA|Pipes]] (all-blue, blue/white; non-modified Huffer mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Swerve (G1)#IGA|Swerve]] (non-modified Gears mold)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Tailgate (G1)#IGA|Tailgate]] (white, yellow; non-modified Windcharger mold)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot Cars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bluestreak (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Bluestreak]] (no red paint on face, flat grey windows)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hound (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hound]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Ironhide (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ironhide]] (unpainted diecast shoulder connectors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Prowl (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Prowl]] (3 variants of "black" Prowl)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Ratchet (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ratchet]] (no hand stickers but red cross on roof; unpainted diecast shoulder connectors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Sideswipe]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Trailbreaker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Trailbreaker]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Wheeljack]] (different factory stickers)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{bp-a1|[[Grapple (G1)#Toys|Grapple]] (with red feet or corrected orange feet)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Hoist (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Hoist]] (Trailbreaker head)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Inferno (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Inferno]] (reversed arms, then corrected)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Red Alert (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Red Alert]] (no red paint on doors)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Smokescreen]] (regular and re-colored unmodified Bluestreak mold)}}
|
|
[[File:Prowl-Mexico.jpg|250px|thumb|IGA's Prowl, with extra black bits.]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Jumpstarter]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Twin Twist (G1)#Toys|Twin Twist]] (with and without red face)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Topspin (G1)#Toys|Top Spin]] (with and without red face)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Grimlock (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Grimlock]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Snarl (G1)#Toys|Snarl]] (red eyes, no paint on diecast backpiece connector)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot Commander'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Optimus Prime]] (with and without red eyes, with and without factory stickers on diecast cab section)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Autobot City'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Metroplex (G1)#Toys|Metroplex]]}}</ul>
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=4|
[[File:Bumblebee-IGA.jpg|250px|thumb|IGA's Bumblebee ''(White and blue versions pictured)'']]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Constructicon (G1)#Toys|Constructicons]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Bonecrusher (G1)/toys#Toys|Bonecrusher]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Hook (G1)/toys#Toys|Hook]] (with & without red eyes on Devastator head)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Long Haul (G1)/toys#Toys|Long Haul]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Mixmaster (G1)/toys#Toys|Mixmaster]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{Bp-d1|[[Scavenger (G1)/toys#Toys|Scavenger]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Scrapper (G1)/toys#Toys|Scrapper]]}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Devastator (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Devastator]] (giftset, with & without red eyes on Devastator head)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Triple Changer#Toys|Triple Changers]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Astrotrain (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Astrotrain]] (with and without red eyes)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Blitzwing (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Blitzwing]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Seeker (body-type)#Toys|Decepticon Jets]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Skywarp (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Skywarp]] (plastic purple nose & landing gear)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Starscream (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Starscream]] (silver, plastic nose & landing gear)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Thundercracker]] (plastic nose & landing gear, dull blue)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Ramjet (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Ramjet]] (sparkly red plastic)}}
{{Bp-d1|[[Thrust (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Thrust]] (sparkly red plastic)}}
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Decepticon Communicator'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Soundwave]] (black painted feet)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Decepticon Leader'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-d1|[[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers|Megatron]] (made in France!)}}
|}
{{-}}

{{-}}

==Brazil==
<center>[[Image:TransformersEstrela-Logo.png|120px|link=Estrela]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ[[Image:Estrela_logo.jpg|120px|link=Estrela]]</center>
::''Main article: [[Estrela]]''

Easily the most well-known of the Southern-Hemisphere ''Transformers'' releases, [[Estrela]]'s batch of six Mini-Vehicles — now renamed into "Robocars" — were the bulk of the toys released by the company in 1985. They were put out across [[Brazil|Brazilian]] stores in two colors each, one based on its Hasbro original and one new — save for the mysterious "[[Bumper (G1)#Toys|Bumper]]" mold, who was part of this assortment (now under the name [[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]]) and, due to his lack of a proper ''The Transformers'' release, had one of his decos taken from ''[[Micro Change]]'' instead. The line was filled out with redecoed [[Jumpstarter]]s called "Salt-Man" ("''salto''" meaning "jump" in Spanish and Portuguese) and some brand-new molds being introduced to ''Transformers'' for the first time with the [[Eletrix]] and [[Bat-Robô|Bat-Robôs]], respectively deriving from [[Yonezawa Toys]] and [[Asahi Corporation]]. The line also received a number of merchandise, including a [[Jogo dos Transformers|board game]], and even its own unique logo as seen above.

Most coveted among the Estrela toys is a second round of Robocars redecos, the "[[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]] vs [[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]" series, which split the toys into brand-new good & evil (respectively) factions. While a lot of Estrela toys like the Salt-Men, the Eletrix, and the Bat-Robôs aren't particularly uncommon, these twelve toys —particularly the more radically-changed Malignus— have become extraordinarily expensive on the secondary market, easily earning triple-digit sums for even loose samples. Still-carded toys are exceptionally rare.

Estrela would continue working with Hasbro throughout the following years, with the company shifting their focus from distributing rather than manufacturing Transformers toys across Brazil. They would end this relationship in 2007 as Hasbro shifted towards their own South American distribution chains, and a messy decade-long lawsuit would follow regarding royalties over some of the (non-Transformers) Hasbro-derived toylines that Estrela still manufactured.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini-Vehicle|Robocars]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Estrela|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (red/grey or white/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Estrela|Carrera]] (Cliffjumper) (red/black or gold/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Estrela|Jipe]] (Brawn) (green/yellow or light beige/dark beige)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Gears (G1)#Estrela|Pick-Up]] (Gears) (blue/red or orange/red)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Estrela|Volks]] (Bumblebee) (yellow/black or silver/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Salt-Man'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man X]] (white/red or white/green)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man Z]] (black/yellow or blue/red)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Eletrix]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Esporte]]}}
{{bp-multi|[[Jipe (Eletrix)|Jipe]]}}
{{bp-multi|[[Porsche (Eletrix)|Porsche]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Estrela-BatRobôPickUp.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Estrela's Bat-Robô Pick-Up]]
|}

;1986
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
<ul class="iconlist">
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Optimus (faction)|Optimus]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-op|[[Carrera (G1)|Carrera]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
{{bp-op|[[Sedan (Optimus)|Sedan]] (green/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-op|[[Volks (G1)|Volks]] (orange/black or red/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Malignus (G1)|Malignus]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-mal|[[Camaro#Toys|Camaro]] (black/pink or teal/yellow)}}
{{bp-mal|[[Jipe (Malignus)#Toys|Jipe]] (black/purple or blue/white)}}
{{bp-mal|[[Pick-Up (Malignus)#Toys|Pick-Up]] (maroon/pink or green/purple)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Bat-Robô]]''' <ref>There's some ambiguity as to when exactly the Bat-Robôs were released: On one hand, they feature similar packaging to Estrela's first batch of ''Transformers'' figures rather than the later Optimus x Malignus rebranding, but on the other hand, they do not show up on Estrela's 1985 catalog and were only advertised in Brazil's localization of the ''Transformers'' comics in issue 11 alongside the Optimus x Malignus toys. As a result, 1986 is generally considered the more tentative date.</ref>
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Pick-Up (Bat-Robô)|Pick-Up]] (orange/black or green/blue)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Turbo (G1)|Turbo]] (red/white or blue/grey)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Camaro-Purple.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Estrela's Malignus Camaro. Gorgeous. And expensive.]]
|}

{{-}}

==Argentina==
[[Argentina]] might have received the greatest variety of ''Transformers'' toys in Latin American retail during the Generation 1 toyline, with the original Hasbro-made figures releasing across several Argentinian stores but a pair of national companies also taking on the mantle of manufacturing and distributing their own figures. Even the Brazilian-made Robocars would also enter Argentina... In an ''unusual'' way.
===Antex===
<center>[[Image:TransformersEstrela-Logo.png|120px|link=Antex]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎ㅤ[[Image:Antex_logo.gif|120px|link=Antex]]</center>
::''Main article: [[Antex]]''

A bit of an odd case, it appears that Argentine company [[Antex]] got its ''Transformers'' license from Estrela, rather than Hasbro, which is kind of dubious on the "did Estrela actually have the authority to do that" mark. Antex would then release its own batch of Robocars and Salt-Men, with the packaging being direct translations of their Estrela counterparts, even featuring their same unique ''Transformers'' logo. And, of course, most of these would feature entirely new decos, generating yet another assortment of uniquely colored Mini-Vehicles.

Similar to Estrela, Antex would go on to officially distribute ''Transformers'' toys in the country throughout the 90s, with many imported ''[[Generation 2]]'' figures arriving to Argentina with Antex branding on the packaging. Antex would also re-release their Salt-Men during this time as [[Robot-Man X]] and [[Robot-Man Z]] under ''Generation 2'' packaging, with the toys being unchanged from their original run. A large number of on-card/boxed Antex toys would be found and sold en masse on Ebay and the likes during the early 2010s, making copies of these figures a bit more affordable than most of the South American originals featured here.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Robocars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Antex|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (blue/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Antex|Carrera]] (Cliffjumper) (white or green)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Antex|Volks]] (Bumblebee) (red or orange)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Salt-Man'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man X#Toys|Salt-Man X]] (red/white or green/white)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Salt-Man Z#Toys|Salt-Man Z]] (blue/yellow or black/white)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
[[File:G1-toy SaltManX Antex.jpg|thumb|300px|Antex's Salt-Man X (Later sold under the ''Generation 2'' line as [[Robot-Man X]])]]
|}

===Invasion Galactica===
<center>[[Image:InvasionGalactica-Logo.png|210px|link=Invasion Galactica]]‎‎‎‎‎‎‎‎</center>
::''Main article: [[Invasion Galactica]]''
An especially oddball set of releases (which is already saying ''a lot'' considering everything else on this page), a handful of the original Estrela-made Robocars would also be roughly repackaged and sold across a few Argentinan stores under new single-side blister cards featuring the name "[[Invasion Galactica]]" and generic art of a UFO blasting the characters in their very crudely cut-out Estrela bubbles. These releases might be one of the longest-running mysteries in the entire ''Transformers'' franchise: no manufacturing and/or distributor information exists on the packaging and virtually no information about who exactly was responsible for them has ever been discovered, with the most common running theory being that they were the product of national retailers repackaging foreign products to avoid taxation from protectionist laws.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Robocars'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Windcharger (G1)#Estrela|Camaro]] (Windcharger) (red/grey or white/black)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Gears (G1)#Estrela|Pick-Up]] (Gears) (blue/red or orange/red)}}
{{bp-multi|[[Sedan (Robocar)|Sedan]] (white/black or blue/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:InvasionGalacticaCamaro.jpg|right|thumb|180px|Robocar Camaro, sold in "Invasion Galactica" packaging.]]
|}

===Comando Toys===
[[File:ComandoToys-Logo.png|center|200px|link=Comando Toys]]
::''Main article: [[Comando Toys]]''

Another Argentinian toy company, [[Comando Toys]], would also later earn the rights to manufacture and distribute their own Transformers products across the country... And their only fully-fledged transforming toy would consist of a radio originally manufactured by Taiwanese company [[Best Join]] as a [[Knockoff|bootleg]] mish-mashing various disparate elements of ''Transformers'' toys. Yes, now sold as an official ''Transformers'' toy.

On the more merchandise side of things (thus not necessarily a "toy" by this wiki's classification), Comando Toys also released a [[Walkie Talkie Robot|non-transforming ''Godmars''-based walkie talkie]], once again bearing ''Transformers'' branding. Weird stuff.

;1987
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-multi|[[Radio AM Robot]] (available in baby blue/dark blue/grey and dark grey/red)}}
|width="40%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:ComandoToys-RadioAMRobot.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Comando Toys' Radio AM Robot]]
|}
{{-}}

==Venezuela==
[[Image:Rubiplas-Logo.png|center|200px|link=Rubiplas]]
::''Main article: [[Rubiplas]]''

In contrast with the wide spectrum of colorful Mini-Vehicle releases from all across Latin American, the tiny [[Venezuela|Venezuelan]] [[Rubiplas]] line is a lot less esoteric, with most figures having the same color schemes as their original Hasbro releases and therefore looking mostly identical save for a frequent lack of extra paint applications and some different shades of plastic (Rubiplas' Bumblebee, for instances, looks very, ''very'' bright and saturated as a result). The only real stand-out is their weirdly-colored [[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]], now deco'd in red and yellow.

;1985
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Mini Vehicle]]s'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Brawn]]}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Rubiplas|Huffer]] (red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Rubiplas|Windcharger]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Bumblebee]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Rubiplas|Cliffjumper]] (red/black or yellow/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:G1toy-Rubiplas-Huffer.jpg|250px|thumb|Rubiplas' Huffer]]
|}
==Peru and Chile==
[[File:Lynsa-Logo.png|180px|center|link=Lynsa]]
::''Main article: [[Lynsa]]''

[[Peru|Peruvian]] company [[Lynsa]] made their own cheaper-to-produce versions of the original Mini-Vehicle range, often with less-to-no paint applications, decals or chrome, as well as multiple different color variants for each mold, which they would then both sell domestically and also export to [[Chile]]. There are supposedly upwards of ''three dozen'' different mold/color combinations altogether, many of them unique to the Peruvian line, but the ravages of time have made samples stunningly rare and reliable information scarce.

Another pair of companies - Abramowicz in Chile and BASA / HUDE in Peru - also released ''Transformers'' toys their respective countries, but these were simply imported rather than manufactured by those companies. The Lynsa figures were, thus; a cheaper alternative to these pricier figures.

;1987
{{note|Since, as mentioned, it's speculated that there might be '''even more''' as-of-now undocumented color variations of each mold, this section might or might not be incomplete.}}
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Mini-Vehicles'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Brawn (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Brawn]] (olive green/cream and cream/olive green <ref>The two color schemes are inverted, with one Brawn's green parts being the other's cream parts and vice-versa.</ref>)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Bumblebee]] (yellow/black, red/black, peach/black)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Cliffjumper (G1)/toys#Lynsa|Cliffjumper]] (red/black, peach/black)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|
<ul class="iconlist">
{{bp-a1|[[Gears (G1)#Lynsa|Gears]] (light blue/red, dark blue/yellow, orange/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Huffer (G1)#Lynsa|Huffer]] (light peach/blue, peach/yellow, blue/yellow, red/yellow)}}
{{bp-a1|[[Windcharger (G1)#Lynsa|Windcharger]] (red/gray, blueish gray/blue, green/yellow)}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=2|[[File:Lynsa-Gears.jpg|300px|thumb|Lynsa's Gears]]
|}

{{-}}

==Legacy of Latin American toylines==
[[File:FamiliarReflections Swerve Tailgate.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Hey, we exist!]]
Odd and inconsistent as they might be, the Latin American Generation 1 toylines were inextricable components of the success of the ''Transformers'' brand in their respective countries and are often remembered warmly by fans in these regions: the fact that many of these smaller toylines existed in place of their larger and more substantive international equivalents ultimately didn't stop them from becoming a beloved portion of many childhoods, and likewise, the odd variants and marketing decisions also gave a regional identity of sorts to the brand within those countries. Unfortunately, though, these toylines and their legacy have since been mostly overlooked by modern official ''Transformers'' fiction and pretty much all but ignored by Hasbro and Takara when it comes to the modern ''Transformers'' toy market.

References to Latin American-original characters in media are not completely unseen, but rarely have they received more development besides small cameos. Estrela's Malignus faction would show up as a revolutionary mob in a few 2008 ''[[Transformers: TransTech|TransTech]]'' text stories, and later, the ''[[Beast Wars: Uprising]]'' text stories released from 2014 to 2016 would feature both the Optimus and Malignus as more prominent factions in a handful of chapters. Comando Toys' Radio AM Robot would also be briefly namedropped as an in-universe musician in the 2010 "[[A Team Effort]]" ''[[Wings Universe]]'' story. All of these were part of the very niche and fan-oriented works published by [[Fun Publications]] (usually under the ''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Transformers Timelines]]'' banner) and were usually only either posted online or, sometimes, in the subscription-based [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]]. Estrela's Pick-Up and Camaro would inspire the color schemes of ''[[Shattered Glass]]'' [[Swerve (SG)|Swerve]] and [[Tailgate (SG)|Tailgate]], two characters that would, again; only get minor appearances mostly in the form of Fun Publications' text stories. On the side of media that received more "mainstream" releases, a number of cameos from ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' are also based on the Latin American portion of the franchise - [[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]], [[Volks (Animated)|Volks]], and [[Carrera (Animated)|Carrera]] all got brief "blink-it-and-you'll-miss-it" appearances as background characters - and later, Sedan would also get a mini-cameo in [[Kreon]] form in the [[Transformers Legends Special Chapter|''Transformers Legends'' Special Chapter]], the Bat-Robô version of Pick-Up would briefly show up in ''[[A Cliffjumper(s) Tale]]'' and... This is basically about it.

[[File:Legacy-Wreck-N-Rule-Twin-Twist.jpg|270px|thumb|This is the closest to a modern [[CHUG]] version of a Latin American toy... And it's not even ''actually'' based on the Latin American version of that toy. Bummer.]]
===Modern toys===
Despite the fact that there have been numerous Transformers toylines (and, in a sense, [[CHUG|a nearly two-decades-long meta-toyline!]]) specifically oriented around producing modern versions of older Transformers, with all of the original characters that received Latin American toy variants getting multiple new figures, and numerous obscure and forgotten characters frequently popping up across these newer toylines — often in the form of redecos and retools — it might come off as a surprise that virtually none of the Latin American Transformers have been directly represented in this form. There are two modern toys which can ''kinda'' be [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as Latin American homages, though the extent to which this is even intentional is debatable to begin with: "Puffer", a nickname given to both the Mexican IGA and earlier French [[Joustra]] versions of [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]] which use the Huffer mold as a basis, was [[Puffer|later canonized as an official character and released as part of the ''Kingdom'' toyline in 2021]]... Even though the version he's primarily based on is his lighter blue European counterpart rather than his darker Mexican equivalent. And ''[[Titans Return]]'' [[Twin Twist (G1)#Titans Return|Twin Twist]] would get re-released in the 2022 ''[[Transformers: Legacy]] Wreck N' Rule Collection'' in his red and blue [[Diaclone]] color scheme, which also happens to be the one instance of a Diaclone Jumpstarter color scheme that Estrela reused for [[Salt-Man Z]] in Brazil, so... There's that as a small, potentially even unintentional double-homage for all the Estrela fans out there. To make this sting even more, there have been numerous modern figures based on [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|other]] [[The Transformers (European toyline)|regional]] permutations of Generation 1, so the Latin American branch feels particularly neglected by Hasbro.

Unfortunately, it seems that we're still a long way from seeing a complete CHUG Optimus and Malignus team or a ''[[Masterpiece]]'' Radio AM Robot. But until then, we can at least take comfort in the fact that, as far as the first half of the 2020s is concerned, there have been 200% more characters that can double as homages to their South American counterparts compared to previous years, so who knows what the future might hold!
{{-}}

==See also==
* [[Karsten]], a textiles company that produced merchandise for Estrela's ''Transformers'' toyline.
* [[Grendene Transformers watch]], the sole post-Estrela instance of a Transformers toy being exclusive to Latin America
* [[Multibrink]], the sole Latin American that would produce Transformers merchandise (albeit ''much'' later)
* [[:Category:South American-original characters|Category:South American-original characters]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Generation 1 toylines| Transformers (toyline)]]

Evangelion Unit-02

2025-11-08T17:10:22Z

EarthSparkGears:

{{faction|autobot|nerv}}
:''Evangelion Unit-02 is a biomechanical construct from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''.''

[[File:QEVA02 toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''You do (Not) have Articulation'']]

'''Evangelion Unit-02''' (エヴァンゲリオン弐号機 ''Evangerion Nigōki'') shortened to '''Eva-02''', is a giant mecha employed by [[Nerv]] to defend [[Tokyo-3]] from [[Angel]]s.

==Toys==
===''Evangelion × Q-Transformers''===
*'''Evangelion 3-Figure Set''' (Multi-pack, [[2015]]-[[September 19|09-19]])
**''ID Number:'' '''QTC-02'''

:Released as part of the ''Q-Collaboration'' crossover subline, ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' Eva-02 is a [[retool]] of [[Hello Kitty]], transforming from a robot to a truck with integrated trailer based on [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]]'s truck mode. It was only available in a 3-pack alongside [[Evangelion Unit-00]] and [[Evangelion Unit-01]]. The truck mode trailer-halves can link up to other Q-Collaboration figures- The three EVA-Units can be connected to create a [[Nerv]] hangar backdrop.

:This mold was also retooled into Evangelion Unit-01, Evangelion Unit-00, [[Kamiusagi Rope]], [[Akira Senpai]], [[My Melody]], and [[Snoopy]].

==Notes==
* The Eva Unit-02 toy is modeled after its incarnation from ''{{w|Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance}}''.

==External links==
*{{w|Evangelion (mecha)#EVA02|Evangelion Unit-02}} at Wikipedia
*[http://wiki.evageeks.org/Evangelion_Unit-02 Evangelion Unit-02] at EvaWiki

[[Category:Neon Genesis Evangelion]]
[[Category:Mechanical suits]]
[[Category:Q-Transformers characters]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]

Evangelion Unit-02

2025-11-08T16:34:09Z

EarthSparkGears: asuka mom

{{faction|autobot|nerv}}
:''Evangelion Unit-02 is a biomechanical construct from ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''.''

[[File:QEVA02 toy.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''You do (Not) have Articulation'']]

'''Evangelion Unit-02''' (エヴァンゲリオン弐号機 ''Evangerion Nigōki'') shortened to '''Eva-02''', is a giant mecha employed by [[Nerv]] to defend [[Tokyo-3]] from [[Angel]]s.
It is also reportedly powered by a [[https://wiki.evageeks.org/Kyoko_Zeppelin_Soryu|zeppelin]].

==Toys==
===''Evangelion × Q-Transformers''===
*'''Evangelion 3-Figure Set''' (Multi-pack, [[2015]]-[[September 19|09-19]])
**''ID Number:'' '''QTC-02'''

:Released as part of the ''Q-Collaboration'' crossover subline, ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' Eva-02 is a [[retool]] of [[Hello Kitty]], transforming from a robot to a truck with integrated trailer based on [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]]'s truck mode. It was only available in a 3-pack alongside [[Evangelion Unit-00]] and [[Evangelion Unit-01]]. The truck mode trailer-halves can link up to other Q-Collaboration figures- The three EVA-Units can be connected to create a [[Nerv]] hangar backdrop.

:This mold was also retooled into Evangelion Unit-01, Evangelion Unit-00, [[Kamiusagi Rope]], [[Akira Senpai]], [[My Melody]], and [[Snoopy]].

==Notes==
* The Eva Unit-02 toy is modeled after its incarnation from ''{{w|Evangelion 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance}}''.

==External links==
*{{w|Evangelion (mecha)#EVA02|Evangelion Unit-02}} at Wikipedia
*[http://wiki.evageeks.org/Evangelion_Unit-02 Evangelion Unit-02] at EvaWiki

[[Category:Neon Genesis Evangelion]]
[[Category:Mechanical suits]]
[[Category:Q-Transformers characters]]
[[Category:Female Transformers]]

Snoopy

2025-11-08T16:21:34Z

EarthSparkGears:

:''Snoopy is a beagle from {{w|Peanuts}}.''

[[File:QSnoopy Toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|He's not too fond of [[Ransack (ROTF) |Ransack]] either!]]

'''Snoopy''' (スヌーピー ''Sunūpī'') is an Earth beagle with [[Wikia:Peanuts:World War I Flying Ace|a legendary aerial combat record]] who reportedly fought in the [[World War I|First World War]].

==Toys==
===''Peanuts × Q-Transformers''===
*'''Snoopy''' ([[2015]]–[[December 29|12–29]])
**''ID Number:'' '''QTC05'''

:A [[retool]] of ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' [[Hello Kitty]] with a new head and arms, Snoopy transforms from a beagle to a truck with integrated trailer based on [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]]'s truck mode, and his trailer is painted up like his dog house. His arms have sculpted divots to accommodate the length of the new head's snout when in truck mode. As the truck trailer halves end up on the back of the figure in robot mode, you can link up Q-Collaboration figures to one another. Snoopy's backdrop features a sticker with his good pal [[w:Woodstock (Peanuts)|Woodstock]] on it.

:This mold was also retooled into [[Kamiusagi Rope]], [[Akira Senpai]], [[Evangelion Unit-00]], [[Evangelion Unit-01]], and [[Evangelion Unit-02]], and [[My Melody]].

:Although usually sold in Japanese markets, the figure also saw release in department stores in Asia.

==Notes==
*His Tech-Specs state he has a strength rating of two [[Destron Pizza|pizzas]], his owner as a {{w|Charlie Brown|Charles Brown}}, and that his [https://www.gocomics.com/peanuts/1968/08/10 birthday] is [[August 10]]th.

==External links==
* {{w|Snoopy}} at Wikipedia
* [[Wikia:peanuts:Snoopy|Snoopy]] at Peanuts Wiki

[[Category:Dogs]]
[[Category:External properties]]
[[Category:Japanese-original Transformers]]
[[Category:Q-Transformers characters]]

Die Transformer

2025-11-08T16:09:59Z

EarthSparkGears:

[[File:Die tf 01.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"''Die Transformer''... I guess the reviews must have come in early! Do ho ho ho!" "Either that or it's the suggestion box! Do ho ho ho!"]]

'''''Die Transformer''''' ("The Transformers") is a three-issue German comic book series published by [[Condor Verlag]]. It reprinted the first four issues of ''[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|The Transformers]]'' and was followed by ''[[Transformers Comic-Magazin]]''.

{|style="margin:0 auto;padding:0 auto" align=center id=toc
!align=center bgcolor=#6699CC|'''''Die Transformer'' issues:'''
|-align=center
|| [[Die Transformer issue 1|#1]] | [[Die Transformer issue 2|#2]] | [[Die Transformer issue 3|#3]]
|}

==Notes==
*"Die Transformer" is a ''very'' straight (and odd) translation of the [[Transformers brand|brand]]'s original pre-1989 title, ''[[The Transformers (franchise)|The Transformers]]'', keeping (and translating) the definite article, keeping the name "Transformer" untranslated but applying German plural rules (which don't always require a plural-"s" depending on the word).

[[Category:Comics]] [[Category:Die Transformer issues]]

Carnage in C-Minor

2025-11-05T01:24:08Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Featured characters */ added brawn and huffer to the featured characters. because windcharger appears in call of the primitives featured characters section and is counted, they will be counted two, even tho its an animation error.

{{episode|
|series=G1toon
|series2=2010
|ep=82
|ep2=14
|prev2=Surprise Party
|next2=Fight or Flee (episode)
|image=Carnage C-Minor Autobots harmonic attack.JPG
|caption=[[Birth of the Fantastic Double Prime|Hey, what is that awful noise? Okay, let me straighten him out!]]
|title="Carnage in C-Minor"
|season=3
|season ep=17
|production code=700-102
|airdate=[[October 14]], 1986
|written by=[[Buzz Dixon]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm4ZFBIV4gM
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Several Autobots and Decepticons battle over a planet whose civilization revolves around music and whose inhabitants can use sound as a powerful weapon.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Broadsidecrushesdevastator.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Die, Atlas!]]
The [[Decepticon]]s are building engines into the side of a comet in order to alter its course and crash it on top of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. As they fire up the engines, a group of [[Autobot]]s close in, led there by [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]]. The Autobots attack, much to [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]'s dismay. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] form [[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]], who is promptly flattened when [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] drops on him in ship mode. In the ensuing battle, the engines are destroyed, and the comet is sent hurtling towards a small planet, which Perceptor reports is inhabited.

The Autobots attempt unsuccessfully to stop the comet before Galvatron again orders his men to engage their foe. While Galvatron and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] are grappling, waves of [[Harmony|sound energy]] destroy the comet and cause both groups of Transformers to plummet to the planet's surface. In a nearby city, three aliens are having a disagreement. One of them, [[Allegra]], storms out, saying that she's going to her retreat.

The Transformers recover from their crash, wondering what hit them. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] describes it as the most perfect harmony ever, but Galvatron is more interested in its destructive power. Broadside breaks up the discussion by punching Galvatron, and the fight resumes. As the Constructicons form Devastator again, Perceptor blows the giant apart with one shot from his cannon. Galvatron and Soundwave depart in search of the source of the harmony they heard earlier, but Ultra Magnus spots them leaving and takes Broadside and [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] in pursuit. Perceptor reflects that unless the trio are swift, there might not be much of them left.

[[File:Carnage CMinor Blaster Magnus Basso.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"I now pronounce you bot and wife. You may kiss the bride."]]

Broadside swiftly passes the two Decepticons and overflies the city, which Blaster realises is laid out like a musical harmony. Magnus and Blaster meet with [[Basso Profundo]], leader of the planet [[Eurythma]], but Basso refuses to help them, believing that the harmony is all his people need to protect themselves. He drops a hint that Allegra might be able to help them, a fact overheard by Galvatron and Soundwave, who are spying outside. As the three Autobots go in search of Allegra, the Decepticons drop a bridge on them. To make sure, Galvatron blasts the wreckage, and the pair fly off to find Allegra.

Basso watches the two Decepticons leave, and fellow [[Eurythman]] [[Zebop Skandana]] uses a harmony to help the Autobots out of the rubble. Blaster realises that Zebop was creating part of the harmony which originally blew the Autobots out of space, and Zebop says he's sympathetic to their cause and will help them find Allegra.

[[File:Carnage CMinor Galvatron Soundwave Allegra.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Galvatron loved going to the opera. He always showed his appreciation by blowing the theater to kingdom come afterwards.]]

The two Decepticons meet Allegra, offering to help her overthrow Basso in return for the secret of the harmony. She obliges and Soundwave records it, but to Galvatron's rage, it turns out that she is only one part of the harmony; Basso and Zebop make up the other two thirds. Still, when the Autobots arrive with Zebop, Soundwave is testing the part of the harmony he has by destroying a rock. The Autobots set up an ambush, but Zebop is so distressed by the fact that Allegra is working with the Decepticons that he gives away their position. Galvatron starts firing, and Zebop takes refuge in Ultra Magnus's cab. Soundwave begins battering the Autobots with the harmony. When Zebop counters with ''his'' part of the harmony, Soundwave promptly records it and uses the resulting two-thirds of the harmony to devastating effect.

[[File:Carnage CMinor Allegra Zebop.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Alas, poor Zebop. We knew him we- Wait. No, we didn't.]]

With the Autobots apparently gone, Galvatron terminates the alliance with Allegra. She attempts to attack them with her part of the harmony, but Soundwave retaliates, knocking her out. The Autobots climb out of their hole in time to prevent Galvatron from terminating the Eurythman, but during the resulting fight, Blaster and Soundwave struggle and accidentally fall on Zebop. Galvatron grabs his minion and departs, leaving Allegra cradling Zebop in her arms. Though the Autobots believe he's had it, Allegra uses a harmony to revive him. The Autobots leave for the city.

Back at the landing site, the rest of the Autobots and Decepticons are still fighting. Hot Spot voices his hope that Magnus, Blaster and Broadside hurry. The Eurythmans have spotted the battle, and Basso uses an amplifier to direct a destructive harmony at it. [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] is forced to disassemble, but the two factions fight on. Basso is depressed, and his aide points out he needs Allegra and Zebop to complete the harmony. Arriving, Soundwave begins playing two-thirds of the harmony, shaking the city and provoking Basso into using the third part again, which Soundwave promptly records. He is subsequently able to use the complete harmonic weapon to attack the city. Pleased, Galvatron announces their next targets are Metroplex and then [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]].

[[File:Carnage CMinor Soundwave harmony.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Soundwave finds himself too big to fly through the rings in the Training Stage.]]

Ultra Magnus's party arrives back at the city to find it devastated and their fellow Autobots badly damaged. The Eurythmans are able to repair Perceptor and the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]] with a harmony, and the Autobots set off for Earth.

Galvatron and Soundwave attack Metroplex with the harmony, but the Autobots soon arrive with the three Eurythmans, who nullify Soundwave's weapon with anti-sound. Blaster grabs Soundwave and uses his buttons to erase the harmony from Soundwave's tapes. Despite Galvatron raging that he hasn't ordered a retreat, the Decepticons flee anyway. The Autobots return the Eurythmans to their world, where Ultra Magnus tells them they need to learn to live in harmony.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (9)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (10)
*[[Superion (G1)|Superion]] (11)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (12)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (13)
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] (15)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (16)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (17)
*[[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] (18)
*[[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] (22)
*[[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] (23)
*[[Groove (G1)|Groove]] (24)
*[[Blades (G1)|Blades]] (25)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (26)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (27)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (28)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (29)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (30)
*[[Scamper]] (31)
*[[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (1)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (5)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (6)
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]] (14)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (15)

|c4=
*[[Basso Profundo]] (19)
*[[Allegra]] (20)
*[[Zebop Skandana]] (21)
*[[Eurythman communicator]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"What was that?!" 
"That was heaven. The purest, most vibrant, most perfect harmony I've ever heard."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Soundwave''' wonder what hit them, to the latter's monotoned enjoyment.

"You! Because of you, I got blasted out of space. DO YOU REALIZE WHAT THAT DID TO MY PAINT JOB?!"
:—'''Broadside''', right before he sucker-punches Galvatron

"Broadside! Blaster! Galvatron and Soundwave went to find the weapon that knocked us out of space!" 
"Weapon? That was no weapon. That was harmonic bliss! A musical kiss!" 
"Whatever."
:—'''Ultra Magnus''', who doesn't have any soul, and '''Blaster''', who does.

"Blaster, you picking up anything?" 
"Yeah, yeah! Beauty like you wouldn't believe, Broadside. Sweet soul music. It's their art, their commerce, their philosophy, their whole—uh-oh, bummer. Galvatron and Soundwave are here."
:—'''Broadside''' and '''Blaster''' get their vibes harshed.

"I don't wanna see your ugly face, just the button that says 'ERASE'!" 
"My tapes! You've erased my tapes!"
:—'''Blaster''' destroys '''Soundwave'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s tapes, to the Decepticon's monotoned horror.

==Notes==
"Carnage in C-Minor" is perhaps the most famously error-laden episode in the series, and a regular contender among fans for "worst G1 episode". Even by the cartoon's own low standards, the art and animation are of poor quality, while the sheer volume of animation errors — many of them glaringly obvious — is almost unmatched. Add to that the irritating sing-song speech and shrilly modulated voices of the alien protagonists, and you've got an episode that is pretty widely loathed. Despite all this, the actual script and plot are certainly not the weakest to grace the cartoon series — certainly not at level of, say, "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]".

===Real-world references===
*Galvatron's plan to smash Metroplex with a comet is based on the popular sci-fi idea of "kinetic bombardment". The trope would see use in [[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|an issue of]] IDW's 2010 ongoing series.
*The Decepticons are said to be working in an Oort cloud, referring to the swarm of comets and proto-planet stuff believed to be orbiting the sun far beyond Pluto (not ''the'' Oort cloud, however, since it's close to the alien planet Eurythma — which raises the question of why the Decepticons didn't pick a comet in Earth's own solar system instead.)
*The Eurythman characters' names are all music-related puns. Allegra is named after either the Italian operetta and opera composer {{w|Salvatore Allegra}} or {{w|Tempo#Italian tempo markings|Italian tempo marking "allegro"}}, while Basso Profundo is derived from the singing style {{w|Bass (voice type)|basso prof'''o'''ndo}}. While these are all related to classical music, Zebop Skandana is named after popular music guitarist {{w|Carlos Santana}} and his 1981 album {{w|Zebop!}}... and the difference shows.
*Eurythma was possibly named after the popular '80s band The {{w|Eurythmics}}.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as Broadside takes off after the Decepticons.
**[[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] whine and [[Death Star]] superlaser as Galvatron and Soundwave take off after burying the Autobots, again as the Autobots pursue them back to the city, and again as the Decepticons depart for Earth.

===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:Carnage CMinor Allegra Zebop.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|This episode ensured that no kid would ever, ever, ever want Broadside's toy.]]
*Like much of Season 3, this episode was animated by AKOM, using their usual incorrect character models:
**Galvatron is consistently colored using an outdated color model that gives him pale purple "underpants".
**Throughout the entire episode, Broadside is drawn using [[:File:Broadsidecharactermodels.jpg|his pre-final robot and jet mode]] [[character model]]s. On the other hand, his aircraft carrier mode is actually that of his final model colored like the pre-final version with a purple Autobot insignia.
**Soundwave's head crest is supposed to be the same blue as his body, but its lines and/or triangle randomly turn grey throughout the episode. His back piece is also grey when it should be blue, and his hands are colored black instead of blue.
**Magnus's gun is blue instead of white. Remarkably, he doesn't have a colored mouth like AKOM gives him in so many other episodes.
*Other episode-wide errors:
**The Transformation sound effects are frequently cut off.
**Soundwave's face plate doesn't move when he speaks for most of this episode.
**The harmony's effects are rarely consistent from scene to scene. Sometimes it's a ray or beam; other times it's a whispy wave or radiating circle of light. Sometimes it's actually sung; other times it's shown as a sort of telepathic ray. When Galvatron attacks the Autobots with it at the running battle, it's a green woobery line moving backwards through the air.
*Freeze-frame-o-vision:
**Bonecrusher pulls the engine activation lever with a serial freeze-frame effect, as if it were some great epic act.
**The comet's explosion is likewise "animated" with successive freeze-frames.
**Metroplex's transformation to battle station mode is also done this way.
*Grimlock is drawn with a mouth as he and the others fly toward the comet.
*An Autobot of made-up model is shown approaching the comet to Magnus's right, where Grimlock had been a couple of shots prior.
*Two more generic Autobots are shown alongside Magnus as they come into view above the Decepticons. Only Galvatron, Soundwave and Bonecrusher are shown on the comet, but more Decepticons will appear out of nowhere as the battle rolls on.
*In that same shot, Galvatron and Soundwave are facing away from the engine; in the next shot, as they react to the first shots, they're facing towards it.
*Combiner issues:
**Superion is consistently shown as the same size as the other Autobots; he should be twice as large even without any size changing.
**Devastator is exactly the same size as Soundwave as they return fire on the approaching Autobots.
**Devastator is shown firing alongside Soundwave in the first salvos of the comet battle; a moment later, the Constructicons are shown combining into Devastator.
**When the Constructicons form Devastator for the second time, the first shot shows Scavenger (''not'' Scrapper) and Mixmaster forming the legs, Bonecrusher forming the pelvis, and Long Haul forming the torso. The second shot shows Bonecrusher and Scavenger forming the arms and Hook forming the upper torso. This means that Scrapper, the Constructicon leader, didn't contribute to Devastator, but ''two'' Bonecrushers and Scavengers did, and [[Devastator (ROTF)|''seven'' Constructicons formed Devastator.]]
**Devastator doesn't just de-combine when Perceptor shoots him — he actually explodes into a bunch of little pieces!
**When the Protectobots are combined as Defensor, Hot Spot (Defensor's torso) is fighting alongside his combined self!
*Ultra Magnus has Optimus Prime's rifle sound effect as he dives toward the comet.
[[File:DeceptiBrawn1.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|AKOM, it's really simple. Dead guys don't get to fight. Because they're dead. You know what 'dead' is, right?]]
[[File:Hotspot defensor.jpg|'ey you! Get back in mah belleh!|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Appearing/disappearing robots: The cast fluctuates so much it's almost impossible to tell who's actually supposed to be there. Autobots routinely appear for only a shot or two; it's hard to know if the appearances were scripted or not.
**Grimlock vanishes after the first couple of shots.
**Cyclonus appears for one shot, firing alongside Soundwave and Bonecrusher, and is never seen again.
**In the episode's most infamous shot, [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] and [[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (who should both be dead) show up alive and well. And it seems [[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] has switched sides, as he's helping them shoot at the giant Decepticon rocket engine he just helped build! (Huffer's orange is so dark it appears red, to boot.)
**Hot Spot suddenly appears after the rocket explodes.
**In one shot, only four Transformers are shown falling out of the sky; a second shot shows six or seven. Eight are shown in the subsequent crater; there should be at least half a dozen more.
**Perceptor and Hot Spot seem to be the only ones left fighting once Broadside and company depart.
**Hot Spot abruptly replaces Broadside for several shots during the end of the battle at Allegra's retreat.
**Soundwave appears alongside the Constructicons for several shots during the ongoing firefight; at this point he's still running around with Galvatron.
**Defensor suddenly appears in the battle as Basso Profundo uses the harmonic amplifier on the Transformers. He separates into his components, who then show up in several more shots, so it's clearly a scripted appearance. (And as noted elsewhere, Hot Spot — his torso — is standing right next to him!)
*Galvatron sees Magnus flying right at him... then transforms to cannon mode and ''turns the other way''.
*During or after the ensuing cloud-obscured struggle, Galvatron returns to [[robot mode]], but no transformation sound is heard.
*When the engine explodes, it vanishes without a trace, leaving only a smooth metal platform behind — no debris, no crater, no damage.
*As observed by Perceptor, the comet seems to have a tiny moon following it! We also get Perceptor's microscope-vision before he's actually transformed.
[[File:Carnage C-minor Magnus Broadside.JPG|{{w|Monty Python's Life of Brian|"Hail Caesar!" "Hail Thaethar."}}|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*While the Autobots are shooting at the meteor, they are so badly drawn that they appear to have only one leg each, left arms starting from the elbows, and enormous heads...and Superion and Broadside (whose hugeness was a plot point just a couple of shots ago) are tiny. Perceptor's also drawn with a visor instead of single eyes.
*In a subsequent shot, the Autobots' lasers aren't actually reaching the comet they're firing at.
*"They thwarted me" — Soundwave's head crest is colored as though it were his face! The result is that he looks like an excited guy with a gaping-open mouth and the biggest chin strap this side of ''Animated''. Mixmaster also appears to have stolen [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]]'s goggles and beard.
*Sudden starry night:
**When he picks up Galvatron, Broadside has starry night sky behind him in his closeup shot, but dusky clouds in the wide shots.
**Perceptor has night sky behind him in the same scene.
**Magnus gets random night sky as he asks about finding "the bandleader".
**Starry night as Galvatron drops and dismisses Allegra.
**Starry night as Superion prepares to tackle Galvatron.
*When Bonecrusher orders the formation of Devastator, he's wearing an Autobot insignia. See also the continuity error below.
*After Devastator gets blown apart by Perceptor, there are two Long Hauls firing at the Autobots, one with a malformed face.
[[File:Bigmagnus tinyconst.jpg|We'll take revenge by merging into Devastator! That can't possibly fail!|thumb|right|upright=1.1|'Kids, did I ever tell you the story of how I met your mother?']]
*After watching Galvatron and Soundwave leave, Ultra Magnus dispatches Hook and Scrapper—by picking them up in his hands and bashing them together. Magnus is supposed to be big, but not ''that'' big. (It's ''possible'' that the animators used the [[toy]]s for reference, unaware that the cartoon [[scale]] traditionally doesn't match the toys' scale in this case.)
*Blaster's voice is missing its usual modulation.
*Perceptor and Hot Spot seem to jump all over the place as they fight:
**They're beside each other in the crater as Perceptor takes out Devastator.
**A tiny Superion takes Hot Spot's place in a subsequent shot.
**Then Hot Spot is by himself as he turns and fires.
**Then Perceptor is back beside him as he continues firing.
**Then they turn and jump into the crater they were already in.
**The pair run from the firefight (not transform and drive, but ''run'')... then suddenly are standing still, rising up as though from a crouch.
*As Broadside overtakes the Decepticons, Blaster and Ultra Magnus aren't shown.
*As they approach the city, Blaster and Magnus have gone from hanging onto the back edges of Broadside's wings to hanging onto the (much more logical) front edges.
**In the same shot, Blaster's torso — hidden by the wing — has to be about twice as long as his legs to actually connect to them.
**And Magnus's mouth doesn't move as he delivers his lines.
*As Blaster and Ultra Magnus talk to Basso, Blaster is Magnus's height in closeup shots but (correctly) shorter than him in the long shots.
*As Galvatron shoots the bridge, his cannon has the usual Decepticon laser sound effect rather than its own sound effect.
*Broadside's eyes are yellow when he gets up from under the rubble on the bridge.
*Allegra is waving her arms around for several seconds before Galvatron walks in on her. It's not clear if she's supposed to be singing — in which case the vocals are completely missing — or if she's supposed to be playing music from the device in front of her, in which case she would be ''playing the show's own background music!'' Either way, it seems like a total non-sequitur when Galvatron walks in and says "Very impressive!"
[[File:Carnage CMinor Galvatron Soundwave Allegra.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Very impressive arm-waving!"]]
*When Galvatron and Soundwave first talk to Allegra, Soundwave has eyes rather than a visor, and his face is colored blue instead of grey.
**As he receives the first part of the haromony, his "nose" goes up so high into his visor that it appears as separate eyes again.
*Allegra goes from standing up (in bold defiance) to casually laying down in the span of two shots.
[[File:Soundwaveautobotgalvy.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"Very impressive shrinking!"]]
*Soundwave has a purple Autobot [[insignia]] after recording Allegra's harmony section.
*Soundwave successively shrinks through this scene — at first he's the same height as Galvatron, then he's a head shorter, then only comes up to Galvatron's waist when Galvatron picks him up.
*After learning that they only have one third of the harmony, a recycled shot makes Galvatron look quite happy as he snarls in angry frustration.
*"Everybody's a critic" — Broadside is missing the passengers who are supposed to be hanging onto his wings.
*"I'm not so sure this is a good idea anymore" — Soundwave is missing his Decepticon symbol, and his headcrest comes down so far it separates his visor.
*Blaster is drawn delivering Broadside's line about "scorch-marks on top of everything else".
*The open parts of Magnus's trailer are misdrawn, making the entire trailer appear solid.
*Many of Magnus's white truck parts are colored light gray.
[[File:Carnage C-Minor Autobots harmonic attack.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Remember that shot a while back, where Broadside was twice as tall as Magnus in robot mode?]]
*A wide shot of Magnus advancing against the harmony has Blaster and Broadside at human scale, shorter — ''much'' shorter — than Magnus's truck mode.
*Allegra reacts to being grabbed by Galvatron a couple of seconds before it actually happens.
*While singing his harmony, Zebop goes from inside Magnus's cab to outside between shots.
**After Magnus frees himself from the pit a moment later, Zebop jumps out of the cab ''again''.
*After Soundwave blasts the Autobots into the ground, he transforms and walks toward the edge of the frame — but disappears ''before'' leaving the frame.
*While Soundwave and Blaster are fighting, Soundwave's grunts are unprocessed, making him sound like Dr. Claw.
*Galvatron has the standard Decepticon laser sound effect as he blasts Magnus, rather than his own signature sound.
*The script presumably calls for Zebop to move Allegra to safety; instead, the animation shows him putting her down and standing right over her, as Blaster and Soundwave fall on what would seem to be both of them. (Furthermore, when Zebop carries Allegra, her legs are supported by his left arm but then after a brief cut showing Blaster fighting Soundwave, from then on Allegra's legs are supported by his right arm. (Perhaps a frequent error with carrying animations for some reason, careless nonetheless)).
*Blue face on Soundwave after he and Blaster fall on Zebop.
*When Blaster explains that the Eurythmans use the harmony even for healing, Ultra Magnus is the one mouthing the words; Magnus also has a visor instead of eyes.
*Our first shot of the still-going battle features lasers being fired at a forest, with nobody from either side in view.
*Hot Spot has consistently had a faceplate till now, but as he asks Perceptor about the other Autobots, he's suddenly got a mouth.
*When Perceptor gets shot, he grunts in a voice like that of Ultra Magnus.
*The running battle is in a forest, but when Galvatron and Soundwave intervene it's suddenly in the city.
*When Galvatron orders Soundwave to play the harmonics on Earth, Soundwave's tape deck door is the same color as his body (it should be light blue).
[[File:CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg|It's his little shoulder-angel.|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*When Soundwave plays the harmonics to disrupt Metroplex, the waves are shown emanating from ''Galvatron's head''! We then pan over to Metroplex, who is hardly any bigger than the two Decepticons.
*Metroplex does a sort of malformed half-transformation out of battle station mode, then stops; a shot later he's in robot mode with no additional animation or sound.
*"Autobots! Impossible!" — Galvatron's mouth doesn't move.
*Soundwave suddenly has a Decepticon symbol on his back as he <s>dances</s> struggles with Blaster.
*As Blaster flies off after erasing Soundwave's tapes, a cel-layering error causes him to appear smaller than Soundwave's head!
*As the Decepticons retreat, Blaster is shown flying away (again!) behind two Constructicons.
*"The Decepticons won't be back" — Magnus's eyes change size and shape between successive shots.

...And all this is overlooking the frequently malformed bodies, incorrect proportions, minor coloring foul-ups, and just generally poor artwork that marks the whole episode.

===Continuity errors===
*Flying Autobots:
**The entire Autobot assault force flies through space to the comet. As usual, no rocket packs are in evidence, nor are they mentioned. Only Superion and Grimlock are usually capable of robot mode flight.
**Despite this, Blaster and Magnus have to hang on to Broadside to fly after the Decepticons once they're on the planet.
**Despite ''this'', they both take off alongside Broadside after Allegra heals Zebop, and are seen flying along on Earth too. Blaster even has a whole fight sequence with Soundwave while floating in the air.
*The Decepticons all fly away from the comet as the rocket activates. As the Autobots approach, they're back alongside it — well, three of them, anyway.
*Anyone bothered that this "sonic weapon" was used to destroy a comet IN SPACE?
*Bonecrusher is shown ordering the Constructicons to combine. Scrapper is supposed to be their leader. Granted, it's in line with Mixmaster giving the orders back in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]".
*Since when does Perceptor pack enough firepower to blast the once-invincible Devastator to pieces?
**Likewise, how come one little shot from the Constructicons knocks Superion apart?
*Much like the Season 2 episode "[[Kremzeek!]]", once characters start hanging on to another character to get around, the script seems to forget that there's any other way for them to travel. Blaster and Magnus ride around on Broadside's wings for the rest of the episode, and even poor Zebop has to do so once he joins them!
[[File:Carnage CMinor Blaster Magnus Basso.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"No." "What did he say?" "He said 'no'."]]
*Despite the aliens' dialog being in perfectly understandable English (or Galactic Standard or whatever), because they say everything in a sing-song rhythm, apparently none of the Transformers except Blaster and Soundwave can understand them, and the two tape decks spend a large (and annoying) amount of time translating Eurythman to "non-sing-song" for everyone else — at times repeating the same lines word-for-word.
**Blaster also somehow extrapolates quite a bit of information from short lines like "This is your war, not ours."
*At one point [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] states the Autobots are "outnumbered two to one", but even excluding oddities like Brawn and Huffer, the ''Autobots'' actually ''seen'' in this episode outnumber the ''Decepticons''. See also Appearing/Disappearing Robots, above.
*"Soundwave, are you getting this?" "I am... I am!" "Never mind that. Did you get the harmony?" Did a line get dropped?
*Superhuman aliens:
**Allegra is still in Galvatron's hands when Magnus shoots him in the back, causing Galvatron to drop her from what looks like a height of 30 or 40 feet. Despite this, she's up and running about a moment later.
**It's an animation error, not a scripted one, but she seems to survive being smushed by two Transformers just fine.
*When the Decepticons reach Earth, they ''pass'' Autobot City (in the usual lush valley - specifically a shot that's directly recycled from "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]", just oddly tilted 25% clockwise) to reach Metroplex, who seems to be hanging out in a barren desert for no reason.
*The Autobots (Scamper, anyway) don't notice the Decepticons till they're literally already there and firing at them. Nobody noticed the Decepticons fly to Earth? What happened to the Earth Defense Command satellites?
*Why does Soundwave even ''have'' an 'erase' option? Better hope his [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|tapes]] had their copy-protection tabs removed!

===Trivia===
*Galvatron is ''weirdly'' chummy with Soundwave throughout the episode, never once abusing him in the ways he ordinarily treats his lieutenants. They're even briefly shown holding hands while flying! Perhaps there might be some lingering fondness from the former's previous life coming through?
*This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 1999]].
*[[Ask Vector Prime]] [[Source:Ask Vector Prime/Facebook#September 30, 2015|identified]] the [[Eurythma|Eurythmic]] [[Harmony]] as an especially potent source of [[animation error|time-space anomalies]]. This retroactively means that every single "error" that occurred in this episode actually happened.
*This episode marks the only time Broadside is shown in jet mode in the US cartoon. Further, the model that was used is actually his pre-final model which had previously only been used in the 1986 [[Triple Changer]] [[commercial]]. His final jet mode model wouldn't actually be used until ''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' cartoon.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' ?
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast and European French DVD release):'' "'''Massacre en do mineur'''" ("Massacre in C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Galvatron calls Metroplex "Métropolésie". That is the first and the last time this name is used in the cartoon.
:::*Once again, a lot of battle grunts and screams are recovered from the original version.
:::*The Eurythmans talk normally, the singing side was removed. However, their harmonies were recovered from the original version.
:::*Before Allegra sings for Galvatron and Soundwave, the cut to recover the original version was made too soon, we can hear the ending of the English voice actress' "harmonyyyyy!".
:::*Despite being called "Zebop" in the rest of the episode, Allegra calls him "Zebob" when telling the Decepticons about him.
:::*The dialogue between Broadside and Blaster as they approach the island is missing.
:::*After falling on Zebop, Blaster's "Zebop!" is dubbed by a satisfied "My dear Zebop!", which sounds pretty weird.
:::*The voice actors did not fall in the trap of the animation error where Ultra Magnus moves the lips when Blaster is talking. Like in English, it's indeed Blaster's voice actor who delivers his line.
:::*Soundwave's line "My tapes! You've erased my tapes!" is dubbed by "Oh no, I can't believe it! I was so happy! And he erased everything!".
:::*Despite the final joke about living in harmony also working in French, Blaster does not comment it, his line was replaced by "I sing too out of tune, I wouldn't live with them!".
:::*Name-dodging:
::::*Ultra Magnus' phrase "Ah, very good Perceptor, and that comet can serve as their prison" is dubbed by "Yes, you were not wrong. I hope that this way we will manage to surprise them".
::::*Bonecrusher's line "Constructicons! Form Devastator!" is replaced by "Quickly, regroup! We will have more strength by forming a single robot, let's hurry!".
::::*Galvatron saying "Soundwave! Soundwave!" is dubbed by "Ah, they are too many! They are resisting us!".
::::*Broadside's line "Blaster, you picking up anything?" is dubbed by "Maybe '''you''' can show us the way".
::::*Galvatron's "Soundwave, are you getting this?" is replaced by "Go, record this! And I advise you not to miss". Soundwave's answer "I am. I am" is dubbed by "Yeah, do not worry, we'll record this".
::::*Later, Galvatron's "Soundwave!" about the second harmony is dubbed by "Listen to this!" Record it!". Of course, the next "Soundwave" is missing too.
::::*Again, his "Soundwave!" about the third harmony is dubbed by "No but listen to this!".
::::*Ultra Magnus does not name Perceptor when telling him "It's a long story, I'll tell you on the way back to Earth".
::::*Galvatron's "Soundwave! The harmonics now!" is dubbed by "Come on, go ahead! Quickly play the magic harmonies!".

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Das Gemetzel in Cis-Moll'''" ("The Slaughter in Cis-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (first dub):'' "'''Sinfonia mortale'''" ("Deadly Symphony")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Ultra Magnus's line: «I told you: they use their harmonies for everything, even healing!» is voiced by Blaster and Galvatron's actor, [[Angelo Nicotra]]. The fact that, immediately after, he talks again with his usual voice makes the scene pretty odd.
:*''Title (second dub):'' "'''Massacro in do minore'''" ("Carnage in C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''音楽惑星の挑戦'''" (''Ongaku Wakusei no Chōsen'', "Challenge of the Music Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 20]], [[1987]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''C Xiǎodiào Dàtúshā '''" (C小调大屠杀, "The Slaughter in C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' '''?'''
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode's original translated title is currently lost due to a glitch in the only known surviving copy of the audio track.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skhvutkuh nuh see-meenor'''" (Схватка на Си-минор, "The Battle on C-Minor")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[1989]] — ''Transformers'' — Carnage in C Minor / The Ultimate Weapon ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1999]] — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[2001]] — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2004]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 5: Series 3.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2005 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 19 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2006]] — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] [[2007]] — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2009]] — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2010]] — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0808817/ IMDb's page for this episode]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=118hXiMvCPKsu45gR_be5DtX2mBId8W5A Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:MSTF]]

The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)

2025-11-01T15:11:58Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Continuity errors */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|The Secret of Omega Supreme (Legends)}}
{{episode
|image=Omega Supreme tears up.jpg
|caption=His real name is Ralph.
|series=G1toon
|ep=46
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=35
|prev2=Quest for Survival
|next2=The Gambler
|title="The Secret of Omega Supreme"
|season=2
|season ep=30
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production code=700-45
|airdate=[[November 6]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Unknown Generation 1 animation studios|Unknown]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxSuO3yb4C4
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''When the Constructicons begin mining on a distant asteroid, Optimus Prime calls on Omega Supreme for assistance, only for a long-standing enmity between Omega and the villains to come to light.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Secretomegachatinwoods.jpg|left|thumb|"Paradise: visited. Self: Never visited."]]

A rocket ship bursts out of the ocean and travels into space, landing on an asteroid and then directing the hunk of rock into Earth orbit. A door on the rocket opens, revealing the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]], who step out and signal [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] of their success. The Decepticon leader intends to mine the asteroid for the energy-rich ore inside.

During his own orbit of the Earth, [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] catches sight of the operation and reports in to Autobot headquarters. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] contacts [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] for help. During a one-on-one chat, Optimus senses that Omega is holding a grudge against the Constructicons and demands an explanation. Omega complies in normal speech.

[[File:Omegadefendscrystalcity.jpg|thumb|A rare instance of seeing his tank.]]

''On Cybertron, Omega Supreme is a good-natured, friendly [[Guardian robot|Guardian Robot]]. One of his assignments is guarding the [[Crystal City]], the creation of his friends, the Constructicons. Unfortunately, they are altered by Megatron's [[Robosmasher]] and permanently changed into Decepticons. The Constructicons then trick Omega into leaving his post, and during his absence, they destroy the city. After losing his friends, his job and his city all in the same day, Omega swears he will first help his friends recover and then will get vengeance on Megatron.''

[[File:Robo-Smasher and Omega Supreme.jpg|left|thumb|Devastator and Robosmasher vs Omega. The 'Cons are doomed.]]

''For weeks, Omega tracks the Constructicons, until he captures them and tries to reprogram them. At first, it appears that they have been restored, but on their way home, the Robosmasher corners them. The Constructicons form [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and wrestle Omega into the Robosmasher's clutches. The machine goes to work at reprogramming Omega; he is able to pull away in the middle of the process, but the experience leaves him scarred and emotionally barren except for his desire for vengeance against his former friends. He chases after them for millions of years and finally finds them on Earth.''

Knowing that Omega's judgement might be clouded fighting the Constructicons, Optimus orders him to remain on Earth unless Prime himself gives the order to head to the asteroid. Omega acknowledges Prime's order.

In space, Cosmos gets a sample of the ore from the asteroid and brings it back to headquarters. [[Teletraan I]] determines that the ore is organic in nature. Prime has just ordered Omega to destroy the asteroid, and now he regrets that decision. His further attempts to contact Omega fail because the huge Autobot is bent on revenge.

Once on the asteroid, the vengeful Omega immediately attacks his enemies, wildly smashing open a huge fissure. The entire asteroid breaks in two like an egg, hatching an [[asteroid scorpion|alien creature]], which flies toward Earth.

The creature heads straight toward Earth and begins to destroy [[San Francisco]]. Powerglide, Ironhide, Smokescreen, Tracks and Beachcomber move to stop it, but fail after several attempts.

[[File:Omegasupreme&creature.jpg|left|thumb|"Objective: Catch them all."]]

Omega is still attacking the Constructicons, their battle having moved from the asteroid to the Earth, when Prime tracks him down. He demands that Omega stop his attack and instead clean up the mess he created by releasing the creature. Prime tells Omega that only he can save Earth by luring the monster back to its food supply on the asteroid. When the Constructicons escape, Omega threatens Optimus, but the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] refuses to back down and reminds Omega of his past.

Finally, Omega concedes to Prime's authority and heads off. He confronts the creature and leads it back to the asteroid, where it eats its fill and then flies off into space, never to be seen again.

In the meantime, Prime uncovers Megatron's ore-processing facility and singlehandedly destroys it.

At the end of the day, Optimus thanks Omega for fulfilling his duty. Both Optimus and Omega express hope that he might one day regain some of the feelings that he lost.{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (8)
*[[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (11)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*[[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] (13)
*[[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] (14)
*[[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (18)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (20)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (21)
*[[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (22)
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] (23)

|c2=
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (1)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (2)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (3)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (4)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (5)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (6)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (7)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (9)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (10)
*[[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (17)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (24)

|c4=
*[[Robodoctor]] (15)
*[[Gyronian Sentry|Robosmasher victim]] (16)
*[[asteroid scorpion|Asteroid beast]] (19)
}}

==Quotes==
"That asteroid may be new fuel for Megatron. The Constructicons are mining—" 
"Constructicons?! Constructicons: Enemies. Enemies die!" 
"This is a military mission, not a vendetta, Omega." 
"Results: Same!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Omega Supreme'''

"Quit squirming! This is for your own good! HAHAHAHHAHAHAH!"
:—'''Devastator''' parrots Omega's words back at him while holding him down for the Robosmasher to reprogram him.

"Megatron failed. I lived...but changed. Since then, I feel only hate for the Constructicons."
:—'''Omega Supreme''' reveals the results of his betrayal to Prime.

"Revenge: soon. Anticipation: high. Vengeance: GOOD!"
:—'''Omega Supreme''' after being ordered to remove the Constructicons from the asteroid in orbit of the planet.

"Well, aren't you going to stop that thing before it chews up your precious planet Earth?" 
"Creature lives. ''You'' die!"
:—'''Scrapper''' and '''Omega Supreme'''

"Keep San Francisco clean—leave!"
:—'''Tracks''' to the monster.

"What—eh—if we all just split up—" 
"Then he'd hunt us down one at a time." 
"Then I say we ''unite!''"
:—'''Bonecrusher ''' and '''Scrapper''' debate how to deal with Omega Supreme.

[[File:SecretOmegaSupreme Tracks is alarmed.jpg|thumb]]
"Relax, man. Remember, we're all one with the universe." 
"We're about to become one with the pavement! Duck!"
:—'''Beachcomber''' and '''Tracks''', as the creature is attacking.

"Perhaps someday, you'll see that there are more important things in life than revenge." 
"Possibility: Growing."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Omega Supreme''' see a little hope for future therapy.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 4th April 1985
* Main dialogue recording: 17th April 1985
* [[Arthur Burghardt]] pickup session: 26th April 1985
* First draft storyboards completed: 13th May 1985
* Storyboards slugged: 15th May 1985 (by [[Gwen Wetzler]])
* Final storyboard revision: 5th June 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:SecretofOmega devastator vs omega.jpg|thumb]]
[[File:SecretOmegaSupreme Robo-Smasher victim.jpg|thumb]]
*As with the other new characters introduced in Season 2 up to this point, Omega Supreme simply turned up with no explanation in his first appearance in "[[Blaster Blues]]". In this episode however, we actually get an account as to where he came from: he made his way to Earth once he discovered the Constructicons were there.
*We get a pretty consistent scale reference for Devastator and Omega Supreme; Devastator almost comes up to Omega's shoulders.
*Several ancient Transformers are shown, including Robodoctor and a mustachioed [[Gyronian Sentry|Robosmasher victim]]. The latter, originally an unnamed [[generic]], was retroactively identified as a [[Gyronian Sentry]] when he (they, as it turns out) appeared in the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Collectors' Club magazine]] comic "[[Battle Lines]]".
*This is one of the first times we see that it is "day time" on Cyberton, usually it is always night.
*We also see [[Crystal City]], though as depicted, it's more like a medium-sized building than a city.
*Where's the trailer go?:
**When Prime transforms to summon Omega Supreme, he fills the camera... conveniently blocking our view of his trailer behind him. In the next wide shot of Prime, the trailer's nowhere to be seen.
*Apparently Omega can consciously alter his speech patterns, and chooses to speak in his usual manner of his own accord.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Omega can use his gun arm to reprogram robots! Or at least he ''tries'' to.

===Real world references===
*The Decepticon refinery is ten miles north of {{w|Mount MacKenzie}}, which is a real volcanic peak in [[British Columbia]], [[Canada]]. (Although British Columbia has both a {{w|Mount Mackenzie}} AND a Mount MacKenzie, the [[dialogue script]] uses the latter spelling.)
*San Francisco makes an appearance in Act 3, along with a pyramidal building that's presumably supposed to be the Transamerica Pyramid, and the (very badly proportioned) Golden Gate Bridge.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine burst as the retrorockets engage to relocate the asteroid.
**Deactivating [[lightsaber]] as the Decepticon docking tower rises from the sea.
**Diving [[X-wing Fighter]]s as Cosmos takes off after stealing some ore.
**[[Death Star]] superlaser and ''Falcon'' engine burst as the Constructicons transform and take off from the asteroid.
**Superlaser again as they flee from the splitting asteroid.

===Animation and technical errors===
*The episode is completely inconsistent about the size of the asteroid. Per the opening shots, the Constructicons should be visible as little black dots in a full view of the asteroid. Later, it's barely big enough for Omega Supreme to stand on.
*As the asteroid is flown towards Earth, it's moving ''sideways'' relative to the rocket engines that are supposed to be pushing it!
*Coloring errors:
**As the Constructicons ride out on their lift, Scavenger's arms are white instead of green, and Scrapper's chest is green instead of purple.
**When Soundwave appears (replacing Sideswipe), his chest door is rimmed in white instead of gold.
**After Optimus sends Cosmos back to the asteroid for the first time, the top of Powerglide's face is colored yellow instead of gray (and his faceplate doesn't move as he speaks).
**As Powerglide watches Prime walk out, his right shoulder/wing is miscolored gray like his arm.
**Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray as he acknowledges his new Robosmashed trooper.
**Scrapper's chest is gray again as he transforms to con Omega into leaving.
**The light gray bits on Scavenger's face are colored dark gray as Scrapper says "Let's go to work!"
**"Then, I learned..." - Omega's torso is yellow where it should be mostly gray.
**After he forms, Devastator's forehead is purple instead of light gray.
**Several times when listening to Omega's story, the plate connected to Optimus' neck is blue when it should be red.
**Tracks' hood flames are all red as he and the other Autobots drive along; there should be some yellow.
**When Tracks first opens fire on the alien, his head is blue instead of white.
**Prime's got some extra gray on his chest as he talks to Omega on the bridge.
*When Megatron replies to Hook's transmission, Sideswipe (an Autobot) is standing to his right. When the camera angle switches, he is replaced by Soundwave.
*After Megatron gives him his orders, Astrotrain just stands there for several seconds before speaking.
*For some reason, as Cosmos observes the Constructicons working in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] on the asteroid, a beeping truck horn is heard!
*In several shots during the episode, the bottom of Optimus' faceplate is triangular when it should be squared off.
*In a closeup shot of Omega walking back to Crystal City, his shoulders are waggling back and forth much faster than the rate of his footfalls.
*Throughout most of the flashback, Bonecrusher is missing.
*As the Constructicons revert to [[robot mode]] in front of Omega, they get the "wrong" [[Transformation#The noise|transformation sound]] (descending pitch, usually used for robot-to-vehicle.)
*After the Constructicons get Robosmashed, there is a shot of Omega Supreme in front of the Crystal City, then a short panning shot of the Constructicons approaching the Crystal City without Omega Supreme in front of it.
*The animation and backgrounds make it a bit unclear how far away Omega Supreme went from the Crystal City. It looks like he just went down the street and back, and he could have seen whether there was an attack from right where he was.
*In any number of distant views of Omega Supreme, his head isn't fully drawn or colored - such as the opening shot of Act 2, when he's got a gray blob where his face should be, or when he stands up after swearing revenge.
*"The worst was yet to come" - Omega's face shield is drawn extending all the way to the top of his head, which is likewise drawn abnormally high.
*The second time Crystal City is shown blowing up, it's a totally different sequence than the first time. (Unreliable narrator alert?!)
*It may be a stylistic choice, but as Omega runs toward the ruined city, there's no background, just flat ground and orange sky. The same thing happens as Omega's tank mode drives up to blast a hole in the ground.
*"Get back! It's a trap!" After Hook's warning (which lacks its electronic flanging), the Constructicons just sit there for several seconds, doing nothing.
*The ''clunk'' sound effects to indicate the Constructicon falling into the crater keep happening while none of them are actually falling.
*Scavenger is the second to fall into the crater, but then he's at the end of the line when Omega starts pushing the remaining Constructicons in.
*"I...I feel sane again!" - All the Constructicons are weirdly misshapen.
*After Omega Supreme has reprogrammed the Constructicons back and encounters the Robosmasher again, the buildings on either side of them just sort of disappear into the orange background as they walk. They and the ground also continue to move when he and the Constructicons have stopped walking.
*When Omega spots the Robosmasher, an audio error clips off part of his line. The result: "Robosmatcareful. I don't want it to get you guys again."
*When Omega Supreme is talking about Megatron giving the Constructicons a "new form", the sky behind him is the orange sky seen in the Cybertron flashbacks.
*Hook's crane arm is purple instead of green as he falls into the crater.
*When Omega Supreme is removing the Robosmasher from his head, his left forearm is disconnected from his upper arm.
*The background music wavers a couple of times:
**As the Constructicons make their getaway on Cybertron.
**As Omega switches off his radio.
*Hook's feet are white instead of green after Astrotrain lands.
*Improbable viewpoints:
**Prime brings up an image of Omega standing in the forest.
**Teletraan provides Prime with a nice shot of the creature descending to Earth, and the asteroid after it's split in half. Not ''impossible'' for the Sky Spy to have gotten, but... that's a busy Sky Spy.
[[File:Secretomegafightscons.jpg|thumb|Sure, fire at the rocket whose top half is a cannon. Good plan.]]
*Omega is in such a hurry, his rocket section takes off with the gantry tower still attached to it! In a bizarre bit of continuity, it's still shown as he makes his attack on the Constructicons. Well, that's one less bit for him to magically summon up out of thin air when he transforms.
*Scrapper's voice is missing its electronic flanging as he taunts Omega.
*Hook is shown on Earth when Megatron is testing the ore, despite appearing in the battle against Omega Supreme in the scenes immediately before and after this one.
*Did Megatron actually say "energy juice"? Yes. Yes, he did.
*Cosmos's arm is drawn backwards as he and Prime watch the creature on Teletraan's screen.
*When the alien hatches, its cavity in the asteroid vanishes. Later it returns when Teletraan displays the asteroid.
*The [[Golden Gate Bridge]] is shown in several shots to have three towers, instead of the two it has in reality.
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**The San Francisco squad is clearly shown to be only Ironhide, Tracks, Beachcomber and Powerglide, but Smokescreen suddenly is with them when his smoke gimmick is needed.
*As Scrapper and Bonecrusher debate splitting up, both their helmets are light gray instead of dark gray. Scrapper's visor is also light gray instead of red; part of his forehead is colored red instead.
*Devastator's second combination sequence is a mess. The animators seem to have forgotten to remove the stationary images of Scrapper, Bonecrusher and Mixmaster from the background; the result is that there are ''nine'' Constructicons on-screen in the first half of the sequence, with duplicates of the first three seemingly morphing out of Hook, Long Haul and Scavenger.
*As he convinces Omega to stop the alien, Optimus is missing the Autobot logo on his shoulder.
[[File:G1 cartoon San Francisco.JPG|thumb|San Francisco? That's in America, right? And everything in America looks like New York, right?]]
*In an establishing shot of San Francisco, nearly all of the cars are colored yellow on one side and green on the other. Plus, they're all the same models.
*For a major U.S. city, San Francisco is [[Tunnel Vision (episode)|astonishingly empty]], with only the aforementioned establishing shot depicting any kind of human inhabitation; even then we don't see any actual humans, we just assume the (identical) cars are being driven by them.
*A cel layering error results in a tiny Omega Supreme rocket swooping past the creature as Tracks and Beachcomber attempt to fend it off. Then the alien's cry is clipped off by an audio error, and ''then'' Tracks and Beachcomber simply vanish from the frame (they don't duck - they disappear!)
*A recycled shot shows the alien descending and firing from the open sky, but its laser has no sound effect, and it was flying at street level in the previous shot.
*The shot of Megatron, Hook and Starscream at the refinery is reused three times. The first time, Hook shouldn't be there; the third time, Megatron should be looking through some giant binoculars, as shown in the next shot.
*Megatron is reacting in alarm, and his console glowing as if about to explode, before Optimus has even fired a shot.
*The shot of Prime standing near the Decepticon base after launching his attack is recycled a moment later - but it doesn't match the audio at all. Optimus is heard firing off several shots, while he's shown just standing there with his rifle smoking. The same shot of the exploding base is shown three times almost in a row; the third time another of Prime's shots is heard, but again no laser beam is shown.

====Rhino DVD release====
The [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] (and subsequently, [[Shout! Factory]]) release of this episode differs from the original broadcast master in a few instances, due to the broadcast master featuring some oddities that are likely due to poor video editing during its production:

*As Omega Supreme relates his tale to Optimus, the Rhino version of the episode pans down to Omega once, before cutting to the next shot, ultimately leading up to a panning shot introducing Crystal City which holds for a couple of seconds at the end of the shot. The broadcast master pans down to Omega twice, repeating the same shot in quick succession, with the additional time accounted for by trimming the ending of the panning shot presenting Crystal City.
*As Omega Supreme catches up with the Constructicons and blasts a hole in the ground for them to fall into, the Rhino version features a sequence of recycled shots of the Constructicons driving in their vehicle modes and Omega running towards them. It seems that these shots may have been repeated to cover for missing animation. Supporting evidence for this can be found in the broadcast master, where the footage simply freezes after the hole in the ground is created, cutting to a still image of Mixmaster turning a corner while the soundtrack continues. After a few seconds of frozen picture, the footage starts up again and synchronizes with the soundtrack.

===Continuity errors===
*"The Secret of Omega Supreme" established a second origin story for the Constructicons. Per Omega's tale, the originally benevolent group existed on Cybertron millions of years ago; Megatron rewrote the Constructicons' programming, turning them into a combining force for evil, and they subsequently travelled to Earth via starship and joined up with Megatron there. This story contradicts Megatron's assertion (in "[[Heavy Metal War]]") that the Constructicons were built on Earth. It's not impossible to smooth the error down by conjecturing that he could have been referring to their current bodies, but that's certainly not what was originally intended. The Constructicons' origin would be further complicated by a flashback in "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4]]" in which ''they'' are shown creating ''Megatron''! The conflicting origins have become notorious as one of the biggest continuity errors in the series.
*The Constructicons' character models were not reworked in the slightest for Omega's flashback. Therefore, they are consistently seen with Decepticon symbols despite not yet being Decepticons, and they have Earth alternate modes despite not yet being on Earth. Whether due to an intentional choice to avoid confusing young viewers, an oversight or simple cost-cutting is unknown.
*They're even called "Constructicons" despite not yet being Decepticons!
*Megatron orders Astrotrain to depart for the asteroid, and specifies "space shuttle mode" - what ''other'' mode could he possibly use? It's not like [[Wikipedia:Galaxy Express 999|his train mode can fly]] or anything.
*Optimus Prime refers to Omega Supreme as the Autobot besides Cosmos capable of spaceflight, but [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] had already made multiple space flights. In real-life terms, Skyfire had been removed from the show by this point.
*Prime doesn't seem to hear Omega Supreme walk up to him until he's literally right next to him, despite his literally earth-shaking footsteps.
[[File:G1 GuardianRobots WarDawn.jpg|thumb|"YOU were one of the Guardian Robots? How come you're not blue?"]]
*This episode brings up some issues regarding the reprogramming of Transformer minds:
**According to both Omega Supreme and Optimus Prime, the reprogramming effects of Megatron's Robosmasher can never be reversed, but in "[[The Core]]", [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and [[Chip Chase]] were able to sway the Constructicons to the Autobots' side with [[dominator disk]]s.
**Why does Omega Supreme hate the Constructicons if they were forced to obey Megatron? Shouldn't Omega Supreme's vendetta be against Megatron and not the Constructicons?
*From all appearances, Megatron attacks the Constructicons inside Crystal City. How'd he get in there? Wasn't Omega supposed to be, y'know, guarding it and stuff?
*Optimus Prime's surprise at Omega Supreme's role as a Guardian Robot is odd, since - as we'll see in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" - ''he looks just like a Guardian Robot''.
[[File:Asteroid bird alien firing.jpg|thumb|If Floro Dery didn't design this, I'll eat an asteroid.]]
*Cosmos clambers up Astrotrain to steal a rock, then slips and falls, jarring Astrotrain... who simply sits immobile while Cosmos makes his getaway. This might be Astrotrain simply not noticing... but later, Prime's dialogue indicates that Cosmos ''was'' spotted, but nothing in the animation conveys it.
*Even though it's a tiny sliver of rock by cosmic standards, the creature's "egg" is depicted as having Earth-like gravity; enough so that Cosmos falls heavily when he slips off Astrotrain's wing.
*The [[asteroid scorpion|alien creature]] is supposed to be organic... but it sure doesn't look the part. Not only does it have mechanically smooth limbs, it can shoot lasers out of its tail!
*As usual in the series, major roadways are empty when the Autobots need to fight. Here, the Golden Gate Bridge has no cars on it throughout the episode, including at the end when Optimus and Omega have their little chat!
*Smokescreen is only seen when he is using his smokescreen against the creature, and is never seen again afterwards.

===Trivia===
* The uncharacteristic eloquence displayed by Omega Supreme in this episode was actually the result of writer David Wise being unaware of Omega's normal speech pattern and scripting the episode with normal dialogue. This was due to the speech pattern being created by freelance writer [[Larry Strauss]] in the "[[Blaster Blues]]" script, submitted on [[March 13]]th, 1985. By the time the show's [[Bryce Malek|story]] [[Dick Robbins|editors]] decided to approve Omega's speech pattern for all future dialogue, David Wise had likely either partly or fully completed his script for this episode, submitted [[April 4]]th. The editors were forced to insert Optimus Prime's request for Omega to "talk like a normal Autobot" to make the flashback work.
* This episode's animation plays out as though the budget ran out half-way through. While early on we get lovely shots like Omega looming over Prime and Astrotrain launching from Decepticon headquarters, later on, multiple shots are recycled, to increasingly nonsensical effect. Omega's capture of the Constructicons, for example, contains two different shots we saw just a couple of scenes back. The refinery establishing shot is reused 3 times, and Prime's attack on the refinery reuses the same explosion 3 times in a row.
* For reasons unknown, Hook appears to be leading the Constructicons in the present-day sequences. He reports to Megatron twice and directs his teammates throughout their work on the asteroid. In the flashback sequences, however, Scrapper leads, as usual.
* Ironhide {{w|facepalm}}s!

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le secret d'Oméga Suprême'''" ("The Secret of Omega Supreme")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Megatron does not precise to Astrotrain "Space shuttle mode", making Astrotrain's pause before speaking even longer compared to the original version.
::*The dialogue between Optimus Prime and Cosmos as the latter spies on the Constructicons on the asteroid is missing from the dub.
::*At the Autobot base, Cosmos starts his report with "Cosmos to base!", despite being in front of Optimus Prime.
::*While in English, Optimus Prime says to Cosmos "Cosmos! Head back up there and get me some solid information.", in the dub he is way more angry and screams "Cosmos! You will only come back here when you'll have solid information, and not hypothetical!". This is the [[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2#Foreign Localization|second time]] French dub Optimus Prime bullies Cosmos...
::*Hook's line "Get back! It's a trap!" is absent from the dub.
::*Throughout the episode, Astrotrain is only referred to as "the Astrotrain" by all the characters, like if he was only a simple transport. Even Megatron talks about "the Astrotrain" before telling him to be ready.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il segreto di Megarobot'''" ("The Secret of Omega Supreme")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*At the beginning of Omega Supreme's flashback, he misnames the Decepticons as the Constructicons. Hence, after saying that the Constructicons are causing problems on Cybertron... he meets his old pals, the Constructicons, and have a friendly talk... erm...
::**Well, actually, it look like he calls them "Excavator" instead of the usual "Escavator" but... whatever...
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Il segreto di Omega Supreme'''" ("The Secret of Omega Supreme")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Omega Supreme no Himitsu'''" (オメガ・スプリームの秘密, "The Secret of Omega Supreme")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[March 7]], [[1986]]
::*'''Cut:''' The few seconds of frozen footage in the original U.S. broadcast master is worked around simply by cutting out the offending part, resulting in a continuous sequence of animated shots with no interruption.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dàlì Jīn'gāng de Mìmì '''" (大力金刚的秘密, "The Secret of Omega Supreme")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Segredo do Ômega Supremo'''" ("The Secret of Omega Supreme")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1986 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 12: "The Secret of Omega Supreme", "War Dawn", "A Plague of Insecticons" ([[Family Home 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 USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 5 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 10 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FsPrI_Ukx7WCGyWGQ8UhVhIXi0_h3DMp/view?usp=sharing Full episode script]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1r_Jbhbr20-EqZE3CZLCflE7cObgFOg40 Episode dialogue script]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16hZHpssv3xa8ARTdNkKfyjjlj-Wur2CE/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-45-secret-of.html Gallery of finalised storyboards]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secret of Omega Supreme}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]

Sea Change

2025-11-01T14:58:58Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Featured characters */

{{episode
|image=SeaChange Alana riding Seaspray.jpg
|caption=Taking inter-species relationships to the [[Transformer romance#Transformer - organic|next level]].
|series=G1toon
|ep=49
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=44
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
|next2=Hoist Goes Hollywood (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=35
|prev3=Blaster Blues
|next3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Sea Change"
|season=2
|season ep=33
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=700-48
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQuQ_lhsKE
|videosite=YouTube
}}

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

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

==Synopsis==
[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] is pulling a water skiing [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] around a lake, but Bumblebee wipes out while trying to jump a ramp. 'Bee decides to call it a day, as the first star comes out. Seaspray makes a wish on the star, but keeps it a secret, otherwise it won't come true.

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

[[File:SeaChange Autobots in Cosmos.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Seaspray! Bumblebee! This nice prince of the Zigerian system says he'll electronic mail us a million [[Shanix]] if I send him one thousand to unlock his account first!"]]

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

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

[[File:SeaChange Seaspray Bumblebee at pool.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|She's sitting in the pool because they've stolen her dress to make dusters!]]

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

Heading to the river, the Autobots are discovered by [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], and the rest of the Decepticons swoop in. Seaspray [[Transformation|transforms]] and takes the Autobots down the river—and right over the waterfall. Perceptor, Seaspray, and Cosmos are rescued by the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee is captured. The Autobots are taken to the Tlalakans underwater city, the only place that the Decepticons have not conquered. They meet [[Tlaloc]], their king, who loans them some warriors to rescue Bumblebee and storm the city. However, Cosmos and Perceptor are too damaged. It's just Seaspray and his men. Er, mermen. After the mermen and Alana change back into humans, some of the mermen set bombs under the city, heralding the start of the attack. The Decepticons go to attack the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee activates a homing beam. He signals Seaspray, who rescues Bumblebee and damages Deceptitran. The Tlalakans withdraw, taking Bumblebee with them, while Seaspray and Alana go to the well. Unfortunately, Laserbeak follows Bumblebee underwater...

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

[[File:SeaChange Mermaid Seaspray and Alana.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Robo-Conan & Robo-Sonya]]

In the forest, the Tlalakans are being chased by the droids, but manage to reach the Well of Transformation. Seaspray asks if Alana really believes he would die if he went in, but Alana points out that they're both machines. Feeling dejected, Seaspray resolves to go into the Well, as Alana cries out in horror. Believing him dead, Alana muses that she ''did'' love Seaspray...only for Seaspray to emerge as a blond muscle man, but with robot feet (and for some reason, still has his gargling voice). The two jump into the Well and change into merpeople. They discover that the city is under attack by the Decepticons, but Seaspray doesn't have any weapons systems as a merman. Spotting them, Megatron orders Rumble to follow. Rumble begins firing, only for his body to also be affected by the Well. Alana begins to tell Rumble to think of a big tree, or become lost. Rumble survives...as a tree. Seaspray resumes his old robot mode, while Alana takes one of her own, as a measure for fighting Decepticons, but she likes her color (guess what [[Elita One (G1)|it]] [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|is]]). On the surface, Seaspray and Alana head to the above water city (with Alana transforming into a gondola) and attack Deceptitran's forces.

[[File:SeaChange Alana Deceptitran.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Boy, you are too fat to be my ''botfriend''!]]

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

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Deceptitran]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
* [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (16)
|h3=[[Tlalakan (species)|Talalkans]]|c3=
* [[Chac]] (3)
* [[Alana]] (4)
* [[Mok]] (5)
* [[Tlaloc]] (17)
* [[Rarto]] (18)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, look! The first star of the evening. Whaddaya say we make a wish?" 
"I know what ''my'' wish is... no more water skiing!"
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee'''

"Oh no...my paint job's... ruined."
:—borrowing a page from [[Carnage in C-Minor|Broadside]] and [[B.O.T. (episode)|Gears']] playbook, '''Cosmos''' sweats the small stuff before collapsing

"She kissed me! She kissed me!" 
"Ah, dream on, bubble-brain..."
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee''' on Seaspray's love life

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

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

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 28th May 1985
* Script revised by Doug Booth: 30th May 1985
* First draft storyboards completed: 8th June 1985
* Dialogue recording: 20th June 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:SeaChange Deceptitran.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* More interplanetary dealings by Megatron! He's apparently built himself some kind of little empire off-screen, given the content of this episode and "[[The Gambler]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Seaspray picks up Deceptitran's distress call. He has to muck with some component inside his chest to do it.
** Cosmos is explicitly shown changing size when he transforms inside Autobot Headquarters; he converts to ship mode, then suddenly enlarges enough to accommodate his three passengers.
* Cosmos flies straight out of the volcano's cone, a rarely-used but apparently viable means of leaving Autobot Headquarters.
*Bumblebee's original [[bio]] notes that he's good at underwater operations, and of course Seaspray is made for such work. Still, the implication of both bios is that the ''other'' Autobots ''aren't'' real good underwater... but here, as with every other underwater episode, all of them are equally at home. In fact, Bumblebee is portrayed [[Humanization|coughing and sputtering]] after going over the falls.
* As with the [[Atlantis, Arise!|Sub-Atlanticans]], the Tlalakans can talk underwater.
* Dirge mentions [[robo-rat]]s.
*Rumble says destroying Seaspray and Alana will be a "piece of carborundum".
* Seaspray's faceplate can apparently change colour when smitten. Powerglide does not show the same reaction when put in the same situation in "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]".
* Rumble calls Astrotrain an [[astro-turkey]]. Although pretty clearly an insult in its original context, TakaraTomy's ''[[World of the Transformers]]'' online featurette declared it to be a Cybertronian creature.
* Exactly why Seaspray and Rumble are able to survive and even use the [[Well of Transformation]] isn't really explored within the episode. The concept of the [[Spark]] wasn't established at this point in the franchise, but is an excellent explanation as to why Deceptitran's drones are destroyed while full-fledged Transformers are not.
* Rumble is frigging stupid.

===Real-world references===
[[File:SeaChange Bumblebee wipeout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It went almost as well as Dinobot football.]]
[[File:SeaChange Tlalakans escaping.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The term "sea change" simply means [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20change a significant transformation,] though, {{w|Ariel's Song|when Shakespeare coined it}}, he was talking about the substance of a body literally being changed by the sea (such as bone being replaced with coral).
* This episode marks the Autobots' third foray into Earth sports, as Bumblebee gives water skiing a try (see also "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" and "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]") The Stunticons will later have a go at it in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]".
* The vaguely Meso-American aesthetic of the natives and the word "Tlalakan" itself suggests that the planet is meant to evoke {{w|Tlalocan}}, the "heaven" in Aztec cosmology reserved for those who died by drowning or had an otherwise water-related death. That's, uh, actually pretty morbid!
* One of the Tlalakan natives is even named {{w|Tlaloc}}, after the Aztec god of rain and water who ruled Tlalocan. Hopefully, he didn't demand child sacrifices like the real one...
*Conversely, another of the natives is named Chac, which is very similar to {{w|Chaac}}, who was a Mayan god of rain.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Lightsaber]]s clashing and slashing equipment as the drones whip the workers.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter]]s as Cosmos first approaches the city, and again when Astrotrain makes the same approach.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak takes off to pursue Seaspray.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Laserbeak flies into Astrotrain.

===Animation and technical errors===
* As he's water skiing, Bumblebee is supposed to ski up to the ramp and then over it, but instead he's floating a few feet above the water before he even gets to it. Then a layering error has him flying past the ramp (in front of it, looking tiny) instead of going over it. Then part of his feet and skis disappear after he clears the ramp.
*Ventriloquist bots:
** "Because that is my programming!" - Deceptitran's mouth doesn't move as he laughs after delivering this line.
** Prime's mouthplate doesn't move as he restates Perceptor's analysis.
** Perceptor groans in pain twice after the crash... but the second time, it's the more visibly damaged Cosmos who's on-screen.
** Alana has already moved underwater when she says "I'll see you there".
** The shot of the Autobots going over the waterfall is repeated before and after the commercial break. The first time, the Autobots are crying out as they fall; the second time, they're silent.
** Seaspray orders Bumblebee to go with the Tlalakans, but one of the Tlalakans is shown mouthing his words.
** "Hey, what's going on?!" - tree-Rumble's mouth doesn't move as he speaks this line.
** Tree-Rumble's cough (as he falls in the water) is provided by Astrotrain's voice actor.
* Coloring errors:
** When the guards dump Chac, Alana's legs are colored green, as if she's wearing pants. (Heavens forefend!)
**While analyzing the distress signal, Perceptor's helmet is red.
** "We came as soon as we got your request for help" - two bits of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in.
** Seaspray's back is yellow instead of white as Laserbeak flies overhead.
** One of Soundwave's hands is white as he captures Bumblebee.
** As the firing Decepticons advance on the undersea city, Rumble has Frenzy's color scheme.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of dark gray as he flies out of the city to attack the rebels.
** "They must not escape!" - Deceptitran's mouth is the same gray as his face, where it is darker gray in other scenes. The same error happens as he responds to Cosmos's arrival over the city.
** When Deceptitran radios Megatron to tell him the energon supplies are in jeopardy, Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are blue instead of white; then his visor changes from red to white.
** Soundwave is colored as Perceptor, and Astrotrain as Cosmos, when the Decepticons leave to save the energon.
** When the droids first start firing on the Decepticons, the walls are shown glowing energon pink, but they haven't reached the energon stockpile yet.
** Around the time when Megatron calls a retreat, Soundwave's visor is white.
** "Destroy the Autobot!" - as the Decepticons run along, Soundwave's missing his eject button, has some black stripes on his chest, and has blue cheekguards again.
* Missing body parts:
** As we look over Perceptor's shoulder in Autobot Headquarters, his head is missing! His cannon's also missing some of its black coloration.
** When Seaspray and Bumblebee are seen carrying Cosmos, only Cosmos' upper half is there! Perceptor's missing his Autobot symbol as he walks behind the other Autobots.
** As Seaspray warns Mok, his left arm is missing.
** "It's those blasted rebels again" - Astrotrain's right wing is missing.
** When Rumble is ordered by Megatron to follow Seaspray and Alana, his rear-mounted weapon disappears as he moves forward; meanwhile, Megatron's gun barrel is missing.
* When Alana runs to assist Chac, the first cell is reversed, making her appear to be on the wrong side of the screen for an instant.
* Lots of misaligned glow effects in this episode:
** When Seaspray starts to receive the distress message, a glow effect is shown, but it's not illuminating any of his components.
** In the first shot of Cosmos beginning to enter the atmosphere, the heat flame effect is off to one side of him.
** When the droids open fire on Cosmos, the laser beams are misaligned so that they're not coming from the guns, but from a bit to the right of the guns.
** When they first attack the city to rescue Bumblebee, a couple of the rebel's shots aren't aligned with their guns.
** The glow of Bumblebee's homing beacon is not inside the lines of the buttons he's pushing in two successive shots. Neither are the glowing components on Seaspray's side as he receives the signal.
* In the nighttime establishing shot of Autobot Headquarters, the ship is tilted much more steeply than usual, almost vertical to the ground.
* In the first shot of the newly arrived Decepticons, Rumble's model is replaced by one Deceptitran's droid's. Also, Dirge and Soundwave are both missing their Decepticon symbols.
* As Deceptitran tells Megatron about the Autobots, he's floating above the floor instead of sitting on it.
* Soundwave's 'con symbol is missing again as he moves to capture Bumblebee.
* Flying Autobots:
** Perceptor and Bumblebee are showing "flying" along underwater without moving their limbs, despite not having any means of propulsion. Seaspray should be using his propellers, but he's not.
* Missing [[Transformation#The noise|transformation noise]]:
** After randomly declaring that "we may be able to repair ourselves after all" for no apparent reason, Perceptor transforms to robot mode with no transformation sound.
** The Decepticons land and transform in sequence to pursue Seaspray into the energon warehouse, but only a single transformation sound effect plays. Dirge finishes his transformation in silence.
* When Alana tells Seaspray to take the tunnel to the surface, Seaspray stops - but his propellors are drawn as though they're still spinning, even though they're not moving.
* Seaspray's shot (which severs Deceptitran's arm) doesn't get the usual Autobot laser sound effect.
* Megatron tells Dirge and the droids to chase Seaspray and Alana, but only the droids go. One of the droids freezes in place behind Megatron as he lands.
* When Rumble moves forward to start the attack, the perspective of his body doesn't correspond to the perspective of his gun.
* Wrong laser sounds:
** Dirge gets a non-standard laser effect as he fires at Seaspray.
** Megatron's fusion cannon doesn't make its standard sound as he laughs during the attack.
[[File:G1-Cartoon-SeaChange-Rumble-Tree.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rumble's plan to attract hot tree huggers goes awry.]]
* After Rumble's and Seaspray's transformative glow effects vanish, the backgrounds don't change back to normal with it.
* When Rumble is changed into a tree, he appears to be simply a tree with a mouth and eye holes, but during his close-up, his face is its regular, robotic self, apart from the fact his visor is now two separate eyes. The tree images in general look rather unfinished.
* The animators did a pretty good job of remembering that Deceptitran is missing an arm, but it briefly reappears as Alana and Seaspray approach for the second time.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Cosmos in space.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Inside: Seaspray, Bumblebee, Perceptor, and two of every animal in its kind.]]
[[File:SeaChange Energy syphon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|He's like 50 Dr. Arkevilles.]]
*In all of its other appearances, Cosmos's interior is shown to have light grey walls with a dark grey floor. For this episode only, his interior is the same burnt orange color as the interior of Autobot HQ.
* Moreover, he's got a carrying capacity far greater than what was shown in "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" (though comparable to what's shown in "[[Quest for Survival]]".) He ''does'' turn away Optimus Prime as being too big to fit, implying that there is ''some'' kind of size limit on his interior.
* In "The Ultimate Doom" it was shown that Dr. Arkeville couldn't even fill 1 energon cube with his brain power, yet the energy from Chac instantly fills a cube. Deceptitran's equipment appears to do a full-body power drain from the Tlalakans, as opposed to just using "mind energy" as Starscream did.
* When the Decepticons attack Seaspray and Alana after Lazerbeak follows Bumblebee into the sea, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] fights alongside the other Decepticons, even though he is not present in any other scene.
*Although Tlaloc appears to be among the mer-Tlalakans leading the escaping prisoners away, he later expresses surprise that Alana and Mok are free.
* As usual, it's a bit weird that Perceptor transforms to microscope mode to look at a screen.
* Why is Dirge setting up a probe to extract information from Bumblebee? Megatron's got Soundwave right there, and [[Roll for It|he's done this]] [[War of the Dinobots|multiple times before]]. Aside from being [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette-guy]], it's kind of his main thing.
* After Alana and Seaspray rescue Bumblebee, Megatron orders "Dirge! Droids! Follow them!" However, Dirge, who is standing right next to him, doesn't move. And he's still depicted with Megatron in the very next scene, when Megatron is dealing with the hysterical Deceptitran.
*It's implied that the Tlalakans can only change form while in the Well of Transformation, yet Alana's transformation between robot and gondola modes uses the same effect as a Tlalakan changing, rather than a traditional Transformer transformation (as you would expect from her having imitated Cosmos's species) and she's nowhere near the Well. Likewise, she changes from a pink metal robot into a brown wooden boat.
*Also, how is Alana able to shoot lasers when transformed? It looks like they just come out of her body!

===Trivia===
* Nearly every discrepancy in the episode, big and small, is the result of the trimming that the first-draft script went through to get it down to a 22-minute episode:
** The "wish on a star" scene originally had Seaspray noticing a human couple together near the water, making clear to the viewer and to Bumblebee what his unfulfilled wish was. Bee gives him some ribbing about it a few times later on... but it's also why he mentions wishing on a star at the episode's conclusion.
** The subplot of Perceptor and Cosmos's damage is almost entirely cut. The script calls for Perceptor to be visibly damaged as he's carried out of Cosmos, a visual that didn't make it into the animation. Later the Tlalakans showed Perceptor an organically developed welding torch, prompting his otherwise random line about repairing themselves. The two were to be shown with detached limbs as they worked to get them fully functional again, then frantically reattaching them as the Decepticons attacked!
** A cut scene would have featured Astrotrain greedily devouring the stored energon, then drunkenly transforming to locomotive mode and smashing into a wall. He subsequently "sleeps it off" for the rest of the episode, with Dirge periodically checking in on him, explaining why he's absent for nearly all of the scenes on the alien planet. This also explains Megatron's strange insult to him during the retreat; originally Megs called him a "sot" -- a drunkard -- rather than a "sponge".
** Dirge also grumbles during one of these checkins that he "never should have left Cybertron".
** Dirge's memory probe originally uncovered a scene of little baby Bumblebee transforming for the first time, with his momma and daddy looking on proudly.
** The chemistry/tension between Seaspray and Alana is expanded and ratcheted up a bit; at one point, complaining that the Tlalakans see him as nothing but a bunch of nuts and bolts, Alana replies that she *likes* his nuts and bolts!
* Number of times someone says "Destroy the Autobots": 4
* "I'm, uh, sorry about what happened to your city," says Seaspray, in a hilariously avoidant use of the passive voice - "what happened" to it was that ''Seaspray blew it up!''

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Grand Amour'''" ("The Great Love")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*All the logo transitions were cut. It is unknown if it was that way for the original broadcast or if the episode was chopped for the DVD release.
::*As usual, some dialog is changed to avoid pronouncing Laserbeak's name:
:::*Bumblebee's line "Oh no! Laserbeak!" becomes "Oh no! Decepticons!".
:::*Megatron's line "I read you, Laserbeak" becomes "Go ahead, I'm listening", making it confusing who he is talking to.
::*And also as usual, some lines are absent from the dub:
:::*Seaspray's line "Hey Bumblebee, what do you think of water skiing so far?" is missing.
:::*Cosmos' explanation "Well actually, searching my memory banks, I found the sequencing is quite similar to transmissions intercepted during the third Cybertron war" is missing.
:::*Deceptitran does not say "How good it is to see Decepticons again!", he immediately starts on screen with "You must be exhausted after your long journey".
:::*The dialogue between Soundwave and Rumble as they inspect if the Autobots survived is missing.
:::*Perceptor's line "Cosmos! We may be able to repair ourselves after all" is missing.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il pianeta Tritone'''" ("The Planet Tritone")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*While Tlalakan's name is never pronounced in the episode itself like in English, the title suggests that it's called Tritone, which is the Italian word for "merman", but also the Italian name of [[w:Triton (mythology)|Triton]], son of Poseidon. Interestingly, Triton is already the name of [[w:Triton (moon)|a real existing moon]].
::*After Seaspray recives the helping request, Bumblebee's line: «Hey, you're right!» is oddly changed to: «Hey, you guessed correctly!».
::*In "third cybertronian war", "cybertronian" is translated as "cubetronica" which... means nothing in Italian. "Cybertronian" is generally rendered in Italian as "cybertroniano" in male form and "cybertroniana" in female form.
::*Rumble is voiced by at least two different actors in this episode.
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Cambio di marea'''" ("Change of Tide")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The title is somehow a translation of the literal meaning of "sea change", not considering that it actually means "transformation". Hence, the title has no connection to the actual plot.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henshin no Izumi'''" (変身の泉, "The Spring of Transformation")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 16]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bàngwǎn de Xīngxīng '''" (傍晚的星星, "Stars at Nightfall")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mudança no Mar'''" ("Sea Change")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Morje menyayetsya'''" (Море меняется, "The Sea Is Changing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Seaspray.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And they look at you ... and they KNOW. And they say "Who's Alanna?"]]
*'''Seaspray''' (Legends Class, [[2017]])
**''Accessories'': Blaster/roof

:''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Seaspray's inner forearms have [[Alana]]'s name (though spelled "Alan'''n'''a") engraved in [[Alphabet#Autobot script|Ancient Autobot]] in reference to this episode. Apparently he ran out and got the Autobot equivalent of a tattoo.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 11 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rjc2FYqZXWb0ZWz8kSXkwV-gPRihpFYG/view?usp=sharing First draft script, submitted 28th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zn2HPBqxNFsnavpHsHVYByJbP5SLwA1M/view?usp=sharing Episode script, revised by Doug Booth 30th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xL0o7SgCMCqWxAwMG0-lK5bAbjjLGg_J/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-48-sea-change.html Gallery of first draft storyboards]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BM_e63erCeyF4IhpuedhE8-1SxN2dN5w Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Sea Change

2025-11-01T14:51:48Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Synopsis */

{{episode
|image=SeaChange Alana riding Seaspray.jpg
|caption=Taking inter-species relationships to the [[Transformer romance#Transformer - organic|next level]].
|series=G1toon
|ep=49
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=44
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
|next2=Hoist Goes Hollywood (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=35
|prev3=Blaster Blues
|next3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Sea Change"
|season=2
|season ep=33
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=700-48
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQuQ_lhsKE
|videosite=YouTube
}}

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

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

==Synopsis==
[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] is pulling a water skiing [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] around a lake, but Bumblebee wipes out while trying to jump a ramp. 'Bee decides to call it a day, as the first star comes out. Seaspray makes a wish on the star, but keeps it a secret, otherwise it won't come true.

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

[[File:SeaChange Autobots in Cosmos.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Seaspray! Bumblebee! This nice prince of the Zigerian system says he'll electronic mail us a million [[Shanix]] if I send him one thousand to unlock his account first!"]]

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

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

[[File:SeaChange Seaspray Bumblebee at pool.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|She's sitting in the pool because they've stolen her dress to make dusters!]]

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

Heading to the river, the Autobots are discovered by [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], and the rest of the Decepticons swoop in. Seaspray [[Transformation|transforms]] and takes the Autobots down the river—and right over the waterfall. Perceptor, Seaspray, and Cosmos are rescued by the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee is captured. The Autobots are taken to the Tlalakans underwater city, the only place that the Decepticons have not conquered. They meet [[Tlaloc]], their king, who loans them some warriors to rescue Bumblebee and storm the city. However, Cosmos and Perceptor are too damaged. It's just Seaspray and his men. Er, mermen. After the mermen and Alana change back into humans, some of the mermen set bombs under the city, heralding the start of the attack. The Decepticons go to attack the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee activates a homing beam. He signals Seaspray, who rescues Bumblebee and damages Deceptitran. The Tlalakans withdraw, taking Bumblebee with them, while Seaspray and Alana go to the well. Unfortunately, Laserbeak follows Bumblebee underwater...

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

[[File:SeaChange Mermaid Seaspray and Alana.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Robo-Conan & Robo-Sonya]]

In the forest, the Tlalakans are being chased by the droids, but manage to reach the Well of Transformation. Seaspray asks if Alana really believes he would die if he went in, but Alana points out that they're both machines. Feeling dejected, Seaspray resolves to go into the Well, as Alana cries out in horror. Believing him dead, Alana muses that she ''did'' love Seaspray...only for Seaspray to emerge as a blond muscle man, but with robot feet (and for some reason, still has his gargling voice). The two jump into the Well and change into merpeople. They discover that the city is under attack by the Decepticons, but Seaspray doesn't have any weapons systems as a merman. Spotting them, Megatron orders Rumble to follow. Rumble begins firing, only for his body to also be affected by the Well. Alana begins to tell Rumble to think of a big tree, or become lost. Rumble survives...as a tree. Seaspray resumes his old robot mode, while Alana takes one of her own, as a measure for fighting Decepticons, but she likes her color (guess what [[Elita One (G1)|it]] [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|is]]). On the surface, Seaspray and Alana head to the above water city (with Alana transforming into a gondola) and attack Deceptitran's forces.

[[File:SeaChange Alana Deceptitran.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Boy, you are too fat to be my ''botfriend''!]]

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

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Deceptitran]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
|h3=[[Tlalakan (species)|Talalkans]]|c3=
* [[Chac]] (3)
* [[Alana]] (4)
* [[Mok]] (5)
* [[Tlaloc]] (16)
* [[Rarto]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, look! The first star of the evening. Whaddaya say we make a wish?" 
"I know what ''my'' wish is... no more water skiing!"
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee'''

"Oh no...my paint job's... ruined."
:—borrowing a page from [[Carnage in C-Minor|Broadside]] and [[B.O.T. (episode)|Gears']] playbook, '''Cosmos''' sweats the small stuff before collapsing

"She kissed me! She kissed me!" 
"Ah, dream on, bubble-brain..."
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee''' on Seaspray's love life

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

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

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 28th May 1985
* Script revised by Doug Booth: 30th May 1985
* First draft storyboards completed: 8th June 1985
* Dialogue recording: 20th June 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:SeaChange Deceptitran.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* More interplanetary dealings by Megatron! He's apparently built himself some kind of little empire off-screen, given the content of this episode and "[[The Gambler]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Seaspray picks up Deceptitran's distress call. He has to muck with some component inside his chest to do it.
** Cosmos is explicitly shown changing size when he transforms inside Autobot Headquarters; he converts to ship mode, then suddenly enlarges enough to accommodate his three passengers.
* Cosmos flies straight out of the volcano's cone, a rarely-used but apparently viable means of leaving Autobot Headquarters.
*Bumblebee's original [[bio]] notes that he's good at underwater operations, and of course Seaspray is made for such work. Still, the implication of both bios is that the ''other'' Autobots ''aren't'' real good underwater... but here, as with every other underwater episode, all of them are equally at home. In fact, Bumblebee is portrayed [[Humanization|coughing and sputtering]] after going over the falls.
* As with the [[Atlantis, Arise!|Sub-Atlanticans]], the Tlalakans can talk underwater.
* Dirge mentions [[robo-rat]]s.
*Rumble says destroying Seaspray and Alana will be a "piece of carborundum".
* Seaspray's faceplate can apparently change colour when smitten. Powerglide does not show the same reaction when put in the same situation in "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]".
* Rumble calls Astrotrain an [[astro-turkey]]. Although pretty clearly an insult in its original context, TakaraTomy's ''[[World of the Transformers]]'' online featurette declared it to be a Cybertronian creature.
* Exactly why Seaspray and Rumble are able to survive and even use the [[Well of Transformation]] isn't really explored within the episode. The concept of the [[Spark]] wasn't established at this point in the franchise, but is an excellent explanation as to why Deceptitran's drones are destroyed while full-fledged Transformers are not.
* Rumble is frigging stupid.

===Real-world references===
[[File:SeaChange Bumblebee wipeout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It went almost as well as Dinobot football.]]
[[File:SeaChange Tlalakans escaping.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The term "sea change" simply means [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20change a significant transformation,] though, {{w|Ariel's Song|when Shakespeare coined it}}, he was talking about the substance of a body literally being changed by the sea (such as bone being replaced with coral).
* This episode marks the Autobots' third foray into Earth sports, as Bumblebee gives water skiing a try (see also "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" and "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]") The Stunticons will later have a go at it in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]".
* The vaguely Meso-American aesthetic of the natives and the word "Tlalakan" itself suggests that the planet is meant to evoke {{w|Tlalocan}}, the "heaven" in Aztec cosmology reserved for those who died by drowning or had an otherwise water-related death. That's, uh, actually pretty morbid!
* One of the Tlalakan natives is even named {{w|Tlaloc}}, after the Aztec god of rain and water who ruled Tlalocan. Hopefully, he didn't demand child sacrifices like the real one...
*Conversely, another of the natives is named Chac, which is very similar to {{w|Chaac}}, who was a Mayan god of rain.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Lightsaber]]s clashing and slashing equipment as the drones whip the workers.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter]]s as Cosmos first approaches the city, and again when Astrotrain makes the same approach.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak takes off to pursue Seaspray.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Laserbeak flies into Astrotrain.

===Animation and technical errors===
* As he's water skiing, Bumblebee is supposed to ski up to the ramp and then over it, but instead he's floating a few feet above the water before he even gets to it. Then a layering error has him flying past the ramp (in front of it, looking tiny) instead of going over it. Then part of his feet and skis disappear after he clears the ramp.
*Ventriloquist bots:
** "Because that is my programming!" - Deceptitran's mouth doesn't move as he laughs after delivering this line.
** Prime's mouthplate doesn't move as he restates Perceptor's analysis.
** Perceptor groans in pain twice after the crash... but the second time, it's the more visibly damaged Cosmos who's on-screen.
** Alana has already moved underwater when she says "I'll see you there".
** The shot of the Autobots going over the waterfall is repeated before and after the commercial break. The first time, the Autobots are crying out as they fall; the second time, they're silent.
** Seaspray orders Bumblebee to go with the Tlalakans, but one of the Tlalakans is shown mouthing his words.
** "Hey, what's going on?!" - tree-Rumble's mouth doesn't move as he speaks this line.
** Tree-Rumble's cough (as he falls in the water) is provided by Astrotrain's voice actor.
* Coloring errors:
** When the guards dump Chac, Alana's legs are colored green, as if she's wearing pants. (Heavens forefend!)
**While analyzing the distress signal, Perceptor's helmet is red.
** "We came as soon as we got your request for help" - two bits of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in.
** Seaspray's back is yellow instead of white as Laserbeak flies overhead.
** One of Soundwave's hands is white as he captures Bumblebee.
** As the firing Decepticons advance on the undersea city, Rumble has Frenzy's color scheme.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of dark gray as he flies out of the city to attack the rebels.
** "They must not escape!" - Deceptitran's mouth is the same gray as his face, where it is darker gray in other scenes. The same error happens as he responds to Cosmos's arrival over the city.
** When Deceptitran radios Megatron to tell him the energon supplies are in jeopardy, Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are blue instead of white; then his visor changes from red to white.
** Soundwave is colored as Perceptor, and Astrotrain as Cosmos, when the Decepticons leave to save the energon.
** When the droids first start firing on the Decepticons, the walls are shown glowing energon pink, but they haven't reached the energon stockpile yet.
** Around the time when Megatron calls a retreat, Soundwave's visor is white.
** "Destroy the Autobot!" - as the Decepticons run along, Soundwave's missing his eject button, has some black stripes on his chest, and has blue cheekguards again.
* Missing body parts:
** As we look over Perceptor's shoulder in Autobot Headquarters, his head is missing! His cannon's also missing some of its black coloration.
** When Seaspray and Bumblebee are seen carrying Cosmos, only Cosmos' upper half is there! Perceptor's missing his Autobot symbol as he walks behind the other Autobots.
** As Seaspray warns Mok, his left arm is missing.
** "It's those blasted rebels again" - Astrotrain's right wing is missing.
** When Rumble is ordered by Megatron to follow Seaspray and Alana, his rear-mounted weapon disappears as he moves forward; meanwhile, Megatron's gun barrel is missing.
* When Alana runs to assist Chac, the first cell is reversed, making her appear to be on the wrong side of the screen for an instant.
* Lots of misaligned glow effects in this episode:
** When Seaspray starts to receive the distress message, a glow effect is shown, but it's not illuminating any of his components.
** In the first shot of Cosmos beginning to enter the atmosphere, the heat flame effect is off to one side of him.
** When the droids open fire on Cosmos, the laser beams are misaligned so that they're not coming from the guns, but from a bit to the right of the guns.
** When they first attack the city to rescue Bumblebee, a couple of the rebel's shots aren't aligned with their guns.
** The glow of Bumblebee's homing beacon is not inside the lines of the buttons he's pushing in two successive shots. Neither are the glowing components on Seaspray's side as he receives the signal.
* In the nighttime establishing shot of Autobot Headquarters, the ship is tilted much more steeply than usual, almost vertical to the ground.
* In the first shot of the newly arrived Decepticons, Rumble's model is replaced by one Deceptitran's droid's. Also, Dirge and Soundwave are both missing their Decepticon symbols.
* As Deceptitran tells Megatron about the Autobots, he's floating above the floor instead of sitting on it.
* Soundwave's 'con symbol is missing again as he moves to capture Bumblebee.
* Flying Autobots:
** Perceptor and Bumblebee are showing "flying" along underwater without moving their limbs, despite not having any means of propulsion. Seaspray should be using his propellers, but he's not.
* Missing [[Transformation#The noise|transformation noise]]:
** After randomly declaring that "we may be able to repair ourselves after all" for no apparent reason, Perceptor transforms to robot mode with no transformation sound.
** The Decepticons land and transform in sequence to pursue Seaspray into the energon warehouse, but only a single transformation sound effect plays. Dirge finishes his transformation in silence.
* When Alana tells Seaspray to take the tunnel to the surface, Seaspray stops - but his propellors are drawn as though they're still spinning, even though they're not moving.
* Seaspray's shot (which severs Deceptitran's arm) doesn't get the usual Autobot laser sound effect.
* Megatron tells Dirge and the droids to chase Seaspray and Alana, but only the droids go. One of the droids freezes in place behind Megatron as he lands.
* When Rumble moves forward to start the attack, the perspective of his body doesn't correspond to the perspective of his gun.
* Wrong laser sounds:
** Dirge gets a non-standard laser effect as he fires at Seaspray.
** Megatron's fusion cannon doesn't make its standard sound as he laughs during the attack.
[[File:G1-Cartoon-SeaChange-Rumble-Tree.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rumble's plan to attract hot tree huggers goes awry.]]
* After Rumble's and Seaspray's transformative glow effects vanish, the backgrounds don't change back to normal with it.
* When Rumble is changed into a tree, he appears to be simply a tree with a mouth and eye holes, but during his close-up, his face is its regular, robotic self, apart from the fact his visor is now two separate eyes. The tree images in general look rather unfinished.
* The animators did a pretty good job of remembering that Deceptitran is missing an arm, but it briefly reappears as Alana and Seaspray approach for the second time.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Cosmos in space.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Inside: Seaspray, Bumblebee, Perceptor, and two of every animal in its kind.]]
[[File:SeaChange Energy syphon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|He's like 50 Dr. Arkevilles.]]
*In all of its other appearances, Cosmos's interior is shown to have light grey walls with a dark grey floor. For this episode only, his interior is the same burnt orange color as the interior of Autobot HQ.
* Moreover, he's got a carrying capacity far greater than what was shown in "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" (though comparable to what's shown in "[[Quest for Survival]]".) He ''does'' turn away Optimus Prime as being too big to fit, implying that there is ''some'' kind of size limit on his interior.
* In "The Ultimate Doom" it was shown that Dr. Arkeville couldn't even fill 1 energon cube with his brain power, yet the energy from Chac instantly fills a cube. Deceptitran's equipment appears to do a full-body power drain from the Tlalakans, as opposed to just using "mind energy" as Starscream did.
* When the Decepticons attack Seaspray and Alana after Lazerbeak follows Bumblebee into the sea, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] fights alongside the other Decepticons, even though he is not present in any other scene.
*Although Tlaloc appears to be among the mer-Tlalakans leading the escaping prisoners away, he later expresses surprise that Alana and Mok are free.
* As usual, it's a bit weird that Perceptor transforms to microscope mode to look at a screen.
* Why is Dirge setting up a probe to extract information from Bumblebee? Megatron's got Soundwave right there, and [[Roll for It|he's done this]] [[War of the Dinobots|multiple times before]]. Aside from being [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette-guy]], it's kind of his main thing.
* After Alana and Seaspray rescue Bumblebee, Megatron orders "Dirge! Droids! Follow them!" However, Dirge, who is standing right next to him, doesn't move. And he's still depicted with Megatron in the very next scene, when Megatron is dealing with the hysterical Deceptitran.
*It's implied that the Tlalakans can only change form while in the Well of Transformation, yet Alana's transformation between robot and gondola modes uses the same effect as a Tlalakan changing, rather than a traditional Transformer transformation (as you would expect from her having imitated Cosmos's species) and she's nowhere near the Well. Likewise, she changes from a pink metal robot into a brown wooden boat.
*Also, how is Alana able to shoot lasers when transformed? It looks like they just come out of her body!

===Trivia===
* Nearly every discrepancy in the episode, big and small, is the result of the trimming that the first-draft script went through to get it down to a 22-minute episode:
** The "wish on a star" scene originally had Seaspray noticing a human couple together near the water, making clear to the viewer and to Bumblebee what his unfulfilled wish was. Bee gives him some ribbing about it a few times later on... but it's also why he mentions wishing on a star at the episode's conclusion.
** The subplot of Perceptor and Cosmos's damage is almost entirely cut. The script calls for Perceptor to be visibly damaged as he's carried out of Cosmos, a visual that didn't make it into the animation. Later the Tlalakans showed Perceptor an organically developed welding torch, prompting his otherwise random line about repairing themselves. The two were to be shown with detached limbs as they worked to get them fully functional again, then frantically reattaching them as the Decepticons attacked!
** A cut scene would have featured Astrotrain greedily devouring the stored energon, then drunkenly transforming to locomotive mode and smashing into a wall. He subsequently "sleeps it off" for the rest of the episode, with Dirge periodically checking in on him, explaining why he's absent for nearly all of the scenes on the alien planet. This also explains Megatron's strange insult to him during the retreat; originally Megs called him a "sot" -- a drunkard -- rather than a "sponge".
** Dirge also grumbles during one of these checkins that he "never should have left Cybertron".
** Dirge's memory probe originally uncovered a scene of little baby Bumblebee transforming for the first time, with his momma and daddy looking on proudly.
** The chemistry/tension between Seaspray and Alana is expanded and ratcheted up a bit; at one point, complaining that the Tlalakans see him as nothing but a bunch of nuts and bolts, Alana replies that she *likes* his nuts and bolts!
* Number of times someone says "Destroy the Autobots": 4
* "I'm, uh, sorry about what happened to your city," says Seaspray, in a hilariously avoidant use of the passive voice - "what happened" to it was that ''Seaspray blew it up!''

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Grand Amour'''" ("The Great Love")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*All the logo transitions were cut. It is unknown if it was that way for the original broadcast or if the episode was chopped for the DVD release.
::*As usual, some dialog is changed to avoid pronouncing Laserbeak's name:
:::*Bumblebee's line "Oh no! Laserbeak!" becomes "Oh no! Decepticons!".
:::*Megatron's line "I read you, Laserbeak" becomes "Go ahead, I'm listening", making it confusing who he is talking to.
::*And also as usual, some lines are absent from the dub:
:::*Seaspray's line "Hey Bumblebee, what do you think of water skiing so far?" is missing.
:::*Cosmos' explanation "Well actually, searching my memory banks, I found the sequencing is quite similar to transmissions intercepted during the third Cybertron war" is missing.
:::*Deceptitran does not say "How good it is to see Decepticons again!", he immediately starts on screen with "You must be exhausted after your long journey".
:::*The dialogue between Soundwave and Rumble as they inspect if the Autobots survived is missing.
:::*Perceptor's line "Cosmos! We may be able to repair ourselves after all" is missing.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il pianeta Tritone'''" ("The Planet Tritone")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*While Tlalakan's name is never pronounced in the episode itself like in English, the title suggests that it's called Tritone, which is the Italian word for "merman", but also the Italian name of [[w:Triton (mythology)|Triton]], son of Poseidon. Interestingly, Triton is already the name of [[w:Triton (moon)|a real existing moon]].
::*After Seaspray recives the helping request, Bumblebee's line: «Hey, you're right!» is oddly changed to: «Hey, you guessed correctly!».
::*In "third cybertronian war", "cybertronian" is translated as "cubetronica" which... means nothing in Italian. "Cybertronian" is generally rendered in Italian as "cybertroniano" in male form and "cybertroniana" in female form.
::*Rumble is voiced by at least two different actors in this episode.
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Cambio di marea'''" ("Change of Tide")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The title is somehow a translation of the literal meaning of "sea change", not considering that it actually means "transformation". Hence, the title has no connection to the actual plot.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henshin no Izumi'''" (変身の泉, "The Spring of Transformation")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 16]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bàngwǎn de Xīngxīng '''" (傍晚的星星, "Stars at Nightfall")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mudança no Mar'''" ("Sea Change")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Morje menyayetsya'''" (Море меняется, "The Sea Is Changing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Seaspray.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And they look at you ... and they KNOW. And they say "Who's Alanna?"]]
*'''Seaspray''' (Legends Class, [[2017]])
**''Accessories'': Blaster/roof

:''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Seaspray's inner forearms have [[Alana]]'s name (though spelled "Alan'''n'''a") engraved in [[Alphabet#Autobot script|Ancient Autobot]] in reference to this episode. Apparently he ran out and got the Autobot equivalent of a tattoo.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 11 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rjc2FYqZXWb0ZWz8kSXkwV-gPRihpFYG/view?usp=sharing First draft script, submitted 28th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zn2HPBqxNFsnavpHsHVYByJbP5SLwA1M/view?usp=sharing Episode script, revised by Doug Booth 30th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xL0o7SgCMCqWxAwMG0-lK5bAbjjLGg_J/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-48-sea-change.html Gallery of first draft storyboards]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BM_e63erCeyF4IhpuedhE8-1SxN2dN5w Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Sea Change

2025-11-01T14:51:07Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|image=SeaChange Alana riding Seaspray.jpg
|caption=Taking inter-species relationships to the [[Transformer romance#Transformer - organic|next level]].
|series=G1toon
|ep=49
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=44
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
|next2=Hoist Goes Hollywood (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=35
|prev3=Blaster Blues
|next3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Sea Change"
|season=2
|season ep=33
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=700-48
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQuQ_lhsKE
|videosite=YouTube
}}

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

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

==Synopsis==
[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] is pulling a water skiing [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] around a lake, but Bumblebee wipes out while trying to jump a ramp. 'Bee decides to call it a day, as the first star comes out. Seaspray makes a wish on the star, but keeps it a secret, otherwise it won't come true.

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

[[File:SeaChange Autobots in Cosmos.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Seaspray! Bumblebee! This nice prince of the Zigerian system says he'll electronic mail us a million [[Shanix]] if I send him one thousand to unlock his account first!"]]

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

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

[[File:SeaChange Seaspray Bumblebee at pool.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|She's sitting in the pool because they've stolen her dress to make dusters!]]

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

Heading to the river, the Autobots are discovered by [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], and the rest of the Decepticons swoop in. Seaspray [[Transformation|transforms]] and takes the Autobots down the river—and right over the waterfall. Perceptor, Seaspray, and Cosmos are rescued by the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee is captured. The Autobots are taken to the Tlalakans underwater city, the only place that the Decepticons have not conquered. They meet [[Tlaloc]], their king, who loans them some warriors to rescue Bumblebee and storm the city. However, Cosmos and Perceptor are too damaged. It's just Seaspray and his men. Er, mermen. After the mermen and Alana change back into humans, some of the mermen set bombs under the city, heralding the start of the attack. The Decepticons go to attack the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee activates a homing beam. He signals Seaspray, who rescues Bumblebee and damages Deceptitran. The Tlalakans withdraw, taking Bumblebee with them, while Seaspray and Alana go to the well. Unfortunately, Laserbeak follows Bumblebee underwater...

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

[[File:SeaChange Mermaid Seaspray and Alana.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Robo-Conan & Robo-Sonya]]

In the forest, the Tlalakans are being chased by the droids, but manage to reach the Well of Transformation. Seaspray asks if Alana really believes he would die if he went in, but Alana points out that they're both machines. Feeling dejected, Seaspray resolves to go into the Well, as Alana cries out in horror. Believing him dead, Alana muses that she ''did'' love Seaspray...only for Seaspray to emerge as a blond muscle man, but with robot feet (and for some reason, still a gargling voice). The two jump into the Well and change into merpeople. They discover that the city is under attack by the Decepticons, but Seaspray doesn't have any weapons systems as a merman. Spotting them, Megatron orders Rumble to follow. Rumble begins firing, only for his body to also be affected by the Well. Alana begins to tell Rumble to think of a big tree, or become lost. Rumble survives...as a tree. Seaspray resumes his old robot mode, while Alana takes one of her own, as a measure for fighting Decepticons, but she likes her color (guess what [[Elita One (G1)|it]] [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|is]]). On the surface, Seaspray and Alana head to the above water city (with Alana transforming into a gondola) and attack Deceptitran's forces.

[[File:SeaChange Alana Deceptitran.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Boy, you are too fat to be my ''botfriend''!]]

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

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Deceptitran]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
|h3=[[Tlalakan (species)|Talalkans]]|c3=
* [[Chac]] (3)
* [[Alana]] (4)
* [[Mok]] (5)
* [[Tlaloc]] (16)
* [[Rarto]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, look! The first star of the evening. Whaddaya say we make a wish?" 
"I know what ''my'' wish is... no more water skiing!"
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee'''

"Oh no...my paint job's... ruined."
:—borrowing a page from [[Carnage in C-Minor|Broadside]] and [[B.O.T. (episode)|Gears']] playbook, '''Cosmos''' sweats the small stuff before collapsing

"She kissed me! She kissed me!" 
"Ah, dream on, bubble-brain..."
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee''' on Seaspray's love life

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

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

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 28th May 1985
* Script revised by Doug Booth: 30th May 1985
* First draft storyboards completed: 8th June 1985
* Dialogue recording: 20th June 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:SeaChange Deceptitran.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* More interplanetary dealings by Megatron! He's apparently built himself some kind of little empire off-screen, given the content of this episode and "[[The Gambler]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Seaspray picks up Deceptitran's distress call. He has to muck with some component inside his chest to do it.
** Cosmos is explicitly shown changing size when he transforms inside Autobot Headquarters; he converts to ship mode, then suddenly enlarges enough to accommodate his three passengers.
* Cosmos flies straight out of the volcano's cone, a rarely-used but apparently viable means of leaving Autobot Headquarters.
*Bumblebee's original [[bio]] notes that he's good at underwater operations, and of course Seaspray is made for such work. Still, the implication of both bios is that the ''other'' Autobots ''aren't'' real good underwater... but here, as with every other underwater episode, all of them are equally at home. In fact, Bumblebee is portrayed [[Humanization|coughing and sputtering]] after going over the falls.
* As with the [[Atlantis, Arise!|Sub-Atlanticans]], the Tlalakans can talk underwater.
* Dirge mentions [[robo-rat]]s.
*Rumble says destroying Seaspray and Alana will be a "piece of carborundum".
* Seaspray's faceplate can apparently change colour when smitten. Powerglide does not show the same reaction when put in the same situation in "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]".
* Rumble calls Astrotrain an [[astro-turkey]]. Although pretty clearly an insult in its original context, TakaraTomy's ''[[World of the Transformers]]'' online featurette declared it to be a Cybertronian creature.
* Exactly why Seaspray and Rumble are able to survive and even use the [[Well of Transformation]] isn't really explored within the episode. The concept of the [[Spark]] wasn't established at this point in the franchise, but is an excellent explanation as to why Deceptitran's drones are destroyed while full-fledged Transformers are not.
* Rumble is frigging stupid.

===Real-world references===
[[File:SeaChange Bumblebee wipeout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It went almost as well as Dinobot football.]]
[[File:SeaChange Tlalakans escaping.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The term "sea change" simply means [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20change a significant transformation,] though, {{w|Ariel's Song|when Shakespeare coined it}}, he was talking about the substance of a body literally being changed by the sea (such as bone being replaced with coral).
* This episode marks the Autobots' third foray into Earth sports, as Bumblebee gives water skiing a try (see also "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" and "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]") The Stunticons will later have a go at it in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]".
* The vaguely Meso-American aesthetic of the natives and the word "Tlalakan" itself suggests that the planet is meant to evoke {{w|Tlalocan}}, the "heaven" in Aztec cosmology reserved for those who died by drowning or had an otherwise water-related death. That's, uh, actually pretty morbid!
* One of the Tlalakan natives is even named {{w|Tlaloc}}, after the Aztec god of rain and water who ruled Tlalocan. Hopefully, he didn't demand child sacrifices like the real one...
*Conversely, another of the natives is named Chac, which is very similar to {{w|Chaac}}, who was a Mayan god of rain.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Lightsaber]]s clashing and slashing equipment as the drones whip the workers.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter]]s as Cosmos first approaches the city, and again when Astrotrain makes the same approach.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak takes off to pursue Seaspray.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Laserbeak flies into Astrotrain.

===Animation and technical errors===
* As he's water skiing, Bumblebee is supposed to ski up to the ramp and then over it, but instead he's floating a few feet above the water before he even gets to it. Then a layering error has him flying past the ramp (in front of it, looking tiny) instead of going over it. Then part of his feet and skis disappear after he clears the ramp.
*Ventriloquist bots:
** "Because that is my programming!" - Deceptitran's mouth doesn't move as he laughs after delivering this line.
** Prime's mouthplate doesn't move as he restates Perceptor's analysis.
** Perceptor groans in pain twice after the crash... but the second time, it's the more visibly damaged Cosmos who's on-screen.
** Alana has already moved underwater when she says "I'll see you there".
** The shot of the Autobots going over the waterfall is repeated before and after the commercial break. The first time, the Autobots are crying out as they fall; the second time, they're silent.
** Seaspray orders Bumblebee to go with the Tlalakans, but one of the Tlalakans is shown mouthing his words.
** "Hey, what's going on?!" - tree-Rumble's mouth doesn't move as he speaks this line.
** Tree-Rumble's cough (as he falls in the water) is provided by Astrotrain's voice actor.
* Coloring errors:
** When the guards dump Chac, Alana's legs are colored green, as if she's wearing pants. (Heavens forefend!)
**While analyzing the distress signal, Perceptor's helmet is red.
** "We came as soon as we got your request for help" - two bits of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in.
** Seaspray's back is yellow instead of white as Laserbeak flies overhead.
** One of Soundwave's hands is white as he captures Bumblebee.
** As the firing Decepticons advance on the undersea city, Rumble has Frenzy's color scheme.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of dark gray as he flies out of the city to attack the rebels.
** "They must not escape!" - Deceptitran's mouth is the same gray as his face, where it is darker gray in other scenes. The same error happens as he responds to Cosmos's arrival over the city.
** When Deceptitran radios Megatron to tell him the energon supplies are in jeopardy, Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are blue instead of white; then his visor changes from red to white.
** Soundwave is colored as Perceptor, and Astrotrain as Cosmos, when the Decepticons leave to save the energon.
** When the droids first start firing on the Decepticons, the walls are shown glowing energon pink, but they haven't reached the energon stockpile yet.
** Around the time when Megatron calls a retreat, Soundwave's visor is white.
** "Destroy the Autobot!" - as the Decepticons run along, Soundwave's missing his eject button, has some black stripes on his chest, and has blue cheekguards again.
* Missing body parts:
** As we look over Perceptor's shoulder in Autobot Headquarters, his head is missing! His cannon's also missing some of its black coloration.
** When Seaspray and Bumblebee are seen carrying Cosmos, only Cosmos' upper half is there! Perceptor's missing his Autobot symbol as he walks behind the other Autobots.
** As Seaspray warns Mok, his left arm is missing.
** "It's those blasted rebels again" - Astrotrain's right wing is missing.
** When Rumble is ordered by Megatron to follow Seaspray and Alana, his rear-mounted weapon disappears as he moves forward; meanwhile, Megatron's gun barrel is missing.
* When Alana runs to assist Chac, the first cell is reversed, making her appear to be on the wrong side of the screen for an instant.
* Lots of misaligned glow effects in this episode:
** When Seaspray starts to receive the distress message, a glow effect is shown, but it's not illuminating any of his components.
** In the first shot of Cosmos beginning to enter the atmosphere, the heat flame effect is off to one side of him.
** When the droids open fire on Cosmos, the laser beams are misaligned so that they're not coming from the guns, but from a bit to the right of the guns.
** When they first attack the city to rescue Bumblebee, a couple of the rebel's shots aren't aligned with their guns.
** The glow of Bumblebee's homing beacon is not inside the lines of the buttons he's pushing in two successive shots. Neither are the glowing components on Seaspray's side as he receives the signal.
* In the nighttime establishing shot of Autobot Headquarters, the ship is tilted much more steeply than usual, almost vertical to the ground.
* In the first shot of the newly arrived Decepticons, Rumble's model is replaced by one Deceptitran's droid's. Also, Dirge and Soundwave are both missing their Decepticon symbols.
* As Deceptitran tells Megatron about the Autobots, he's floating above the floor instead of sitting on it.
* Soundwave's 'con symbol is missing again as he moves to capture Bumblebee.
* Flying Autobots:
** Perceptor and Bumblebee are showing "flying" along underwater without moving their limbs, despite not having any means of propulsion. Seaspray should be using his propellers, but he's not.
* Missing [[Transformation#The noise|transformation noise]]:
** After randomly declaring that "we may be able to repair ourselves after all" for no apparent reason, Perceptor transforms to robot mode with no transformation sound.
** The Decepticons land and transform in sequence to pursue Seaspray into the energon warehouse, but only a single transformation sound effect plays. Dirge finishes his transformation in silence.
* When Alana tells Seaspray to take the tunnel to the surface, Seaspray stops - but his propellors are drawn as though they're still spinning, even though they're not moving.
* Seaspray's shot (which severs Deceptitran's arm) doesn't get the usual Autobot laser sound effect.
* Megatron tells Dirge and the droids to chase Seaspray and Alana, but only the droids go. One of the droids freezes in place behind Megatron as he lands.
* When Rumble moves forward to start the attack, the perspective of his body doesn't correspond to the perspective of his gun.
* Wrong laser sounds:
** Dirge gets a non-standard laser effect as he fires at Seaspray.
** Megatron's fusion cannon doesn't make its standard sound as he laughs during the attack.
[[File:G1-Cartoon-SeaChange-Rumble-Tree.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rumble's plan to attract hot tree huggers goes awry.]]
* After Rumble's and Seaspray's transformative glow effects vanish, the backgrounds don't change back to normal with it.
* When Rumble is changed into a tree, he appears to be simply a tree with a mouth and eye holes, but during his close-up, his face is its regular, robotic self, apart from the fact his visor is now two separate eyes. The tree images in general look rather unfinished.
* The animators did a pretty good job of remembering that Deceptitran is missing an arm, but it briefly reappears as Alana and Seaspray approach for the second time.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Cosmos in space.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Inside: Seaspray, Bumblebee, Perceptor, and two of every animal in its kind.]]
[[File:SeaChange Energy syphon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|He's like 50 Dr. Arkevilles.]]
*In all of its other appearances, Cosmos's interior is shown to have light grey walls with a dark grey floor. For this episode only, his interior is the same burnt orange color as the interior of Autobot HQ.
* Moreover, he's got a carrying capacity far greater than what was shown in "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" (though comparable to what's shown in "[[Quest for Survival]]".) He ''does'' turn away Optimus Prime as being too big to fit, implying that there is ''some'' kind of size limit on his interior.
* In "The Ultimate Doom" it was shown that Dr. Arkeville couldn't even fill 1 energon cube with his brain power, yet the energy from Chac instantly fills a cube. Deceptitran's equipment appears to do a full-body power drain from the Tlalakans, as opposed to just using "mind energy" as Starscream did.
* When the Decepticons attack Seaspray and Alana after Lazerbeak follows Bumblebee into the sea, [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] fights alongside the other Decepticons, even though he is not present in any other scene.
*Although Tlaloc appears to be among the mer-Tlalakans leading the escaping prisoners away, he later expresses surprise that Alana and Mok are free.
* As usual, it's a bit weird that Perceptor transforms to microscope mode to look at a screen.
* Why is Dirge setting up a probe to extract information from Bumblebee? Megatron's got Soundwave right there, and [[Roll for It|he's done this]] [[War of the Dinobots|multiple times before]]. Aside from being [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette-guy]], it's kind of his main thing.
* After Alana and Seaspray rescue Bumblebee, Megatron orders "Dirge! Droids! Follow them!" However, Dirge, who is standing right next to him, doesn't move. And he's still depicted with Megatron in the very next scene, when Megatron is dealing with the hysterical Deceptitran.
*It's implied that the Tlalakans can only change form while in the Well of Transformation, yet Alana's transformation between robot and gondola modes uses the same effect as a Tlalakan changing, rather than a traditional Transformer transformation (as you would expect from her having imitated Cosmos's species) and she's nowhere near the Well. Likewise, she changes from a pink metal robot into a brown wooden boat.
*Also, how is Alana able to shoot lasers when transformed? It looks like they just come out of her body!

===Trivia===
* Nearly every discrepancy in the episode, big and small, is the result of the trimming that the first-draft script went through to get it down to a 22-minute episode:
** The "wish on a star" scene originally had Seaspray noticing a human couple together near the water, making clear to the viewer and to Bumblebee what his unfulfilled wish was. Bee gives him some ribbing about it a few times later on... but it's also why he mentions wishing on a star at the episode's conclusion.
** The subplot of Perceptor and Cosmos's damage is almost entirely cut. The script calls for Perceptor to be visibly damaged as he's carried out of Cosmos, a visual that didn't make it into the animation. Later the Tlalakans showed Perceptor an organically developed welding torch, prompting his otherwise random line about repairing themselves. The two were to be shown with detached limbs as they worked to get them fully functional again, then frantically reattaching them as the Decepticons attacked!
** A cut scene would have featured Astrotrain greedily devouring the stored energon, then drunkenly transforming to locomotive mode and smashing into a wall. He subsequently "sleeps it off" for the rest of the episode, with Dirge periodically checking in on him, explaining why he's absent for nearly all of the scenes on the alien planet. This also explains Megatron's strange insult to him during the retreat; originally Megs called him a "sot" -- a drunkard -- rather than a "sponge".
** Dirge also grumbles during one of these checkins that he "never should have left Cybertron".
** Dirge's memory probe originally uncovered a scene of little baby Bumblebee transforming for the first time, with his momma and daddy looking on proudly.
** The chemistry/tension between Seaspray and Alana is expanded and ratcheted up a bit; at one point, complaining that the Tlalakans see him as nothing but a bunch of nuts and bolts, Alana replies that she *likes* his nuts and bolts!
* Number of times someone says "Destroy the Autobots": 4
* "I'm, uh, sorry about what happened to your city," says Seaspray, in a hilariously avoidant use of the passive voice - "what happened" to it was that ''Seaspray blew it up!''

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Grand Amour'''" ("The Great Love")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*All the logo transitions were cut. It is unknown if it was that way for the original broadcast or if the episode was chopped for the DVD release.
::*As usual, some dialog is changed to avoid pronouncing Laserbeak's name:
:::*Bumblebee's line "Oh no! Laserbeak!" becomes "Oh no! Decepticons!".
:::*Megatron's line "I read you, Laserbeak" becomes "Go ahead, I'm listening", making it confusing who he is talking to.
::*And also as usual, some lines are absent from the dub:
:::*Seaspray's line "Hey Bumblebee, what do you think of water skiing so far?" is missing.
:::*Cosmos' explanation "Well actually, searching my memory banks, I found the sequencing is quite similar to transmissions intercepted during the third Cybertron war" is missing.
:::*Deceptitran does not say "How good it is to see Decepticons again!", he immediately starts on screen with "You must be exhausted after your long journey".
:::*The dialogue between Soundwave and Rumble as they inspect if the Autobots survived is missing.
:::*Perceptor's line "Cosmos! We may be able to repair ourselves after all" is missing.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il pianeta Tritone'''" ("The Planet Tritone")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*While Tlalakan's name is never pronounced in the episode itself like in English, the title suggests that it's called Tritone, which is the Italian word for "merman", but also the Italian name of [[w:Triton (mythology)|Triton]], son of Poseidon. Interestingly, Triton is already the name of [[w:Triton (moon)|a real existing moon]].
::*After Seaspray recives the helping request, Bumblebee's line: «Hey, you're right!» is oddly changed to: «Hey, you guessed correctly!».
::*In "third cybertronian war", "cybertronian" is translated as "cubetronica" which... means nothing in Italian. "Cybertronian" is generally rendered in Italian as "cybertroniano" in male form and "cybertroniana" in female form.
::*Rumble is voiced by at least two different actors in this episode.
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Cambio di marea'''" ("Change of Tide")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The title is somehow a translation of the literal meaning of "sea change", not considering that it actually means "transformation". Hence, the title has no connection to the actual plot.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henshin no Izumi'''" (変身の泉, "The Spring of Transformation")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 16]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bàngwǎn de Xīngxīng '''" (傍晚的星星, "Stars at Nightfall")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mudança no Mar'''" ("Sea Change")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Morje menyayetsya'''" (Море меняется, "The Sea Is Changing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Seaspray.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And they look at you ... and they KNOW. And they say "Who's Alanna?"]]
*'''Seaspray''' (Legends Class, [[2017]])
**''Accessories'': Blaster/roof

:''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Seaspray's inner forearms have [[Alana]]'s name (though spelled "Alan'''n'''a") engraved in [[Alphabet#Autobot script|Ancient Autobot]] in reference to this episode. Apparently he ran out and got the Autobot equivalent of a tattoo.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 11 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rjc2FYqZXWb0ZWz8kSXkwV-gPRihpFYG/view?usp=sharing First draft script, submitted 28th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zn2HPBqxNFsnavpHsHVYByJbP5SLwA1M/view?usp=sharing Episode script, revised by Doug Booth 30th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xL0o7SgCMCqWxAwMG0-lK5bAbjjLGg_J/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-48-sea-change.html Gallery of first draft storyboards]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BM_e63erCeyF4IhpuedhE8-1SxN2dN5w Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Sea Change

2025-11-01T14:50:00Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Continuity errors */ found an error where ramjet appears in place of dirge

{{episode
|image=SeaChange Alana riding Seaspray.jpg
|caption=Taking inter-species relationships to the [[Transformer romance#Transformer - organic|next level]].
|series=G1toon
|ep=49
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=44
|prev2=The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2
|next2=Hoist Goes Hollywood (episode)
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=35
|prev3=Blaster Blues
|next3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|title="Sea Change"
|season=2
|season ep=33
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=700-48
|airdate=[[November 20]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcQuQ_lhsKE
|videosite=YouTube
}}

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

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

==Synopsis==
[[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] is pulling a water skiing [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] around a lake, but Bumblebee wipes out while trying to jump a ramp. 'Bee decides to call it a day, as the first star comes out. Seaspray makes a wish on the star, but keeps it a secret, otherwise it won't come true.

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

[[File:SeaChange Autobots in Cosmos.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Seaspray! Bumblebee! This nice prince of the Zigerian system says he'll electronic mail us a million [[Shanix]] if I send him one thousand to unlock his account first!"]]

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

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

[[File:SeaChange Seaspray Bumblebee at pool.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|She's sitting in the pool because they've stolen her dress to make dusters!]]

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

Heading to the river, the Autobots are discovered by [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], and the rest of the Decepticons swoop in. Seaspray [[Transformation|transforms]] and takes the Autobots down the river—and right over the waterfall. Perceptor, Seaspray, and Cosmos are rescued by the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee is captured. The Autobots are taken to the Tlalakans underwater city, the only place that the Decepticons have not conquered. They meet [[Tlaloc]], their king, who loans them some warriors to rescue Bumblebee and storm the city. However, Cosmos and Perceptor are too damaged. It's just Seaspray and his men. Er, mermen. After the mermen and Alana change back into humans, some of the mermen set bombs under the city, heralding the start of the attack. The Decepticons go to attack the Tlalakans, while Bumblebee activates a homing beam. He signals Seaspray, who rescues Bumblebee and damages Deceptitran. The Tlalakans withdraw, taking Bumblebee with them, while Seaspray and Alana go to the well. Unfortunately, Laserbeak follows Bumblebee underwater...

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

[[File:SeaChange Mermaid Seaspray and Alana.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Robo-Conan & Robo-Sonya]]

In the forest, the Tlalakans are being chased by the droids, but manage to reach the Well of Transformation. Seaspray asks if Alana really believes he would die if he went in, but Alana points out that they're both machines. Feeling dejected, Seaspray resolves to go into the Well, as Alana cries out in horror. Believing him dead, Alana muses that she ''did'' love Seaspray...only for Seaspray to emerge as a blond muscle man, but with robot feet (and for some reason, still a gargling voice). The two jump into the Well and change into merpeople. They discover that the city is under attack by the Decepticons, but Seaspray doesn't have any weapons systems as a merman. Spotting them, Megatron orders Rumble to follow. Rumble begins firing, only for his body to also be affected by the Well. Alana begins to tell Rumble to think of a big tree, or become lost. Rumble survives...as a tree. Seaspray resumes his old robot mode, while Alana takes one of her own, as a measure for fighting Decepticons, but she likes her color (guess what [[Elita One (G1)|it]] [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|is]]). On the surface, Seaspray and Alana head to the above water city (with Alana transforming into a gondola) and attack Deceptitran's forces.

[[File:SeaChange Alana Deceptitran.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Boy, you are too fat to be my ''botfriend''!]]

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

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

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Seaspray (G1)|Seaspray]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Perceptor (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Perceptor]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (8)
* [[Cosmos (G1)|Cosmos]] (9)
|c2=
* [[Deceptitran]] (6)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (10)
* [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
* [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (12)
* [[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (14)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (15)
|h3=[[Tlalakan (species)|Talalkans]]|c3=
* [[Chac]] (3)
* [[Alana]] (4)
* [[Mok]] (5)
* [[Tlaloc]] (16)
* [[Rarto]] (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"Hey, look! The first star of the evening. Whaddaya say we make a wish?" 
"I know what ''my'' wish is... no more water skiing!"
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee'''

"Oh no...my paint job's... ruined."
:—borrowing a page from [[Carnage in C-Minor|Broadside]] and [[B.O.T. (episode)|Gears']] playbook, '''Cosmos''' sweats the small stuff before collapsing

"She kissed me! She kissed me!" 
"Ah, dream on, bubble-brain..."
:—'''Seaspray''' and '''Bumblebee''' on Seaspray's love life

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

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

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script submitted: 28th May 1985
* Script revised by Doug Booth: 30th May 1985
* First draft storyboards completed: 8th June 1985
* Dialogue recording: 20th June 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:SeaChange Deceptitran.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* More interplanetary dealings by Megatron! He's apparently built himself some kind of little empire off-screen, given the content of this episode and "[[The Gambler]]".
* Gadgets and powers:
** Seaspray picks up Deceptitran's distress call. He has to muck with some component inside his chest to do it.
** Cosmos is explicitly shown changing size when he transforms inside Autobot Headquarters; he converts to ship mode, then suddenly enlarges enough to accommodate his three passengers.
* Cosmos flies straight out of the volcano's cone, a rarely-used but apparently viable means of leaving Autobot Headquarters.
*Bumblebee's original [[bio]] notes that he's good at underwater operations, and of course Seaspray is made for such work. Still, the implication of both bios is that the ''other'' Autobots ''aren't'' real good underwater... but here, as with every other underwater episode, all of them are equally at home. In fact, Bumblebee is portrayed [[Humanization|coughing and sputtering]] after going over the falls.
* As with the [[Atlantis, Arise!|Sub-Atlanticans]], the Tlalakans can talk underwater.
* Dirge mentions [[robo-rat]]s.
*Rumble says destroying Seaspray and Alana will be a "piece of carborundum".
* Seaspray's faceplate can apparently change colour when smitten. Powerglide does not show the same reaction when put in the same situation in "[[The Girl Who Loved Powerglide]]".
* Rumble calls Astrotrain an [[astro-turkey]]. Although pretty clearly an insult in its original context, TakaraTomy's ''[[World of the Transformers]]'' online featurette declared it to be a Cybertronian creature.
* Exactly why Seaspray and Rumble are able to survive and even use the [[Well of Transformation]] isn't really explored within the episode. The concept of the [[Spark]] wasn't established at this point in the franchise, but is an excellent explanation as to why Deceptitran's drones are destroyed while full-fledged Transformers are not.
* Rumble is frigging stupid.

===Real-world references===
[[File:SeaChange Bumblebee wipeout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|It went almost as well as Dinobot football.]]
[[File:SeaChange Tlalakans escaping.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
* The term "sea change" simply means [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20change a significant transformation,] though, {{w|Ariel's Song|when Shakespeare coined it}}, he was talking about the substance of a body literally being changed by the sea (such as bone being replaced with coral).
* This episode marks the Autobots' third foray into Earth sports, as Bumblebee gives water skiing a try (see also "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" and "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]") The Stunticons will later have a go at it in "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]".
* The vaguely Meso-American aesthetic of the natives and the word "Tlalakan" itself suggests that the planet is meant to evoke {{w|Tlalocan}}, the "heaven" in Aztec cosmology reserved for those who died by drowning or had an otherwise water-related death. That's, uh, actually pretty morbid!
* One of the Tlalakan natives is even named {{w|Tlaloc}}, after the Aztec god of rain and water who ruled Tlalocan. Hopefully, he didn't demand child sacrifices like the real one...
*Conversely, another of the natives is named Chac, which is very similar to {{w|Chaac}}, who was a Mayan god of rain.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Lightsaber]]s clashing and slashing equipment as the drones whip the workers.
** Diving [[X-wing Fighter]]s as Cosmos first approaches the city, and again when Astrotrain makes the same approach.
** ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak takes off to pursue Seaspray.
** [[TIE Fighter]] roar as Laserbeak flies into Astrotrain.

===Animation and technical errors===
* As he's water skiing, Bumblebee is supposed to ski up to the ramp and then over it, but instead he's floating a few feet above the water before he even gets to it. Then a layering error has him flying past the ramp (in front of it, looking tiny) instead of going over it. Then part of his feet and skis disappear after he clears the ramp.
*Ventriloquist bots:
** "Because that is my programming!" - Deceptitran's mouth doesn't move as he laughs after delivering this line.
** Prime's mouthplate doesn't move as he restates Perceptor's analysis.
** Perceptor groans in pain twice after the crash... but the second time, it's the more visibly damaged Cosmos who's on-screen.
** Alana has already moved underwater when she says "I'll see you there".
** The shot of the Autobots going over the waterfall is repeated before and after the commercial break. The first time, the Autobots are crying out as they fall; the second time, they're silent.
** Seaspray orders Bumblebee to go with the Tlalakans, but one of the Tlalakans is shown mouthing his words.
** "Hey, what's going on?!" - tree-Rumble's mouth doesn't move as he speaks this line.
** Tree-Rumble's cough (as he falls in the water) is provided by Astrotrain's voice actor.
* Coloring errors:
** When the guards dump Chac, Alana's legs are colored green, as if she's wearing pants. (Heavens forefend!)
**While analyzing the distress signal, Perceptor's helmet is red.
** "We came as soon as we got your request for help" - two bits of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in.
** Seaspray's back is yellow instead of white as Laserbeak flies overhead.
** One of Soundwave's hands is white as he captures Bumblebee.
** As the firing Decepticons advance on the undersea city, Rumble has Frenzy's color scheme.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is white instead of dark gray as he flies out of the city to attack the rebels.
** "They must not escape!" - Deceptitran's mouth is the same gray as his face, where it is darker gray in other scenes. The same error happens as he responds to Cosmos's arrival over the city.
** When Deceptitran radios Megatron to tell him the energon supplies are in jeopardy, Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are blue instead of white; then his visor changes from red to white.
** Soundwave is colored as Perceptor, and Astrotrain as Cosmos, when the Decepticons leave to save the energon.
** When the droids first start firing on the Decepticons, the walls are shown glowing energon pink, but they haven't reached the energon stockpile yet.
** Around the time when Megatron calls a retreat, Soundwave's visor is white.
** "Destroy the Autobot!" - as the Decepticons run along, Soundwave's missing his eject button, has some black stripes on his chest, and has blue cheekguards again.
* Missing body parts:
** As we look over Perceptor's shoulder in Autobot Headquarters, his head is missing! His cannon's also missing some of its black coloration.
** When Seaspray and Bumblebee are seen carrying Cosmos, only Cosmos' upper half is there! Perceptor's missing his Autobot symbol as he walks behind the other Autobots.
** As Seaspray warns Mok, his left arm is missing.
** "It's those blasted rebels again" - Astrotrain's right wing is missing.
** When Rumble is ordered by Megatron to follow Seaspray and Alana, his rear-mounted weapon disappears as he moves forward; meanwhile, Megatron's gun barrel is missing.
* When Alana runs to assist Chac, the first cell is reversed, making her appear to be on the wrong side of the screen for an instant.
* Lots of misaligned glow effects in this episode:
** When Seaspray starts to receive the distress message, a glow effect is shown, but it's not illuminating any of his components.
** In the first shot of Cosmos beginning to enter the atmosphere, the heat flame effect is off to one side of him.
** When the droids open fire on Cosmos, the laser beams are misaligned so that they're not coming from the guns, but from a bit to the right of the guns.
** When they first attack the city to rescue Bumblebee, a couple of the rebel's shots aren't aligned with their guns.
** The glow of Bumblebee's homing beacon is not inside the lines of the buttons he's pushing in two successive shots. Neither are the glowing components on Seaspray's side as he receives the signal.
* In the nighttime establishing shot of Autobot Headquarters, the ship is tilted much more steeply than usual, almost vertical to the ground.
* In the first shot of the newly arrived Decepticons, Rumble's model is replaced by one Deceptitran's droid's. Also, Dirge and Soundwave are both missing their Decepticon symbols.
* As Deceptitran tells Megatron about the Autobots, he's floating above the floor instead of sitting on it.
* Soundwave's 'con symbol is missing again as he moves to capture Bumblebee.
* Flying Autobots:
** Perceptor and Bumblebee are showing "flying" along underwater without moving their limbs, despite not having any means of propulsion. Seaspray should be using his propellers, but he's not.
* Missing [[Transformation#The noise|transformation noise]]:
** After randomly declaring that "we may be able to repair ourselves after all" for no apparent reason, Perceptor transforms to robot mode with no transformation sound.
** The Decepticons land and transform in sequence to pursue Seaspray into the energon warehouse, but only a single transformation sound effect plays. Dirge finishes his transformation in silence.
* When Alana tells Seaspray to take the tunnel to the surface, Seaspray stops - but his propellors are drawn as though they're still spinning, even though they're not moving.
* Seaspray's shot (which severs Deceptitran's arm) doesn't get the usual Autobot laser sound effect.
* Megatron tells Dirge and the droids to chase Seaspray and Alana, but only the droids go. One of the droids freezes in place behind Megatron as he lands.
* When Rumble moves forward to start the attack, the perspective of his body doesn't correspond to the perspective of his gun.
* Wrong laser sounds:
** Dirge gets a non-standard laser effect as he fires at Seaspray.
** Megatron's fusion cannon doesn't make its standard sound as he laughs during the attack.
[[File:G1-Cartoon-SeaChange-Rumble-Tree.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Rumble's plan to attract hot tree huggers goes awry.]]
* After Rumble's and Seaspray's transformative glow effects vanish, the backgrounds don't change back to normal with it.
* When Rumble is changed into a tree, he appears to be simply a tree with a mouth and eye holes, but during his close-up, his face is its regular, robotic self, apart from the fact his visor is now two separate eyes. The tree images in general look rather unfinished.
* The animators did a pretty good job of remembering that Deceptitran is missing an arm, but it briefly reappears as Alana and Seaspray approach for the second time.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Cosmos in space.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Inside: Seaspray, Bumblebee, Perceptor, and two of every animal in its kind.]]
[[File:SeaChange Energy syphon.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|He's like 50 Dr. Arkevilles.]]
*In all of its other appearances, Cosmos's interior is shown to have light grey walls with a dark grey floor. For this episode only, his interior is the same burnt orange color as the interior of Autobot HQ.
* Moreover, he's got a carrying capacity far greater than what was shown in "[[Blaster Blues]]" and "[[Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust]]" (though comparable to what's shown in "[[Quest for Survival]]".) He ''does'' turn away Optimus Prime as being too big to fit, implying that there is ''some'' kind of size limit on his interior.
* In "The Ultimate Doom" it was shown that Dr. Arkeville couldn't even fill 1 energon cube with his brain power, yet the energy from Chac instantly fills a cube. Deceptitran's equipment appears to do a full-body power drain from the Tlalakans, as opposed to just using "mind energy" as Starscream did.
* When the Decepticons attack Seaspray and Alana after Lazerbeak follows Bumblebee into the sea, [[Ramjet]] fights alongside the other Decepticons, even though he is not present in any other scene.
*Although Tlaloc appears to be among the mer-Tlalakans leading the escaping prisoners away, he later expresses surprise that Alana and Mok are free.
* As usual, it's a bit weird that Perceptor transforms to microscope mode to look at a screen.
* Why is Dirge setting up a probe to extract information from Bumblebee? Megatron's got Soundwave right there, and [[Roll for It|he's done this]] [[War of the Dinobots|multiple times before]]. Aside from being [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassette-guy]], it's kind of his main thing.
* After Alana and Seaspray rescue Bumblebee, Megatron orders "Dirge! Droids! Follow them!" However, Dirge, who is standing right next to him, doesn't move. And he's still depicted with Megatron in the very next scene, when Megatron is dealing with the hysterical Deceptitran.
*It's implied that the Tlalakans can only change form while in the Well of Transformation, yet Alana's transformation between robot and gondola modes uses the same effect as a Tlalakan changing, rather than a traditional Transformer transformation (as you would expect from her having imitated Cosmos's species) and she's nowhere near the Well. Likewise, she changes from a pink metal robot into a brown wooden boat.
*Also, how is Alana able to shoot lasers when transformed? It looks like they just come out of her body!

===Trivia===
* Nearly every discrepancy in the episode, big and small, is the result of the trimming that the first-draft script went through to get it down to a 22-minute episode:
** The "wish on a star" scene originally had Seaspray noticing a human couple together near the water, making clear to the viewer and to Bumblebee what his unfulfilled wish was. Bee gives him some ribbing about it a few times later on... but it's also why he mentions wishing on a star at the episode's conclusion.
** The subplot of Perceptor and Cosmos's damage is almost entirely cut. The script calls for Perceptor to be visibly damaged as he's carried out of Cosmos, a visual that didn't make it into the animation. Later the Tlalakans showed Perceptor an organically developed welding torch, prompting his otherwise random line about repairing themselves. The two were to be shown with detached limbs as they worked to get them fully functional again, then frantically reattaching them as the Decepticons attacked!
** A cut scene would have featured Astrotrain greedily devouring the stored energon, then drunkenly transforming to locomotive mode and smashing into a wall. He subsequently "sleeps it off" for the rest of the episode, with Dirge periodically checking in on him, explaining why he's absent for nearly all of the scenes on the alien planet. This also explains Megatron's strange insult to him during the retreat; originally Megs called him a "sot" -- a drunkard -- rather than a "sponge".
** Dirge also grumbles during one of these checkins that he "never should have left Cybertron".
** Dirge's memory probe originally uncovered a scene of little baby Bumblebee transforming for the first time, with his momma and daddy looking on proudly.
** The chemistry/tension between Seaspray and Alana is expanded and ratcheted up a bit; at one point, complaining that the Tlalakans see him as nothing but a bunch of nuts and bolts, Alana replies that she *likes* his nuts and bolts!
* Number of times someone says "Destroy the Autobots": 4
* "I'm, uh, sorry about what happened to your city," says Seaspray, in a hilariously avoidant use of the passive voice - "what happened" to it was that ''Seaspray blew it up!''

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le Grand Amour'''" ("The Great Love")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*All the logo transitions were cut. It is unknown if it was that way for the original broadcast or if the episode was chopped for the DVD release.
::*As usual, some dialog is changed to avoid pronouncing Laserbeak's name:
:::*Bumblebee's line "Oh no! Laserbeak!" becomes "Oh no! Decepticons!".
:::*Megatron's line "I read you, Laserbeak" becomes "Go ahead, I'm listening", making it confusing who he is talking to.
::*And also as usual, some lines are absent from the dub:
:::*Seaspray's line "Hey Bumblebee, what do you think of water skiing so far?" is missing.
:::*Cosmos' explanation "Well actually, searching my memory banks, I found the sequencing is quite similar to transmissions intercepted during the third Cybertron war" is missing.
:::*Deceptitran does not say "How good it is to see Decepticons again!", he immediately starts on screen with "You must be exhausted after your long journey".
:::*The dialogue between Soundwave and Rumble as they inspect if the Autobots survived is missing.
:::*Perceptor's line "Cosmos! We may be able to repair ourselves after all" is missing.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il pianeta Tritone'''" ("The Planet Tritone")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*While Tlalakan's name is never pronounced in the episode itself like in English, the title suggests that it's called Tritone, which is the Italian word for "merman", but also the Italian name of [[w:Triton (mythology)|Triton]], son of Poseidon. Interestingly, Triton is already the name of [[w:Triton (moon)|a real existing moon]].
::*After Seaspray recives the helping request, Bumblebee's line: «Hey, you're right!» is oddly changed to: «Hey, you guessed correctly!».
::*In "third cybertronian war", "cybertronian" is translated as "cubetronica" which... means nothing in Italian. "Cybertronian" is generally rendered in Italian as "cybertroniano" in male form and "cybertroniana" in female form.
::*Rumble is voiced by at least two different actors in this episode.
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Cambio di marea'''" ("Change of Tide")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The title is somehow a translation of the literal meaning of "sea change", not considering that it actually means "transformation". Hence, the title has no connection to the actual plot.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Henshin no Izumi'''" (変身の泉, "The Spring of Transformation")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 16]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bàngwǎn de Xīngxīng '''" (傍晚的星星, "Stars at Nightfall")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mudança no Mar'''" ("Sea Change")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Morje menyayetsya'''" (Море меняется, "The Sea Is Changing")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:TF-Titans-Return-Seaspray.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|And they look at you ... and they KNOW. And they say "Who's Alanna?"]]
*'''Seaspray''' (Legends Class, [[2017]])
**''Accessories'': Blaster/roof

:''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' and ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Seaspray's inner forearms have [[Alana]]'s name (though spelled "Alan'''n'''a") engraved in [[Alphabet#Autobot script|Ancient Autobot]] in reference to this episode. Apparently he ran out and got the Autobot equivalent of a tattoo.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 6 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 2 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 3: Series 2.2 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 11 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 05: Stagione Due Parte Terza ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part Two (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 Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (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'' — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rjc2FYqZXWb0ZWz8kSXkwV-gPRihpFYG/view?usp=sharing First draft script, submitted 28th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zn2HPBqxNFsnavpHsHVYByJbP5SLwA1M/view?usp=sharing Episode script, revised by Doug Booth 30th May 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xL0o7SgCMCqWxAwMG0-lK5bAbjjLGg_J/view?usp=drive_link Episode model sheets]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-48-sea-change.html Gallery of first draft storyboards]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BM_e63erCeyF4IhpuedhE8-1SxN2dN5w Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Pat Lee

2025-11-01T14:29:30Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Business practices */

{{disambig2|Pat Lee, the superstar comic book artist|the uncredited artist who actually drew all his stuff for negligible pay|Alex Milne}}
[[Image:Patlee.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Strength and Honor.<ref>[http://patleeart.deviantart.com/ PatLeeArt] at deviantART</ref>]]
'''Patrick "Pat" Lee''' (ミチヤメノテヒフナナ ''Michiyamenotehi Funana'') is a Canadian artist. He was the president of [[Dreamwave Productions]] and (allegedly) drew some of their ''Transformers'' comics, until most of his employees noticed he wasn't paying them. Subsequently, he was also the president of Dream Engine until all its employees noticed he wasn't paying them either. After that, he founded his own company, Pat Lee Productions, and either worked for or headed a variety of Hong Kong-based companies, which all appear to have gone out of business since. He also (allegedly) continues doing comic work for increasingly obscure publishers that have no shame.

Known titles, aliases and nicknames include '''Mr. Mecha''',<ref name="wizardbig80s">[http://www.tfbrasil.net/curiosidades_Wizard5.jpg "Big 80s" feature from issue 111 of ''Wizard Magazine''], October 2000</ref> '''Paticus''',<ref name="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> "'''Transman'''",<ref name="transman">[http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=102&itemid=1490 Dreamwave press release]</ref> '''Superstar Artist''',<ref name="creators">[http://old.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/dreamwave-adds-transformers-creators The infamous "Dreamwave adds Transformers' creators" press release]</ref> and '''Mr. Talented'''.<ref name="talented">[http://www.alivenotdead.com/rosannewong/A+MASTER+IN+DISGUISE-ANDREW+LIN+vs+PAT+LEE-MR.+TALENTED+(round+2-2)-profile-113669.html Rosanne Wong about Pat Lee painting a mural on her apartment wall]</ref>

{{bigquote|Over my dead body.|[[Simon Furman]] on if Pat Lee will do work for [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]|[[BotCon 2008]]}}

==History==
===Before the Transformers===
[[Image:Dreamwave.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Chillingly prophetic.]]
Pat Lee was born in Montreal on [[June 28]], [[1975]],<ref name="bio">[http://www.angelfire.com/pa/infrarred/infrarred2.html Pat Lee's own biography on his old Angelfire website]</ref> and raised in Toronto. At the age of 16 (or 17),<ref name="patwizarddraw">[http://www.alivenotdead.com/patlee/How-to-draw-Transformers-Wizard-Magazine-profile-678562.html Pat Lee using an old Wizard article about himself as a reason to ponder about he got into the comic book industry]</ref> right after graduating from high school, Lee was eager to find a job as a "proffesional"{{sic}} in the comic book industry,<ref name="patwizarddraw"/> sending over 150 pages of sample artworks to [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[DC Comics|DC]]. Unfortunately for Lee, both publishers realized what a shoddy artist he was. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, however, Lee eventually managed to catch the attention of infamous [[Image Comics]] co-founder [[Rob Liefeld]] at a Toronto convention in 1994, who would hire Lee (now aged 19) to work as a penciller on various titles for Liefeld's Image studio {{w|Awesome Comics|Extreme Studios}}. After that, Pat Lee would also work for [[Jim Lee]]'s Image studio {{w|Wildstorm Productions}}, as well as accepting work-for-hire assignments from Marvel (who had now apparently changed their mind regarding his artwork).

In 1996, Pat and his brother [[Roger Lee|Roger]] decided to start their own studio within Image Comics, [[Dreamwave Productions]], with Pat acting as the company's president. With Dreamwave, Lee would continue accepting contractual work for other publishers (such as the four-issue limited series ''Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation'' for Marvel), but also started to publish his own <s>blatantly plagiarized</s> originally created titles such as ''{{w|Ghost in the Shell|Darkminds}}'' and ''{{w|Record of Lodoss War|Warlands}}''. Collaborations with various magazines and advertising campaigns helped to further advance Dreamwave's reputation. Initially, the "hook" for Dreamwave's financial success was Pat's drawing style, which many readers viewed as "manga-like" (although readers of actual manga had a different opinion on this matter).

{{--}}
===Transformers by Dreamwave===
[[Image:Big80sWizard.jpg|right|150px|thumb|His art only went downhill from here.]]In 2000, Pat and Dreamwave submitted a contribution for a feature named "Big 80s" that was published in issue #111 of ''Wizard: The Comics Magazine'', depicting Pat's own take on one of his favorite properties from his childhood days, the ''Transformers''. Proving to be a huge hit among fans, [[Hasbro]] would consider the general art style a benchmark when they were offering the license for a new ''Transformers'' comic a year later.<ref name="litgtfspec"/> Unsurprisingly, it was Dreamwave themselves who finally acquired said license, commemorating this as a turning point in the history of their company by officially cutting all ties with Image and becoming an independent publisher on their own.

[[Image:Fallenpatlee.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Why do Pat Lee's Transformers look like they're about to take a poop?]]
In addition to providing the art for various adverts, [[posters]] and covers, Pat would draw the first two ''Generation 1'' limited series, [[Prime Directive|Vol. 1]] (aka "Prime Directive") and [[War and Peace|Vol. 2: War and Peace]]. Subsequently, he would concentrate on controlling Dreamwave as its president and spend more time on his biggest hobby, fast cars, assigning art jobs to other artists (many of them hired directly out of the fandom) instead. Lee's only other major contribution in terms of art would ultimately be some of the character profiles published in the eight-issue [[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]] limited series.

Despite having dominated Diamond's sales charts for several subsequent months with the ''Transformers'', Dreamwave eventually ended up in dire financial circumstances. Coinciding with rumors of unpaid freelancers, Pat Lee started to accept contractual work for Marvel and DC again, such as issues of ''House of M'' or ''[[Superman]]/[[Batman]]''. Dreamwave eventually declared bankruptcy on January 4, 2005, blaming the weak United States Dollar and other scapegoats for the company's failure.<ref>[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=4053 Dreamwave's final press release]</ref>

{{--}}

===After Dreamwave===
With Dream Engine, Lee would work on various projects such as an ''[[X-Men]]/[[Fantastic Four]]'' crossover for Marvel, issues for the ''Batman/Superman'' series for DC and a relaunch of ''{{w|Cyberforce}}'' for {{w|Top Cow Productions|Top Cow}}, another Image studio.

Eventually, Pat Lee parted ways with Dream Engine again and started his new enterprise, Pat Lee Productions.<ref name="plp">[http://www.patleeproductions.com/ Pat Lee Productions website, no longer functioning]</ref> He was also listed as the "director" of a Hong Kong-based company named DeepSky Pictures, and alongside his brother Roger, he headed a company named Triple Eye Productions, both of which are no longer in business. Pat Lee is currently residing in Hong Kong, where he acts as one of the heads of an IP development company named Secret Lab, Ltd., which at this time holds the questionable record of being the Pat Lee-run company to remain in business for the longest period of time.<ref name="linkedin">[https://hk.linkedin.com/in/patleeart Pat Lee's Linkedin profile].</ref>

In 2011, Pat Lee was connected as a designer on ''Train Heroes'', a cartoon produced by TV Tokyo and China-based Carloon Animation.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-01-28/tv-tokyo-pat-lee-china-carloon-make-train-hero-show TV Tokyo, Pat Lee, China's Carloon Make Train Hero Show]</ref> It later turned out that the show had similarities with the earlier anime ''{{w|Hikarian|Chō Tokkyū Hikarian}}'', both featuring trains that turned into super-deformed robots.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-17/chinese-show-similarities-with-hikarian-anime-identified Chinese Show's Similarities With Hikarian Anime Identified]</ref>
{{--}}

===Return to official ''Transformers'' work===
In mid-2008, three and a half years since the collapse of Dreamwave, Lee was commissioned to do a series of illustrations for Hasbro Hong Kong to use for promotional purposes as part of their appearance at Ani-Con 2008.<ref>[http://www.alivenotdead.com/patlee/Transform+and+ROLL+OUT--profile-225643.html Pat Lee showcases his illustrations for Hasbro on his blog.]</ref> Let's hope that art stays in Hong Kong.

In spite of the [[Transformers (film)|movie]] having been out for about a year, he couldn't even be bothered to look up recent art and stills and drew [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with his unused concept art head.

==Published Transformers works with Pat Lee credit==
===Comics===
[[Image:OptimusPrimeWarAndPeacePreview.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Now try to imagine what the truck mode looks like.]]
* ''[[Prime Directive|Transformers: Generation 1 (vol. 1)]]'': [[Prime Directive Preview|Preview]], [[Prime Directive issue 1|#1]], [[Prime Directive issue 2|#2]], [[Prime Directive issue 3|#3]], [[Prime Directive issue 4|#4]], [[Prime Directive issue 5|#5]], [[Prime Directive issue 6|#6]]
* ''[[War and Peace|Transformers: Generation 1 vol. 2: War and Peace]]'': [[Transformers Volume 2 Preview|Preview]], [[New World Order|#1]], [[Brothers' Burden|#2]], [[Cold War (issue)|#3]], [[Passive Aggression|#4]], [[Countdown to Extinction (issue)|#5]], [[Revelation (War and Peace)|#6]]
* ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #1, #3, #6 (assorted profiles)
* ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Transformers: Armada]]'': [[Dreamwave Armada issue 6|#6]], [[Dreamwave Armada issue 7|#7]]
* ''[[More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada|Transformers Armada: More Than Meets The Eye]]'': #1, #2, #3 (assorted profiles)
* ''20th Anniversary Transformers Summer Special'': Individual story "[[Welcome to the Jungle]]"
* assorted covers for nearly all the Dreamwave Transformers series
* ''[[Transformers: Matrix Quest]]'' (Titan Books, hardcover) cover image
* ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'': [[Targets of Opportunity|#1]]

{{note|With the revelation of [[Alex Milne]] ghosting for Pat Lee on Top Cow's ''Cyberforce'', artist [[Edwin Garcia]] being credited for "backgrounds" on the ''Generation 1'' titles, [[Sigmund Torre]] being rumored to have ghosted on parts of the first ''Generation 1'' volume, [[Nick Kilislian]] being credited for "breakdowns" for ''Divided Front'' #1, and several of his covers actually being done by ghost artists, it's uncertain how much of the art credited to Pat Lee has actually been his work at all.

Various artworks originally created by Lee for the covers of the first ''Generation 1'' limited series were also used by both [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] for their "[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Generation One Commemorative Series]]" and "[[The Transformers Collection]]" series of reissues. Following the demise of Dreamwave, Hasbro would also continue to use cover artwork drawn by Lee for promotional images and various pieces of merchandise, such as a ''[[Monopoly|Transformers Monopoly]]'' board game. The reason for this is simply because the art has already been paid for, and is therefore cheaper to use for Hasbro than newly solicited artwork.}}
{{-}}

===Packaging art===
====Alternators====
* [[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#Alternators|Smokescreen]]
* [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Alternators|Side Swipe]]

{{note|The packaging artwork for [[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]] Smokescreen was also used for the profile card of Takara's ''Binaltech'' counterpart.}}
====Commemorative Series====
{{collist|3|
* Series III [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Autobot Jazz]]
* Series IV [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Prowl]]
* Series IV [[Red Alert (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Red Alert]]
* Series V [[Hoist (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Hoist]]
* Series V [[Inferno (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Inferno]]
* Series VI [[Grapple (G1)#Commemorative Series|Autobot Grapple]]
* Series VII [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Rodimus Prime]]
* Series VII [[Dirge (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Dirge]]
* Series VIII [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Side Swipe]]
}}
{{note|The artwork for Hoist, Inferno, Grapple, Rodimus Prime and Dirge was done specifically for these reissues; the rest was recycled from covers of Dreamwave's first ''Generation 1'' limited series.}}

====The Transformers Collection====
{{collist|3|
* No.0 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Convoy]]
* No.1 [[Jazz (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Meister]]
* No.2 [[Prowl (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Prowl]]
* No.6 [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Megatron]]
* No.7 [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Lambor]]
* No.10 [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Soundwave]]
* No.12 [[Mini-Vehicle#Reissue lines|Minibot Team]] ([[Cosmos (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Adams]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Bumble]], [[Gears (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Gears]], [[Huffer (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Drag]], [[Powerglide (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Powerglide]], [[Warpath (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Warpath]])
* No.16 [[Insecticon (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Insectrons]] ([[Kickback (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Kickback]], [[Shrapnel (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Shrapnel]] and [[Bombshell (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Bombshell]])
}}
{{note|None of these artworks were created specifically for these reissues, but were instead recycled from old promotional posters or covers of Dreamwave's first ''Generation 1'' limited series.}}

===Other===
* Hasbro Hong Kong Ani-Con 2008 [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|Movie]] Commemorative boxset certificate

==Criticism and controversy==
===Art style===
[[Image:Patleehowtodrawoptimus.jpg|left|250px|thumb|1) Draw a circle. 2) Draw Optimus Prime. 3) Give him scraplets. 4) Give him leprosy.]]
Pat Lee's artwork has often been the target of criticism among fans. While he was initially praised by many fans for his "manga-like" drawing style (which is heavily inspired by the character designs and visual cues used by [[Studio OX]]), others criticized his tendency for exaggerated proportions, emphasis on rounded robot body parts, making the characters look "inflated" and marshmallow-like, hands reaching out to the reader [https://shortpacked.com/comic/detail "as if you just stole his purse"], a general lack of sequential storytelling skills and the overall look of his human characters (see "[[dull surprise]]" for more on ''that''). Even his critics often admitted that his work for covers and posters was better than his actual comic book interior artwork; however, that would change soon when even his cover artwork saw a severe decline in quality starting with the [[War and Peace|second ''Generation 1'' limited series]]. The introduction of [[Don Figueroa|other]] [[Guido Guidi|artists]] who drew Transformers characters in a similar style, while avoiding many of the problems Lee was criticized for, would further shift the public opinion against Lee's artwork.

[[Image:DWPrimewhatthe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|When you're being compared to [[Rob Liefeld]], maybe it's time to quit.<ref name="leefeld">[https://shortpacked.com/comic/buttons]</ref>]]
Lee's response to that was enforcing an internal "house style" that would force other artists to follow Pat Lee's own style more closely. [[Don Figueroa]] confirmed in an interview having received such requests from Dreamwave art director [[Rob Ruffolo]], a guideline which Figueroa declined.<ref name="dontrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000843/http://transfans.co.uk:80/interviews_figueroa.php Interview with Don Figueroa at TransFans.co.uk]</ref> Fellow artist [[Guido Guidi]] confirmed having received similar requests.<ref name="guidtrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000926/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_guido.php Interview with Guido Guidi at TransFans.co.uk]</ref> Ruffolo himself also later confirmed the existence of an internal "house style", without specifically referring to Lee.<ref name="ruftrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111114125042/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_ruffolo.php Interview with Rob Ruffolo at TransFans.co.uk]</ref>

Even though many fans preferred other artists over Pat Lee, official Dreamwave press releases and solicitations would often refer to the company's president as a "superstar artist".<ref name="dwadds">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/dreamwave-adds-transformers-creators-2492/ The infamous "Dreamwave Adds Transformers Creators" press release]</ref>

===Business practices===
The demise of Dreamwave didn't come overnight. The first rumors of freelancers not getting paid date back as far as October 2003.<ref name="litgffreel">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14548 Lying in the Gutters reporting on early rumors of Dreamwave artists not getting paid]</ref> Following the closure of Dreamwave, former freelance writers [[Adam Patyk]] and [[James McDonough]] reiterated their claims that Dreamwave (not explicitly referring to Lee himself) had stopped paying them even before declaring bankruptcy. They had then filed a lawsuit against their former employer, and when that became public, they had allegedly also heard from other Dreamwave employees and freelancers who were supposedly also complaining about not being paid anymore.<ref name="pmdnram">[http://web.archive.org/web/20090329225039/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=39073 Newsarama Interview with writers Adam Patyk and James McDonough] (archive copy)</ref>

Aside from Patyk and McDonough, no other former Dreamwave employees or freelancers were nearly as explicit on the issue. Artist Don Figueroa only stated that Dreamwave was "getting really behind with the check" and pointed out that he "was also assured everything was cool" when he met Pat Lee in person only a month prior to the closing of Dreamwave.<ref name="dontrans"/> The latter complaint was also repeated by writer [[Simon Furman]].<ref name="furmtrans">https://web.archive.org/web/20120303025903/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman3.php Interview with Simon Furman at TransFans.co.uk]</ref> Likewise, artist [[Guido Guidi]] merely accused Dreamwave of a lack of "[g]ood communication", and even revealed an ambivalent attitude towards Pat Lee and his brother Roger.<ref name="guidtrans"/> Artist James Raiz, meanwhile, claimed that he was "one of the very few who came out of Dreamwave with all [his] money".<ref name="raiztrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916001311/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_raiz.php Interview with James Raiz at TransFans.co.uk]</ref>

Prior to declaring bankruptcy, Pat and his brother Roger had spent four months secretly transferring most of Dreamwave's assets to a new company named Dream Engine, whose website domain was registered to Roger's name.<ref name="litgdreame">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14844 Lying in the Gutters discovering the existence of Dream Engine]</ref> In addition, it would turn out that Lee had made sure to transfer ownership of his formerly company-owned Porsche to himself before giving up Dreamwave,<ref name="porsche">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14968 Lying in the Gutters reporting on the Pat Lee Porsche story]</ref> and had spent half a million Canadian dollars on a new luxury apartment even before the Dreamwave bankruptcy.<ref name="apartment">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&col=1&old=1&column=litg&article=2203 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Pat Lee's new apartment]</ref> The overall amount of Dreamwave's debt was far over a million dollars.<ref name="litgmillion">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14886 Lying in the Gutters' list of Dreamwave's creditors]</ref>

A former Dreamwave employee later suggested that Pat and Roger had known about the looming demise of Dreamwave a full year before declaring bankruptcy, but instead of coming clean to their employees, they named their parents secured creditors and then kept the company going for another year, because Canadian law required people to be named secured creditors for at least a year before bankruptcy in order to be given priority over other creditors (this is meant to prevent someone being given secured creditor status a week before bankruptcy and then getting away with all the company's money). Teddy and Anne Lee were granted $141,000 for alleged "furniture lease", even though they were financially supported by their sons for most of their adult lives.<ref name="parents">[http://web.archive.org/web/20121025181935/http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/comic-book-forum/17163-pat-lee-starts-interview-tour-forgiveness-5.html#post83125 Allegations by a former Dreamwave employee (Archived)], May 2010</ref>

In addition, Guido Guidi and Don Figueroa later confirmed that they were additionally charged by FedEx for having shipped artwork to Dreamwave prior to the company's closure.<ref name="fedex">[http://web.archive.org/web/20050507073425/http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/thread73039.html Archived TFW2005 thread with Guido Guidi and Don Figueroa confirming the FedEx story]</ref>

Pat Lee himself gave several interviews following the closing of Dreamwave, presenting himself as a victim of circumstance while completely dodging the issue of unpaid creators and the existence of Dream Engine.<ref name="patwiz">[http://web.archive.org/web/20061120012852/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000230624.cfm Archived Wizard interview with Pat Lee]</ref><ref name="patnram">[http://web.archive.org/web/20100516222500/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=39738 Newsarama interview with Pat Lee] (archive copy)</ref><ref name="jazma">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120005126/http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/interviews2.asp?intID=318 Jazma Online interview with Pat Lee, April 2006] (archive copy)</ref>

While working with Dream Engine, Pat Lee spent a significant amount of the company's funds on the campaign of his girlfriend {{w|Aimee Chan}}, who would eventually win the title of Miss Hong Kong in 2006. This ultimately resulted in Pat being asked by Dream Engine and his brother Roger to leave the company.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15349 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Pat Lee's involvement with Aimee Chan]</ref> In the fall of 2007, Aimee Chan changed her status on her alivenotdead social networking page<ref>http://www.alivenotdead.com/aimeechan/details.html</ref> to "single". Oops!

Following that, he was listed as the "director" of a Hong Kong-based company named DeepSky Pictures. This company apparently no longer exists, and it's unclear if it ever actually produced anything. Likewise, the companies Triple Eye Productions and Secret Lab Ltd. he had reportedly founded don't exactly have a high-profile output either, and it's difficult to find out whether both of these companies are even in business anymore.

In December 2010, Pat Lee ''finally'' agreed to give an interview to Rich Johnston, one of his most outspoken critics. While Johnston asked a lot of hard-hitting questions, often referring to personal conversations he had with people like Simon Furman and Alex Milne, Lee gave very half-hearted non-answers, claimed not to remember certain details or avoided answering questions entirely. Lee did announce he had started a "Creative Refund Movement" project to pay former Dreamwave artists.<ref name="interviewrich">[http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/12/20/pat-lee-talks-to-bleeding-cool-via-a-dabel-brother/ Rich Johnston interviewing Pat Lee] at Bleeding Cool Comics, December 2010</ref> As of twelve years later, no artist has confirmed any kind of repayment, and one artist confirmed they received nothing within the first two years of its announcement.<ref>[http://callmepo.deviantart.com/journal/Hello-karma-you-out-there-345770376 Entry on Ferd Poblete's DeviantArt]</ref>

In 2018, he (allegedly) designed rather scary-looking half-dissected "{{W|Looney Tunes}} Get Animated" vinyl figures of {{W|Bugs Bunny}} and {{W|Tweety}} for Soap Studio and Sideshow. While not necessarily ''morally'' questionable, these things are the stuff of ''nightmares''.<ref name="bugs">[https://toysrevil.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-animated-tweety-bugs-bunny-by-pat.html 'Get Animated' Tweety & Bugs Bunny by Pat Lee x ToyQube for Sept 20th Release"] at TOYSREVIL, September 2018.</ref> In 2021, he got involved in the ''totally not scammy'' field of {{W|Non-fungible_token|NFT}}s.<ref name="nft">[https://bitcoinist.com/nft-game-god-temple-launches-token-sale-play-to-earn-model/ "NFT Game God Temple Launches Token Sale & Play-to-earn Model"] at Bitcoinist.com, July 2021.</ref> Official press releases continued to praise him as "one of the most famous artists in the North American comics industry" and a "celebrity artist."

===Failure to give proper credit===
During the Dreamwave days, several artists confirmed that Pat Lee had only been drawing the robot characters, leaving the backgrounds entirely to (credited) assistants such as [[Edwin Garcia]]. However, comic book journalist Rich Johnston reported rumors that [[Sigmund Torre]] had been ghosting for Pat, who was too busy with promotion and signing tours, as early as July 2002, when [[Prime Directive|''Generation 1'' vol. 1]] was still in production.<ref name="litgtfspec"/>

Another Dreamwave artist named [[Nick Kilislian]], who is credited for doing the "breakdowns" for Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'' [[Targets of Opportunity|issue 1]], allegedly also ghosted for Pat on the ''X-Men/Fantastic Four'' limited series Dreamwave did for [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] at the same time.<ref name="litgghostmost">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14767 Lying in the Gutters reporting on the rumor of Nick Kilislian ghosting for Pat], September 2004.</ref>

In 2007, it turned out that Lee's personal involvement in his girlfriend's beauty pageant campaign had resulted in him being unable to meet deadlines for issues of Top Cow's ''Cyberforce'' series. As a consequence, Pat had asked [[Alex Milne]] to draw those issues in his stead. After a few issues, what little credit was initially given to Milne was dropped entirely, with Pat submitting the artwork under his own name instead, paying Milne merely a fragment of the money Top Cow was paying him.<ref name="litgmilne1">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15355 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Alex Milne ghosting for Pat Lee]</ref> In addition, Lee later asked Milne to draw artwork for DC's ''Superman/Batman'' #34 as well, again giving his underpaid ghost artist no credit.<ref name="litgmilne2">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15547 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Alex Milne ghosting for Pat Lee even more]</ref> Eventually, Top Cow found out, resulting in Pat Lee not paying Milne ''at all'' for over 20 pages of artwork.<ref name="deviantmilne">[http://hombreimaginario.deviantart.com/art/Interviews-06-Alex-Milne-64254823 Interview with Alex Milne on DeviantArt]</ref>

In late 2008, former Dreamwave editor [[Matt Moylan]] confirmed that the Silver Snail exclusive variant cover for Dreamwave's [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation One'' (ongoing)]] [[Night of the Combaticons|issue 1]] that had been credited to Pat Lee had actually been drawn by a ghost artist as well.<ref name="g1ghost">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-general-discussion/190059-pat-lees-mushy-art-5.html#post2407689 Matt Moylan confirming that the Silver Snail exclusive G1 vol. 3 #1 cover had been drawn by a ghost artist too.]</ref> In early 2012, Moylan became more specific, now confirming that the cover had been drawn by [[Rob Ruffolo]]. In addition, he confirmed that an [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] lithograph had been drawn by [[Rob Armstrong]] but credited to Pat Lee, the [[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|''War Within'' vol. 2]] [[Fragmentation (G1)|issue 1]] incentive cover had been drawn by Rob Ruffolo as well, and the ''Generation 1'' vol. 3 issue 1 retailer incentive cover had been started by Pat Lee but finished by Rob Ruffolo because Lee was suffering from appendicitis at the time.<ref name="artistdisguise">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120828054042/http://www.lilformers.com/blog/page/4/ "DREAMSLAVES #2: Artists in Disguise"] by Matt Moylan.</ref>

Lee's official artist bio has included the ''blatant lie'' that he "created the original North American series of Transformers comics" since at least 2018.<ref name="bugs"/><ref name="nft"/>

===Attempts at cover-up===
In March and April 2008, a newly registered Wikipedia user repeatedly tried to remove any reference to the controversies surrounding Pat Lee in his own article, instead replacing them with more PR-friendly resume details.<ref>{{w|Special:Contributions/Hyrocomics|Contributions by Wikipedia user "Hyrocomics"}}</ref><ref>{{w|Special:Contributions/219.78.200.95|Contributions by IP 209.70.200.95}}</ref> (The critical content in the Wikipedia article ''was'' later purged for other reasons, but not reverted to the blatant self-advertising Pat's own version was.)

==Notes==
* Before the launch of Dreamwave's ''Transformers'' comic books, Pat expressed a certain level of ignorance with regard to the brand's history. For example, he claimed that, in retrospect, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers cartoon]] was so amazing that it was only a matter of time before the [[The Transformers (toyline)|toys]] were made.<ref name="animefringe">[http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/01.03/feature/2/index.php3 Interview with animefringe.com]</ref> In the same interview, he also admitted liking [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], whom he considers a "wicked character", regretting that he "died" in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]].<ref name="animefringe"/> (Sideswipe does not appear in the 1986 film.)
[[Image:FuNaNa.jpg|right|216px|thumb|Those fancy Japanese characters look AWESOME. Too bad I can't read them.]]
* Fans discovered an old personal website Pat had set up prior to the big breakthrough with Dreamwave.<ref name="infrarred">[http://www.angelfire.com/pa/infrarred/ Infrarred] {{sic}} Pat Lee's Angelfire homepage</ref> In retrospect, many of the quotes and graphics featured on the site would prove to be either hilariously ironic or frighteningly prophetic, such as a promotional image depicting Pat, his brother Roger and then-Dreamwave exec Alvin Lee walking away from a nuclear explosion (see [[:Image:Dreamwave.jpg|Image:Dreamwave.jpg]]); or a header graphic that features his name, "Patrick Lee", replaced by random katakana characters (ミチヤメノテヒフナナ), which read ''Michiyamenotehi Funana''. Soon, this would become his new nickname among fans, used exclusively in a mocking manner. The cause for this is almost certainly a character-replacement Katakana font (WordPerfect TrueType Japanese to be exact), as used by someone who cannot read katakana. The correct katakana for his name would be パトリック・リー (''Patorikku Rī'').
* After the launch of Dream Engine, Lee's resume at the company's website claimed that he was responsible for relaunching "X-Men, Batman and more", thereby implying that those franchises had long lingered in a near-dead state until Superstar Funana blessed them with his divine reanimating powers.<ref>Pat's resume at the now defunct Dreamengine website.</ref>
* Comic book gossip journalist Rich Johnston, who has done a fair share of coverage on the subject of Pat Lee, has made use of the fact that the URL Deepskypictures.com was a dead link (since the "company" Pat briefly served for as a "director" is now apparently defunct), but still linked to on several of Pat's social networking pages... by purchasing the URL and redirecting it to his coverage of Pat's past and involvement with Dynamite Entertainment at Bleeding Cool Comics for a while.<ref name="badman">[http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/06/05/punking-pat-lee/ Bleeding Cool Comics]</ref>
* Pat Lee once set a hill on fire.<ref name="infrarred"/>
* All of the above is ''absolutely true''. We're not kidding.
*This very article was cited by Valent Wang as the reason why he ultimately ended up starting his toy company, the Mecha Workshop, together with Don Figueroa, despite having initially approached Pat Lee about a partnership instead. Looking up his name led him to TFWiki, where he not only learned more about Lee's business practices, but also found out about Don, leading to a (hopefully) more promising partnership.<ref name="arma">[http://www.poeghostal.com/2013/04/interview-valent-wang-and-don-figueroa-on-armarauders.html Interview with Valent Wang and Don Figueroa on ARMARAUDERS] at Poe Ghostal's Points of Articulation.</ref>

==Memorable quotes by and about Pat Lee==
{{bigquote|It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures.|Pat Lee must be the most successful man on the planet!<ref name="jazma" />}}

{{bigquote|If he ever wants out of comics, Pat Lee's got a heck of a career as an auto mechanic.|''Wizard Magazine''<ref>Verbatim quote from a <s>[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/dailyraider/patlee.jpg butt-kissing advert]</s> article published in an issue of ''Wizard Magazine''.</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Hasbro sold Dreamwave the comic license a few years back, and now these two brothers are raking in over a million dollars a year, money being spent on fast cars and fancy toys ... But making comics isn't all fun and games; both brothers have shown a business acumen well beyond their twenty-something years. |Local news report on Dreamwave and the brothers Lee during their heyday.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19A-NkfOH3g</ref>}}

{{bigquote|I remember working with Pat Lee and how kind of disappointed I was to find how little of the art was actually him. He gave me an original art page of Armada, and there’s so little art on it!|Simon Furman<ref>Talking about memorable experiences, "[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=42871#42871 Simon Furman Q&A Volume 2 LIVE!]"</ref>}}

{{bigquote|If Pat had been some faceless bureaucrat it maybe wouldn’t now seem such an acute betrayal, but he looked me square in the eye and said everything’s hunky-dory. That’s what still, even now, burns.|Simon Furman<ref>Online interview talking about the collapse of Dreamwave</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Probably the richest guy I know.|Don Figueroa <ref>Word Association with the name "Pat Lee" from an [https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000843/http://transfans.co.uk:80/interviews_figueroa.php interview] with TransFans.co.uk</ref>}}

{{bigquote|A guy that really knows how to pitch himself.|Guido Guidi<ref>Word Association with the name "Pat Lee" from an [https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000926/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_guido.php interview] with TransFans.co.uk</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Cars are expensive.|Guido Guidi<ref>Word Association with the name "Dreamwave" from an [https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000926/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_guido.php interview] with TransFans.co.uk</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Can we get our money?|Adam Patyk<ref>Patyk's response to the question "If you could talk to Pat directly right now, what would you ask of him?" in an [http://web.archive.org/web/20090329225039/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=39073 interview] with Newsarama (archive copy).</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Some of the shapes and lines are a little misshapen. When you draw your lines, sketch them out in layout mode, and try to get as accurate as possible before making any final lines.|Pat Lee, not practicing what he preaches.<ref>[http://s104.photobucket.com/user/PatLeeProductions/media/page3.jpg.html Quote from Pat Lee's "How to draw Mecha" article from Wizard #118, July 2001.]</ref>}}

{{bigquote|To anyone who wants to break into comics- learn to love drawing backgrounds and study technical work, never have an ego, and treat your fans with respect!|Pat Lee, still not practicing what he preaches.<ref>[http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/796425.html#cutid1 Parting words from Pat Lee in "Extreme Scenes" from Extreme Comics.]</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Please don't believe anything that comes out of this man's mouth. I did, and look where it got me!|Simon Furman in 2010 <ref>[http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/comic-book-forum/32106-pat-lee-talks-bleeding-cool-via-dabel-brother-3.html#post144857 Furman post at Bleeding Cool, 22 December 2010]</ref>}}

==See also==
* [[Dull surprise]]

==External links==
* [http://www.angelfire.com/pa/infrarred/infrarred2.html Infrarred]
* [http://www.myspace.com/patleeart PatLeeArt] at MySpace
* [http://www.alivenotdead.com/patlee Pat Lee's alivenotdead profile blog site]
* [http://patleeart.deviantart.com/ Pat Lee's deviantART page.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/PatLeeArt Pat Lee's Youtube account]
* [http://twitter.com/patleeart Pat Lee's Twitter feed]
* [https://www.resonanceartistry.com/ RESONANCE “Art of Vibrations”]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lee, Pat}}
[[Category:Colorists]]
[[Category:Alternators packaging artists]]
[[Category:Executives]]
[[Category:Inkers]]
[[Category:Cover artists]]
[[Category:Hasbro packaging artists]]
[[Category:Pencillers]]

Cliffjumper (ES)

2025-10-26T16:36:21Z

EarthSparkGears:

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Cliffjumper}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Cliffjumper is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:cliff es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|His face is so small it becomes oddly cute for a Cliffjumper.]]

'''Cliffjumper''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Transformers war.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great war (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Cliffjumper fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and later on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Cliffjumper, like [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], and [[Gears (ES)|Gears]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]

Ratchet (ES)

2025-10-26T16:35:45Z

EarthSparkGears:

{{factions|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Ratchet}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Ratchet is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:ratchet es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|At least this time, he won't be [[The Transformers: The Movie|shot down for using a tiny pistol]].]]

'''Ratchet''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Transformers war.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Ratchet fought on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Ratchet, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], and [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

Ironhide (ES)

2025-10-26T16:35:22Z

EarthSparkGears:

{{factions|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Ironhide}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Ironhide is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Ironhide es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67]]

'''Ironhide''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the Great War.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Ironhide fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and later on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Ironhide, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Jazz (ES)|Jazz]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], and [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

Jazz (ES)

2025-10-26T16:34:54Z

EarthSparkGears:

{{factions|autobot|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Jazz}}{{noname-unconfirmed}}
:''Jazz is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: EarthSpark (franchise)|EarthSpark]] [[continuity family]].''
[[File:Jazz es.JPG|thumb|upright=1.67|]]

'''Jazz''' is an Autobot that went to [[Earth]] during the war.

==Fiction==
===''EarthSpark'' cartoon===
In a retelling of the [[Great War (ES)|Transformers' war]] by [[Alex Malto]], Jazz fought on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], and later on Earth. {{storylink|Secret Legacy, Part 1}}

==Notes==
*Jazz, like [[Gears (ES)|Gears]], [[Bluestreak (ES)|Bluestreak]], [[Ironhide (ES)|Ironhide]], [[Ratchet (ES)|Ratchet]], and [[Cliffjumper (ES)|Cliffjumper]] only appears during a fantasy sequence while [[Alex Malto]] retells the history of the Transformers war. As this sequence is of dubious accuracy, since it directly contradicts flashbacks seen in later episodes, it's somewhat ambiguous if he ''actually'' exists in the ''EarthSpark'' continuity...but we're going to list him here anyway for completion's sake, ''just in case''.

[[Category:Cartoon-only Transformers]]
[[Category:EarthSpark Autobots]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]

What Is the Story of Transformers?

2025-10-22T00:14:08Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Errors, omissions, and inconsistencies */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''What Is the Story of Transformers?''
|image=WhatIsTheStoryOfTransformers.jpg
|caption=In the first of many errors, Optimus Prime's head is shown as disproportionately large.
|title=
|publisher=[[Penguin Random House]]
|imprint=[[Penguin Workshop]]
|date=[[December 6]], 2022
|writer=[[Brandon T. Snider]]
|illustrator=[[Ted Hammond]]
|pagecount=107
|price=6.99
|ISBN=978-0593384923
|printed in=
}}

'''''What Is the Story of Transformers?''''' is a book for young readers that documents the history of the long-running [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] in the style of other ''What is the Story of...?'' books.

This does not bode well for those other books if this is a representative example.

==Contents==
In chapter-by-chapter format, the book covers:
* "Robots in Disguise": An overview of the original ''[[Diaclone]]'' and ''[[Microman]]'' toys and the efforts of [[Hideaki Yoke]], [[Jim Shooter]], and [[Bob Budiansky]] to bring the toys stateside.
* "More than Meets the Eye": the events of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]], the [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|original G.I. Joe crossover]], and [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the Sunbow cartoon]].
* "The Transformers: The Movie": An abbreviated recap of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' and the cartoon's third season.
* "Generation 2": A brief summary of multiple late-eighties [[gimmick]] toylines, [[BotCon]], and 1993's ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' relaunch.
* "Beast Wars: Transformers": Covers the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoons, and a brief history of the [[AllSpark]].
* "The Unicron Trilogy": A summary of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Transformers: Armada]]'', ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' cartoons.
* "Return to Greatness": A brief description of [[IDW Publishing]]'s [[2005 IDW continuity|reimagined ''Transformers'' universe]], from ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' up until ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'', as well as [[Tom Scioli]]'s ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' maxi-series.
* "Transformers Reborn": Abridged summaries of ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'', ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.
* "The Saga Continues": ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', and ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''.
*"A Different World": The events of ''[[Transformers: Combiner Wars (cartoon)|Transformers: Combiner Wars]]'', ''[[Transformers: Titans Return (cartoon)|Titans Return]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Power of the Primes (cartoon)|Power of the Primes]]'', as well as [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]].
* "Cybertron and Beyond": Covers ''[[Transformers/Ghostbusters]]'', ''[[Transformers/Back to the Future]]'', the ''[[My Little Pony/Transformers: Friendship in Disguise!|My Little Pony/Transformers]]'' duology, ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'', ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'', and the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' cartoon.

==Notes==
===Errors, omissions, and inconsistencies===
* Most notably, ''What is the Story of Transformers?'' makes some odd decisions in deciding what material to include. Comparatively obscure series like the ''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons or the ''My Little Pony'' crossover comics receive extensive coverage with full illustrations, while tentpole franchises like ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' aren't even mentioned. ''Lost Light'' receives a lengthy synopsis, while its predecessor ''More than Meets the Eye'' is only briefly glossed over, and its sister series ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' isn't referred to at all. Hilariously, this all culminates in a timeline that simply jumps from the year 2007 to the year 2016, as though nothing happened in that entire nine-year interval.
* The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics]] section names [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s "treacherous deputies" as [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] and... [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]. While Soundwave did act against Megatron in "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]", it was under the orders of perennial backstabber [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], so presumably somebody got their S—waves mixed up.
* An illustration for the ''The Transformers: The Movie'' section traces the frame where Shockwave erroneously shows up above the battle of Autobot City, but now includes Optimus Prime flying up to greet him.
* Art on page 35 claims to show Megatron's ''Generation 2'' toy... even though it's very clearly a traced version of his [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|2020 ''Earthrise'' toy]], with an added made-up camouflage pattern.
* On page 35, "[[Action Master]]s" are misspelled as "Actionmasters".
[[File:WhatIsTheHistoryOfTransformers-KODinobot.jpg|right|thumb|300px|When you order a Transformers guidebook on Wish.com]]
* The book's synopsis of the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Code of Hero]]" is noticeably jumbled, incorrectly amalgamating and misinterpreting events from multiple episodes. Notably, it claims that [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] joined the Maximals because [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] "laugh[ed] in his face", but that "their alliance was short-lived"—even though he defected in [[Beast Wars (Part 2)|the two-part pilot episode]], and stayed a loyal Maximal up until season 2's "[[Maximal, No More]]", which ended with him rejoining Optimus Primal's team. The recap then goes on to claim that Dinobot's "shifty behaviour" compelled him to "switch sides whenever the moment suited him"... even though Dinobot did it a grand total of ''once'', and he so regretted the decision to break his rigid code of honor that he nearly committed suicide over the whole affair.
* The ''Beast Wars'' recap omits the second-season reveal that the Beast Wars took place on prehistoric Earth and does not mention the crashed ''Ark'' that formed the basis of the cartoon's third season. Similarly, the ''Beast Machines'' summary glosses over the show's prominent nature-versus-technology conflict and simply notes that Optimus and his team "[brought] life to the planet once again" after defeating Megatron.
* Optimus Primal is described as having difficulty "juggl[ing] his animal temper with the demands of leadership," which is a bizarrely wrong way to describe the cartoon's most level-headed character.
* The first image of Dinobot is traced from a knock-off of the Masterpiece toy that decoes his chest differently.
* The supercomputer that reformats Optimus and the other Maximals is referred to simply as "[[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]", rather than the cartoon's consistent usage of "''the'' Oracle".
[[File:WhatIsTheHistoryOfTransformers-LegendsOfTheMicrons.jpg|right|thumb|200px|hey guys remember jazz and bumblebee from armada]]
* Chapter six features a piece of art that is ostensibly from the ''Legends of the Microns'' cartoon... an absolutely bizarre piece of traced and collaged art that features Generation 1 versions of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from various 1980s Japanese sources, alongside what appears to be a badly-drawn [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]] and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. Suffice it to say that this did not actually happen in the ''Legends of the Microns'' cartoon.
* In the same illustration, Jazz is incorrectly drawn without his visior, Megatron appears to have teeth, and Starscream is in mid-transformation when he is flying.
* On page 53, "[[Powerlinx]]" is misspelled "Power Link".
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] is consistently referred to as "''the'' Alpha Quintesson". While he did refer to himself as such in the second English dub of the [[Cybertron City (episode)|first episode]] of ''Energon'', he only did so ''once'', and was only ever referred to afterward in all other episodes as simply "Alpha Q".
* For whatever reason, the synopsis for ''Transformers: Cybertron'' doesn't touch on the existence of [[Velocitron]], [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]], or [[Gigantion]]. Similarly, the ''Combiner Wars'' summary dances around the existence of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], which is only referred to in passing as "[Windblade's] planet".
* The description of the ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' series on page 63 mentions that it focused on characters who "hadn't been given a chance to shine before", naming [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] as examples... even though the pair received entire multi-issue storylines back in the Marvel days.
* "Chaos Theory" was merely a two-part storyline that took place within the larger [[The Transformers (IDW)|2011 ''Transformers'' ongoing]], but the text calls it ''Transformers: Chaos Theory'', as though it was its own independent story.
* A traced illustration of Lost Light Rodimus is labeled as "Rodimus Prime."
* Another bizarre bit of art on page 77 amalgamates [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|''Dark of the Moon'' Sentinel Prime]] with a beardless, big-chinned head that evokes his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]].
* The description of ''Bumblebee'' notes that Optimus Prime was played by Peter Cullen in a way that makes it seem as though this was his first time returning to the role, ignoring that he'd previously voiced the character in all five preceding ''Transformers'' films.
* The ''Bumblebee'' synopsis claims that Bumblebee crash-landed on Earth without his voice and memories after a "terrible Decepticon attack", as though this took place while he was in outer space en route to Earth. In the film, Bumblebee arrives on Earth completely intact, and it's [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] who brutalizes him shortly after he makes landfall.
* The ''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons are described as a "TV show", when they were merely a collection of five-to-ten minute Internet shorts.
* While the penultimate chapter touches on the ''Ghostbusters'', ''Back to the Future'', and ''My Little Pony'' comics, IDW's two other crossover comics from around the same time period—''[[Star Trek vs. Transformers]]'' and ''[[Transformers vs. The Terminator]]''—aren't mentioned.
* The description of ''Transformers/Back to the Future'' claims that [[Marty McFly]] made a "small mistake" that led to the Decepticons changing history; in the actual comic, he had nothing to do with the sequence of events that led to the Decepticons stealing [[Doc Brown]]'s DeLorean time machine.
* The timeline claims that ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]'' launched in 2006, when the [[Infiltration issue 0|first issue]] actually debuted in October 2005.
* The timeline notes the release dates of ''Transformers'', ''The Last Knight'', and ''Bumblebee'', but omits the intervening three films.

===Other notes===
*Believe it or not, this book ''is'' actually official ''Transformers'' product, as there's a teeny-tiny "Licensed by [[Hasbro]]" printed on the back.
* The Bibliography section notes its sources include articles from {{w|Screen Rant}}, if you want to begin to understand how all this happened.

==See also==
* ''[[The Transformers Continuum]]'', a similarly poorly-researched guidebook

==External links==
*[https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673408/what-is-the-story-of-transformers-by-brandon-t-snider-illustrated-by-ted-hammond/ Listing at Penguin Random House]

[[Category:Reference texts]]

What Is the Story of Transformers?

2025-10-19T00:56:46Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''What Is the Story of Transformers?''
|image=WhatIsTheStoryOfTransformers.jpg
|caption=In the first of many errors, Optimus Prime's head is shown as disproportionately large.
|title=
|publisher=[[Penguin Random House]]
|imprint=[[Penguin Workshop]]
|date=[[December 6]], 2022
|writer=[[Brandon T. Snider]]
|illustrator=[[Ted Hammond]]
|pagecount=107
|price=6.99
|ISBN=978-0593384923
|printed in=
}}

'''''What Is the Story of Transformers?''''' is a book for young readers that documents the history of the long-running [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] in the style of other ''What is the Story of...?'' books.

This does not bode well for those other books if this is a representative example.

==Contents==
In chapter-by-chapter format, the book covers:
* "Robots in Disguise": An overview of the original ''[[Diaclone]]'' and ''[[Microman]]'' toys and the efforts of [[Hideaki Yoke]], [[Jim Shooter]], and [[Bob Budiansky]] to bring the toys stateside.
* "More than Meets the Eye": the events of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]], the [[G.I. Joe and the Transformers (comic)|original G.I. Joe crossover]], and [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the Sunbow cartoon]].
* "The Transformers: The Movie": An abbreviated recap of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' and the cartoon's third season.
* "Generation 2": A brief summary of multiple late-eighties [[gimmick]] toylines, [[BotCon]], and 1993's ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' relaunch.
* "Beast Wars: Transformers": Covers the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' and ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]'' cartoons, and a brief history of the [[AllSpark]].
* "The Unicron Trilogy": A summary of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Transformers: Armada]]'', ''[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|Energon]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' cartoons.
* "Return to Greatness": A brief description of [[IDW Publishing]]'s [[2005 IDW continuity|reimagined ''Transformers'' universe]], from ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration|Infiltration]]'' up until ''[[The Transformers: Lost Light|Lost Light]]'', as well as [[Tom Scioli]]'s ''[[Transformers vs. G.I. Joe]]'' maxi-series.
* "Transformers Reborn": Abridged summaries of ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'', ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]''.
* "The Saga Continues": ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]]'', ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight]]'', and ''[[Bumblebee (film)|Bumblebee]]''.
*"A Different World": The events of ''[[Transformers: Combiner Wars (cartoon)|Transformers: Combiner Wars]]'', ''[[Transformers: Titans Return (cartoon)|Titans Return]]'', and ''[[Transformers: Power of the Primes (cartoon)|Power of the Primes]]'', as well as [[Windblade (G1)|Windblade]].
* "Cybertron and Beyond": Covers ''[[Transformers/Ghostbusters]]'', ''[[Transformers/Back to the Future]]'', the ''[[My Little Pony/Transformers: Friendship in Disguise!|My Little Pony/Transformers]]'' duology, ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'', ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'', and the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' cartoon.

==Notes==
===Errors, omissions, and inconsistencies===
* Most notably, ''What is the Story of Transformers?'' makes some odd decisions in deciding what material to include. Comparatively obscure series like the ''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons or the ''My Little Pony'' crossover comics receive extensive coverage with full illustrations, while tentpole franchises like ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Transformers Animated]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]'' aren't even mentioned. ''Lost Light'' receives a lengthy synopsis, while its predecessor ''More than Meets the Eye'' is only briefly glossed over, and its sister series ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise|Robots in Disguise]]'' isn't referred to at all. Hilariously, this all culminates in a timeline that simply jumps from the year 2007 to the year 2016, as though nothing happened in that entire nine-year interval.
* The [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel Comics]] section names [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]]'s "treacherous deputies" as [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] and... [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]. While Soundwave did act against Megatron in "[[Gone but Not Forgotten!]]", it was under the orders of perennial backstabber [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]], so presumably somebody got their S—waves mixed up.
* An illustration for the ''The Transformers: The Movie'' section traces the frame where Shockwave erroneously shows up above the battle of Autobot City, but now includes Optimus Prime flying up to greet him.
* Art on page 35 claims to show Megatron's ''Generation 2'' toy... even though it's very clearly a traced version of his [[Megatron (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|2020 ''Earthrise'' toy]], with an added made-up camouflage pattern.
* On page 35, "[[Action Master]]s" are misspelled as "Actionmasters".
[[File:WhatIsTheHistoryOfTransformers-KODinobot.jpg|right|thumb|300px|When you order a Transformers guidebook on Wish.com]]
* The book's synopsis of the ''Beast Wars'' episode "[[Code of Hero]]" is noticeably jumbled, incorrectly amalgamating and misinterpreting events from multiple episodes. Notably, it claims that [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] joined the Maximals because [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] "laugh[ed] in his face", but that "their alliance was short-lived"—even though he defected in [[Beast Wars (Part 2)|the two-part pilot episode]], and stayed a loyal Maximal up until season 2's "[[Maximal, No More]]", which ended with him rejoining Optimus Primal's team. The recap then goes on to claim that Dinobot's "shifty behaviour" compelled him to "switch sides whenever the moment suited him"... even though Dinobot did it a grand total of ''once'', and he so regretted the decision to break his rigid code of honor that he nearly committed suicide over the whole affair.
* The ''Beast Wars'' recap omits the second-season reveal that the Beast Wars took place on prehistoric Earth and does not mention the crashed ''Ark'' that formed the basis of the cartoon's third season. Similarly, the ''Beast Machines'' summary glosses over the show's prominent nature-versus-technology conflict and simply notes that Optimus and his team "[brought] life to the planet once again" after defeating Megatron.
* Optimus Primal is described as having difficulty "juggl[ing] his animal temper with the demands of leadership," which is a bizarrely wrong way to describe the cartoon's most level-headed character.
* The first image of Dinobot is traced from a knock-off of the Masterpiece toy that decoes his chest differently.
* The supercomputer that reformats Optimus and the other Maximals is referred to simply as "[[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]]", rather than the cartoon's consistent usage of "''the'' Oracle".
[[File:WhatIsTheHistoryOfTransformers-LegendsOfTheMicrons.jpg|right|thumb|200px|hey guys remember jazz and bumblebee from armada]]
* Chapter six features a piece of art that is ostensibly from the ''Legends of the Microns'' cartoon... an absolutely bizarre piece of traced and collaged art that features Generation 1 versions of [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] from various 1980s Japanese sources, alongside what appears to be a badly-drawn [[Thrust (Armada)|''Armada'' Thrust]] and [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]. Suffice it to say that this did not actually happen in the ''Legends of the Microns'' cartoon.
* On page 53, "[[Powerlinx]]" is misspelled "Power Link".
* [[Alpha Quintesson]] is consistently referred to as "''the'' Alpha Quintesson".
* For whatever reason, the synopsis for ''Transformers: Cybertron'' doesn't touch on the existence of [[Velocitron]], [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]], or [[Gigantion]]. Similarly, the ''Combiner Wars'' summary dances around the existence of [[Caminus (planet)|Caminus]], which is only referred to in passing as "[Windblade's] planet".
* The description of the ''[[The Transformers: Spotlight|Spotlight]]'' series on page 63 mentions that it focused on characters who "hadn't been given a chance to shine before", naming [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] as examples... even though the pair received entire multi-issue storylines back in the Marvel days.
* "Chaos Theory" was merely a two-part storyline that took place within the larger [[The Transformers (IDW)|2011 ''Transformers'' ongoing]], but the text calls it ''Transformers: Chaos Theory'', as though it was its own independent story.
* A traced illustration of Lost Light Rodimus is labeled as "Rodimus Prime."
* Another bizarre bit of art on page 77 amalgamates [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|''Dark of the Moon'' Sentinel Prime]] with a beardless, big-chinned head that evokes his [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|''Animated'' counterpart]].
* The description of ''Bumblebee'' notes that Optimus Prime was played by Peter Cullen in a way that makes it seem as though this was his first time returning to the role, ignoring that he'd previously voiced the character in all five preceding ''Transformers'' films.
* The ''Bumblebee'' synopsis claims that Bumblebee crash-landed on Earth without his voice and memories after a "terrible Decepticon attack", as though this took place while he was in outer space en route to Earth. In the film, Bumblebee arrives on Earth completely intact, and it's [[Blitzwing (BB)|Blitzwing]] who brutalizes him shortly after he makes landfall.
* The ''Prime Wars Trilogy'' cartoons are described as a "TV show", when they were merely a collection of five-to-ten minute Internet shorts.
* While the penultimate chapter touches on the ''Ghostbusters'', ''Back to the Future'', and ''My Little Pony'' comics, IDW's two other crossover comics from around the same time period—''[[Star Trek vs. Transformers]]'' and ''[[Transformers vs. The Terminator]]''—aren't mentioned.
* The description of ''Transformers/Back to the Future'' claims that [[Marty McFly]] made a "small mistake" that led to the Decepticons changing history; in the actual comic, he had nothing to do with the sequence of events that led to the Decepticons stealing [[Doc Brown]]'s DeLorean time machine.
* The timeline claims that ''[[The Transformers: Infiltration]]'' launched in 2006, when the [[Infiltration issue 0|first issue]] actually debuted in October 2005.
* The timeline notes the release dates of ''Transformers'', ''The Last Knight'', and ''Bumblebee'', but omits the intervening three films.

===Other notes===
*Believe it or not, this book ''is'' actually official ''Transformers'' product, as there's a teeny-tiny "Licensed by [[Hasbro]]" printed on the back.
* The Bibliography section notes its sources include articles from {{w|Screen Rant}}, if you want to begin to understand how all this happened.

==See also==
* ''[[The Transformers Continuum]]'', a similarly poorly-researched guidebook

==External links==
*[https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673408/what-is-the-story-of-transformers-by-brandon-t-snider-illustrated-by-ted-hammond/ Listing at Penguin Random House]

[[Category:Reference texts]]

Pat Lee

2025-10-18T01:37:34Z

EarthSparkGears: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|Pat Lee, the superstar comic book artist|the uncredited artist who actually drew all his stuff for negligible pay|Alex Milne}}
[[Image:Patlee.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Strength and Honor.<ref>[http://patleeart.deviantart.com/ PatLeeArt] at deviantART</ref>]]
'''Patrick "Pat" Lee''' (ミチヤメノテヒフナナ ''Michiyamenotehi Funana'') is a Canadian artist. He was the president of [[Dreamwave Productions]] and (allegedly) drew some of their ''Transformers'' comics, until most of his employees noticed he wasn't paying them. Subsequently, he was also the president of Dream Engine until all its employees noticed he wasn't paying them either. After that, he founded his own company, Pat Lee Productions, and either worked for or headed a variety of Hong Kong-based companies, which all appear to have gone out of business since. He also (allegedly) continues doing comic work for increasingly obscure publishers that have no shame.

Known titles, aliases and nicknames include '''Mr. Mecha''',<ref name="wizardbig80s">[http://www.tfbrasil.net/curiosidades_Wizard5.jpg "Big 80s" feature from issue 111 of ''Wizard Magazine''], October 2000</ref> '''Paticus''',<ref name="litgtfspec">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14153 Lying in the Gutters ''Transformers'' Special], July 2002</ref> "'''Transman'''",<ref name="transman">[http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=102&itemid=1490 Dreamwave press release]</ref> '''Superstar Artist''',<ref name="creators">[http://old.brokenfrontier.com/headlines/p/detail/dreamwave-adds-transformers-creators The infamous "Dreamwave adds Transformers' creators" press release]</ref> and '''Mr. Talented'''.<ref name="talented">[http://www.alivenotdead.com/rosannewong/A+MASTER+IN+DISGUISE-ANDREW+LIN+vs+PAT+LEE-MR.+TALENTED+(round+2-2)-profile-113669.html Rosanne Wong about Pat Lee painting a mural on her apartment wall]</ref>

{{bigquote|Over my dead body.|[[Simon Furman]] on if Pat Lee will do work for [[IDW Publishing|IDW]]|[[BotCon 2008]]}}

==History==
===Before the Transformers===
[[Image:Dreamwave.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Chillingly prophetic.]]
Pat Lee was born in Montreal on [[June 28]], [[1975]],<ref name="bio">[http://www.angelfire.com/pa/infrarred/infrarred2.html Pat Lee's own biography on his old Angelfire website]</ref> and raised in Toronto. At the age of 16 (or 17),<ref name="patwizarddraw">[http://www.alivenotdead.com/patlee/How-to-draw-Transformers-Wizard-Magazine-profile-678562.html Pat Lee using an old Wizard article about himself as a reason to ponder about he got into the comic book industry]</ref> right after graduating from high school, Lee was eager to find a job as a "proffesional"{{sic}} in the comic book industry,<ref name="patwizarddraw"/> sending over 150 pages of sample artworks to [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] and [[DC Comics|DC]]. Unfortunately for Lee, both publishers realized what a shoddy artist he was. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, however, Lee eventually managed to catch the attention of infamous [[Image Comics]] co-founder [[Rob Liefeld]] at a Toronto convention in 1994, who would hire Lee (now aged 19) to work as a penciller on various titles for Liefeld's Image studio {{w|Awesome Comics|Extreme Studios}}. After that, Pat Lee would also work for [[Jim Lee]]'s Image studio {{w|Wildstorm Productions}}, as well as accepting work-for-hire assignments from Marvel (who had now apparently changed their mind regarding his artwork).

In 1996, Pat and his brother [[Roger Lee|Roger]] decided to start their own studio within Image Comics, [[Dreamwave Productions]], with Pat acting as the company's president. With Dreamwave, Lee would continue accepting contractual work for other publishers (such as the four-issue limited series ''Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation'' for Marvel), but also started to publish his own <s>blatantly plagiarized</s> originally created titles such as ''{{w|Ghost in the Shell|Darkminds}}'' and ''{{w|Record of Lodoss War|Warlands}}''. Collaborations with various magazines and advertising campaigns helped to further advance Dreamwave's reputation. Initially, the "hook" for Dreamwave's financial success was Pat's drawing style, which many readers viewed as "manga-like" (although readers of actual manga had a different opinion on this matter).

{{--}}
===Transformers by Dreamwave===
[[Image:Big80sWizard.jpg|right|150px|thumb|His art only went downhill from here.]]In 2000, Pat and Dreamwave submitted a contribution for a feature named "Big 80s" that was published in issue #111 of ''Wizard: The Comics Magazine'', depicting Pat's own take on one of his favorite properties from his childhood days, the ''Transformers''. Proving to be a huge hit among fans, [[Hasbro]] would consider the general art style a benchmark when they were offering the license for a new ''Transformers'' comic a year later.<ref name="litgtfspec"/> Unsurprisingly, it was Dreamwave themselves who finally acquired said license, commemorating this as a turning point in the history of their company by officially cutting all ties with Image and becoming an independent publisher on their own.

[[Image:Fallenpatlee.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Why do Pat Lee's Transformers look like they're about to take a poop?]]
In addition to providing the art for various adverts, [[posters]] and covers, Pat would draw the first two ''Generation 1'' limited series, [[Prime Directive|Vol. 1]] (aka "Prime Directive") and [[War and Peace|Vol. 2: War and Peace]]. Subsequently, he would concentrate on controlling Dreamwave as its president and spend more time on his biggest hobby, fast cars, assigning art jobs to other artists (many of them hired directly out of the fandom) instead. Lee's only other major contribution in terms of art would ultimately be some of the character profiles published in the eight-issue [[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]] limited series.

Despite having dominated Diamond's sales charts for several subsequent months with the ''Transformers'', Dreamwave eventually ended up in dire financial circumstances. Coinciding with rumors of unpaid freelancers, Pat Lee started to accept contractual work for Marvel and DC again, such as issues of ''House of M'' or ''[[Superman]]/[[Batman]]''. Dreamwave eventually declared bankruptcy on January 4, 2005, blaming the weak United States Dollar and other scapegoats for the company's failure.<ref>[http://www.tformers.com/article.php?sid=4053 Dreamwave's final press release]</ref>

{{--}}

===After Dreamwave===
With Dream Engine, Lee would work on various projects such as an ''[[X-Men]]/[[Fantastic Four]]'' crossover for Marvel, issues for the ''Batman/Superman'' series for DC and a relaunch of ''{{w|Cyberforce}}'' for {{w|Top Cow Productions|Top Cow}}, another Image studio.

Eventually, Pat Lee parted ways with Dream Engine again and started his new enterprise, Pat Lee Productions.<ref name="plp">[http://www.patleeproductions.com/ Pat Lee Productions website, no longer functioning]</ref> He was also listed as the "director" of a Hong Kong-based company named DeepSky Pictures, and alongside his brother Roger, he headed a company named Triple Eye Productions, both of which are no longer in business. Pat Lee is currently residing in Hong Kong, where he acts as one of the heads of an IP development company named Secret Lab, Ltd., which at this time holds the questionable record of being the Pat Lee-run company to remain in business for the longest period of time.<ref name="linkedin">[https://hk.linkedin.com/in/patleeart Pat Lee's Linkedin profile].</ref>

In 2011, Pat Lee was connected as a designer on ''Train Heroes'', a cartoon produced by TV Tokyo and China-based Carloon Animation.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-01-28/tv-tokyo-pat-lee-china-carloon-make-train-hero-show TV Tokyo, Pat Lee, China's Carloon Make Train Hero Show]</ref> It later turned out that the show had similarities with the earlier anime ''{{w|Hikarian|Chō Tokkyū Hikarian}}'', both featuring trains that turned into super-deformed robots.<ref>[http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2011-07-17/chinese-show-similarities-with-hikarian-anime-identified Chinese Show's Similarities With Hikarian Anime Identified]</ref>
{{--}}

===Return to official ''Transformers'' work===
In mid-2008, three and a half years since the collapse of Dreamwave, Lee was commissioned to do a series of illustrations for Hasbro Hong Kong to use for promotional purposes as part of their appearance at Ani-Con 2008.<ref>[http://www.alivenotdead.com/patlee/Transform+and+ROLL+OUT--profile-225643.html Pat Lee showcases his illustrations for Hasbro on his blog.]</ref> Let's hope that art stays in Hong Kong.

In spite of the [[Transformers (film)|movie]] having been out for about a year, he couldn't even be bothered to look up recent art and stills and drew [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] with his unused concept art head.

==Published Transformers works with Pat Lee credit==
===Comics===
[[Image:OptimusPrimeWarAndPeacePreview.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Now try to imagine what the truck mode looks like.]]
* ''[[Prime Directive|Transformers: Generation 1 (vol. 1)]]'': [[Prime Directive Preview|Preview]], [[Prime Directive issue 1|#1]], [[Prime Directive issue 2|#2]], [[Prime Directive issue 3|#3]], [[Prime Directive issue 4|#4]], [[Prime Directive issue 5|#5]], [[Prime Directive issue 6|#6]]
* ''[[War and Peace|Transformers: Generation 1 vol. 2: War and Peace]]'': [[Transformers Volume 2 Preview|Preview]], [[New World Order|#1]], [[Brothers' Burden|#2]], [[Cold War (issue)|#3]], [[Passive Aggression|#4]], [[Countdown to Extinction (issue)|#5]], [[Revelation (War and Peace)|#6]]
* ''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' #1, #3, #6 (assorted profiles)
* ''[[Transformers: Armada (Dreamwave)|Transformers: Armada]]'': [[Dreamwave Armada issue 6|#6]], [[Dreamwave Armada issue 7|#7]]
* ''[[More than Meets the Eye: Transformers: Armada|Transformers Armada: More Than Meets The Eye]]'': #1, #2, #3 (assorted profiles)
* ''20th Anniversary Transformers Summer Special'': Individual story "[[Welcome to the Jungle]]"
* assorted covers for nearly all the Dreamwave Transformers series
* ''[[Transformers: Matrix Quest]]'' (Titan Books, hardcover) cover image
* ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'': [[Targets of Opportunity|#1]]

{{note|With the revelation of [[Alex Milne]] ghosting for Pat Lee on Top Cow's ''Cyberforce'', artist [[Edwin Garcia]] being credited for "backgrounds" on the ''Generation 1'' titles, [[Sigmund Torre]] being rumored to have ghosted on parts of the first ''Generation 1'' volume, [[Nick Kilislian]] being credited for "breakdowns" for ''Divided Front'' #1, and several of his covers actually being done by ghost artists, it's uncertain how much of the art credited to Pat Lee has actually been his work at all.

Various artworks originally created by Lee for the covers of the first ''Generation 1'' limited series were also used by both [[Hasbro]] and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] for their "[[The Transformers: Generation One Commemorative Series|Generation One Commemorative Series]]" and "[[The Transformers Collection]]" series of reissues. Following the demise of Dreamwave, Hasbro would also continue to use cover artwork drawn by Lee for promotional images and various pieces of merchandise, such as a ''[[Monopoly|Transformers Monopoly]]'' board game. The reason for this is simply because the art has already been paid for, and is therefore cheaper to use for Hasbro than newly solicited artwork.}}
{{-}}

===Packaging art===
====Alternators====
* [[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#Alternators|Smokescreen]]
* [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Alternators|Side Swipe]]

{{note|The packaging artwork for [[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]] Smokescreen was also used for the profile card of Takara's ''Binaltech'' counterpart.}}
====Commemorative Series====
{{collist|3|
* Series III [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Autobot Jazz]]
* Series IV [[Prowl (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Prowl]]
* Series IV [[Red Alert (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Red Alert]]
* Series V [[Hoist (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Hoist]]
* Series V [[Inferno (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Inferno]]
* Series VI [[Grapple (G1)#Commemorative Series|Autobot Grapple]]
* Series VII [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Rodimus Prime]]
* Series VII [[Dirge (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Dirge]]
* Series VIII [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#Commemorative Series|Side Swipe]]
}}
{{note|The artwork for Hoist, Inferno, Grapple, Rodimus Prime and Dirge was done specifically for these reissues; the rest was recycled from covers of Dreamwave's first ''Generation 1'' limited series.}}

====The Transformers Collection====
{{collist|3|
* No.0 [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Convoy]]
* No.1 [[Jazz (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Meister]]
* No.2 [[Prowl (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Prowl]]
* No.6 [[Megatron (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Megatron]]
* No.7 [[Sideswipe (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Lambor]]
* No.10 [[Soundwave (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Soundwave]]
* No.12 [[Mini-Vehicle#Reissue lines|Minibot Team]] ([[Cosmos (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Adams]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#The Transformers Collection|Bumble]], [[Gears (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Gears]], [[Huffer (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Drag]], [[Powerglide (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Powerglide]], [[Warpath (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Warpath]])
* No.16 [[Insecticon (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Insectrons]] ([[Kickback (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Kickback]], [[Shrapnel (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Shrapnel]] and [[Bombshell (G1)#The Transformers Collection|Bombshell]])
}}
{{note|None of these artworks were created specifically for these reissues, but were instead recycled from old promotional posters or covers of Dreamwave's first ''Generation 1'' limited series.}}

===Other===
* Hasbro Hong Kong Ani-Con 2008 [[Transformers (2007 toyline)|Movie]] Commemorative boxset certificate

==Criticism and controversy==
===Art style===
[[Image:Patleehowtodrawoptimus.jpg|left|250px|thumb|1) Draw a circle. 2) Draw Optimus Prime. 3) Give him scraplets. 4) Give him leprosy.]]
Pat Lee's artwork has often been the target of criticism among fans. While he was initially praised by many fans for his "manga-like" drawing style (which is heavily inspired by the character designs and visual cues used by [[Studio OX]]), others criticized his tendency for exaggerated proportions, emphasis on rounded robot body parts, making the characters look "inflated" and marshmallow-like, hands reaching out to the reader [https://shortpacked.com/comic/detail "as if you just stole his purse"], a general lack of sequential storytelling skills and the overall look of his human characters (see "[[dull surprise]]" for more on ''that''). Even his critics often admitted that his work for covers and posters was better than his actual comic book interior artwork; however, that would change soon when even his cover artwork saw a severe decline in quality starting with the [[War and Peace|second ''Generation 1'' limited series]]. The introduction of [[Don Figueroa|other]] [[Guido Guidi|artists]] who drew Transformers characters in a similar style, while avoiding many of the problems Lee was criticized for, would further shift the public opinion against Lee's artwork.

[[Image:DWPrimewhatthe.jpg|right|200px|thumb|When you're being compared to [[Rob Liefeld]], maybe it's time to quit.<ref name="leefeld">[https://shortpacked.com/comic/buttons]</ref>]]
Lee's response to that was enforcing an internal "house style" that would force other artists to follow Pat Lee's own style more closely. [[Don Figueroa]] confirmed in an interview having received such requests from Dreamwave art director [[Rob Ruffolo]], a guideline which Figueroa declined.<ref name="dontrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000843/http://transfans.co.uk:80/interviews_figueroa.php Interview with Don Figueroa at TransFans.co.uk]</ref> Fellow artist [[Guido Guidi]] confirmed having received similar requests.<ref name="guidtrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000926/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_guido.php Interview with Guido Guidi at TransFans.co.uk]</ref> Ruffolo himself also later confirmed the existence of an internal "house style", without specifically referring to Lee.<ref name="ruftrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20111114125042/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_ruffolo.php Interview with Rob Ruffolo at TransFans.co.uk]</ref>

Even though many fans preferred other artists over Pat Lee, official Dreamwave press releases and solicitations would often refer to the company's president as a "superstar artist".<ref name="dwadds">[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/comics-16/dreamwave-adds-transformers-creators-2492/ The infamous "Dreamwave Adds Transformers Creators" press release]</ref>

===Business practices===
The demise of Dreamwave didn't come overnight. The first rumors of freelancers not getting paid date back as far as October 2003.<ref name="litgffreel">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14548 Lying in the Gutters reporting on early rumors of Dreamwave artists not getting paid]</ref> Following the closure of Dreamwave, former freelance writers [[Adam Patyk]] and [[James McDonough]] reiterated their claims that Dreamwave (not explicitly referring to Lee himself) had stopped paying them even before declaring bankruptcy. They had then filed a lawsuit against their former employer, and when that became public, they had allegedly also heard from other Dreamwave employees and freelancers who were supposedly also complaining about not being paid anymore.<ref name="pmdnram">[http://web.archive.org/web/20090329225039/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=39073 Newsarama Interview with writers Adam Patyk and James McDonough] (archive copy)</ref>

Aside from Patyk and McDonough, no other former Dreamwave employees or freelancers were nearly as explicit on the issue. Artist Don Figueroa only stated that Dreamwave was "getting really behind with the check" and pointed out that he "was also assured everything was cool" when he met Pat Lee in person only a month prior to the closing of Dreamwave.<ref name="dontrans"/> The latter complaint was also repeated by writer [[Simon Furman]].<ref name="furmtrans">https://web.archive.org/web/20120303025903/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_furman3.php Interview with Simon Furman at TransFans.co.uk]</ref> Likewise, artist [[Guido Guidi]] merely accused Dreamwave of a lack of "[g]ood communication", and even revealed an ambivalent attitude towards Pat Lee and his brother Roger.<ref name="guidtrans"/> Artist James Raiz, meanwhile, claimed that he was "one of the very few who came out of Dreamwave with all [his] money".<ref name="raiztrans">[https://web.archive.org/web/20090916001311/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_raiz.php Interview with James Raiz at TransFans.co.uk]</ref>

Prior to declaring bankruptcy, Pat and his brother Roger had spent four months secretly transferring most of Dreamwave's assets to a new company named Dream Engine, whose website domain was registered to Roger's name.<ref name="litgdreame">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14844 Lying in the Gutters discovering the existence of Dream Engine]</ref> In addition, it would turn out that Lee had made sure to transfer ownership of his formerly company-owned Porsche to himself before giving up Dreamwave,<ref name="porsche">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14968 Lying in the Gutters reporting on the Pat Lee Porsche story]</ref> and had spent half a million Canadian dollars on a new luxury apartment even before the Dreamwave bankruptcy.<ref name="apartment">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&col=1&old=1&column=litg&article=2203 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Pat Lee's new apartment]</ref> The overall amount of Dreamwave's debt was far over a million dollars.<ref name="litgmillion">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14886 Lying in the Gutters' list of Dreamwave's creditors]</ref>

A former Dreamwave employee later suggested that Pat and Roger had known about the looming demise of Dreamwave a full year before declaring bankruptcy, but instead of coming clean to their employees, they named their parents secured creditors and then kept the company going for another year, because Canadian law required people to be named secured creditors for at least a year before bankruptcy in order to be given priority over other creditors (this is meant to prevent someone being given secured creditor status a week before bankruptcy and then getting away with all the company's money). Teddy and Anne Lee were granted $141,000 for alleged "furniture lease", even though they were financially supported by their sons for most of their adult lives.<ref name="parents">[http://web.archive.org/web/20121025181935/http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/comic-book-forum/17163-pat-lee-starts-interview-tour-forgiveness-5.html#post83125 Allegations by a former Dreamwave employee (Archived)], May 2010</ref>

In addition, Guido Guidi and Don Figueroa later confirmed that they were additionally charged by FedEx for having shipped artwork to Dreamwave prior to the company's closure.<ref name="fedex">[http://web.archive.org/web/20050507073425/http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/thread73039.html Archived TFW2005 thread with Guido Guidi and Don Figueroa confirming the FedEx story]</ref>

Pat Lee himself gave several interviews following the closing of Dreamwave, presenting himself as a victim of circumstance while completely dodging the issue of unpaid creators and the existence of Dream Engine.<ref name="patwiz">[http://web.archive.org/web/20061120012852/http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/000230624.cfm Archived Wizard interview with Pat Lee]</ref><ref name="patnram">[http://web.archive.org/web/20100516222500/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=39738 Newsarama interview with Pat Lee] (archive copy)</ref><ref name="jazma">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080120005126/http://www.jazmaonline.com/interviews/interviews2.asp?intID=318 Jazma Online interview with Pat Lee, April 2006] (archive copy)</ref>

While working with Dream Engine, Pat Lee spent a significant amount of the company's funds on the campaign of his girlfriend {{w|Aimee Chan}}, who would eventually win the title of Miss Hong Kong in 2006. This ultimately resulted in Pat being asked by Dream Engine and his brother Roger to leave the company.<ref>[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15349 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Pat Lee's involvement with Aimee Chan]</ref> In the fall of 2007, Aimee Chan changed her status on her alivenotdead social networking page<ref>http://www.alivenotdead.com/aimeechan/details.html</ref> to "single". Oops!

Following that, he was listed as the "director" of a Hong Kong-based company named DeepSky Pictures. The company apparently no longer exists, and it's unclear if it ever actually produced anything. Likewise, the companies Triple Eye Productions and Secret Lab Ltd. he had reportedly founded don't exactly have a high-profile output either, and it's difficult to find out whether they are even in business anymore.

In December 2010, Pat Lee ''finally'' agreed to give an interview to Rich Johnston, one of his most outspoken critics. While Johnston asked a lot of hard-hitting questions, often referring to personal conversations he had with people like Simon Furman and Alex Milne, Lee gave very half-hearted non-answers, claimed not to remember certain details or avoided answering questions entirely. Lee did announce he had started a "Creative Refund Movement" project to pay former Dreamwave artists.<ref name="interviewrich">[http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/12/20/pat-lee-talks-to-bleeding-cool-via-a-dabel-brother/ Rich Johnston interviewing Pat Lee] at Bleeding Cool Comics, December 2010</ref> As of twelve years later, no artist has confirmed any kind of repayment, and one artist confirmed they received nothing within the first two years of its announcement.<ref>[http://callmepo.deviantart.com/journal/Hello-karma-you-out-there-345770376 Entry on Ferd Poblete's DeviantArt]</ref>

In 2018, he (allegedly) designed rather scary-looking half-dissected "{{W|Looney Tunes}} Get Animated" vinyl figures of {{W|Bugs Bunny}} and {{W|Tweety}} for Soap Studio and Sideshow. While not necessarily ''morally'' questionable, these things are the stuff of ''nightmares''.<ref name="bugs">[https://toysrevil.blogspot.com/2018/09/get-animated-tweety-bugs-bunny-by-pat.html 'Get Animated' Tweety & Bugs Bunny by Pat Lee x ToyQube for Sept 20th Release"] at TOYSREVIL, September 2018.</ref> In 2021, he got involved in the ''totally not scammy'' field of {{W|Non-fungible_token|NFT}}s.<ref name="nft">[https://bitcoinist.com/nft-game-god-temple-launches-token-sale-play-to-earn-model/ "NFT Game God Temple Launches Token Sale & Play-to-earn Model"] at Bitcoinist.com, July 2021.</ref> Official press releases continued to praise him as "one of the most famous artists in the North American comics industry" and a "celebrity artist."

===Failure to give proper credit===
During the Dreamwave days, several artists confirmed that Pat Lee had only been drawing the robot characters, leaving the backgrounds entirely to (credited) assistants such as [[Edwin Garcia]]. However, comic book journalist Rich Johnston reported rumors that [[Sigmund Torre]] had been ghosting for Pat, who was too busy with promotion and signing tours, as early as July 2002, when [[Prime Directive|''Generation 1'' vol. 1]] was still in production.<ref name="litgtfspec"/>

Another Dreamwave artist named [[Nick Kilislian]], who is credited for doing the "breakdowns" for Dreamwave's ''[[Transformers/G.I. Joe: Divided Front]]'' [[Targets of Opportunity|issue 1]], allegedly also ghosted for Pat on the ''X-Men/Fantastic Four'' limited series Dreamwave did for [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] at the same time.<ref name="litgghostmost">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=14767 Lying in the Gutters reporting on the rumor of Nick Kilislian ghosting for Pat], September 2004.</ref>

In 2007, it turned out that Lee's personal involvement in his girlfriend's beauty pageant campaign had resulted in him being unable to meet deadlines for issues of Top Cow's ''Cyberforce'' series. As a consequence, Pat had asked [[Alex Milne]] to draw those issues in his stead. After a few issues, what little credit was initially given to Milne was dropped entirely, with Pat submitting the artwork under his own name instead, paying Milne merely a fragment of the money Top Cow was paying him.<ref name="litgmilne1">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15355 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Alex Milne ghosting for Pat Lee]</ref> In addition, Lee later asked Milne to draw artwork for DC's ''Superman/Batman'' #34 as well, again giving his underpaid ghost artist no credit.<ref name="litgmilne2">[http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=15547 Lying in the Gutters reporting on Alex Milne ghosting for Pat Lee even more]</ref> Eventually, Top Cow found out, resulting in Pat Lee not paying Milne ''at all'' for over 20 pages of artwork.<ref name="deviantmilne">[http://hombreimaginario.deviantart.com/art/Interviews-06-Alex-Milne-64254823 Interview with Alex Milne on DeviantArt]</ref>

In late 2008, former Dreamwave editor [[Matt Moylan]] confirmed that the Silver Snail exclusive variant cover for Dreamwave's [[Transformers: Generation 1 (Dreamwave)|''Generation One'' (ongoing)]] [[Night of the Combaticons|issue 1]] that had been credited to Pat Lee had actually been drawn by a ghost artist as well.<ref name="g1ghost">[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-general-discussion/190059-pat-lees-mushy-art-5.html#post2407689 Matt Moylan confirming that the Silver Snail exclusive G1 vol. 3 #1 cover had been drawn by a ghost artist too.]</ref> In early 2012, Moylan became more specific, now confirming that the cover had been drawn by [[Rob Ruffolo]]. In addition, he confirmed that an [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] lithograph had been drawn by [[Rob Armstrong]] but credited to Pat Lee, the [[Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|''War Within'' vol. 2]] [[Fragmentation (G1)|issue 1]] incentive cover had been drawn by Rob Ruffolo as well, and the ''Generation 1'' vol. 3 issue 1 retailer incentive cover had been started by Pat Lee but finished by Rob Ruffolo because Lee was suffering from appendicitis at the time.<ref name="artistdisguise">[https://web.archive.org/web/20120828054042/http://www.lilformers.com/blog/page/4/ "DREAMSLAVES #2: Artists in Disguise"] by Matt Moylan.</ref>

Lee's official artist bio has included the ''blatant lie'' that he "created the original North American series of Transformers comics" since at least 2018.<ref name="bugs"/><ref name="nft"/>

===Attempts at cover-up===
In March and April 2008, a newly registered Wikipedia user repeatedly tried to remove any reference to the controversies surrounding Pat Lee in his own article, instead replacing them with more PR-friendly resume details.<ref>{{w|Special:Contributions/Hyrocomics|Contributions by Wikipedia user "Hyrocomics"}}</ref><ref>{{w|Special:Contributions/219.78.200.95|Contributions by IP 209.70.200.95}}</ref> (The critical content in the Wikipedia article ''was'' later purged for other reasons, but not reverted to the blatant self-advertising Pat's own version was.)

==Notes==
* Before the launch of Dreamwave's ''Transformers'' comic books, Pat expressed a certain level of ignorance with regard to the brand's history. For example, he claimed that, in retrospect, the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers cartoon]] was so amazing that it was only a matter of time before the [[The Transformers (toyline)|toys]] were made.<ref name="animefringe">[http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/01.03/feature/2/index.php3 Interview with animefringe.com]</ref> In the same interview, he also admitted liking [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], whom he considers a "wicked character", regretting that he "died" in the [[The Transformers: The Movie|movie]].<ref name="animefringe"/> (Sideswipe does not appear in the 1986 film.)
[[Image:FuNaNa.jpg|right|216px|thumb|Those fancy Japanese characters look AWESOME. Too bad I can't read them.]]
* Fans discovered an old personal website Pat had set up prior to the big breakthrough with Dreamwave.<ref name="infrarred">[http://www.angelfire.com/pa/infrarred/ Infrarred] {{sic}} Pat Lee's Angelfire homepage</ref> In retrospect, many of the quotes and graphics featured on the site would prove to be either hilariously ironic or frighteningly prophetic, such as a promotional image depicting Pat, his brother Roger and then-Dreamwave exec Alvin Lee walking away from a nuclear explosion (see [[:Image:Dreamwave.jpg|Image:Dreamwave.jpg]]); or a header graphic that features his name, "Patrick Lee", replaced by random katakana characters (ミチヤメノテヒフナナ), which read ''Michiyamenotehi Funana''. Soon, this would become his new nickname among fans, used exclusively in a mocking manner. The cause for this is almost certainly a character-replacement Katakana font (WordPerfect TrueType Japanese to be exact), as used by someone who cannot read katakana. The correct katakana for his name would be パトリック・リー (''Patorikku Rī'').
* After the launch of Dream Engine, Lee's resume at the company's website claimed that he was responsible for relaunching "X-Men, Batman and more", thereby implying that those franchises had long lingered in a near-dead state until Superstar Funana blessed them with his divine reanimating powers.<ref>Pat's resume at the now defunct Dreamengine website.</ref>
* Comic book gossip journalist Rich Johnston, who has done a fair share of coverage on the subject of Pat Lee, has made use of the fact that the URL Deepskypictures.com was a dead link (since the "company" Pat briefly served for as a "director" is now apparently defunct), but still linked to on several of Pat's social networking pages... by purchasing the URL and redirecting it to his coverage of Pat's past and involvement with Dynamite Entertainment at Bleeding Cool Comics for a while.<ref name="badman">[http://www.bleedingcool.com/2010/06/05/punking-pat-lee/ Bleeding Cool Comics]</ref>
* Pat Lee once set a hill on fire.<ref name="infrarred"/>
* All of the above is ''absolutely true''. We're not kidding.
*This very article was cited by Valent Wang as the reason why he ultimately ended up starting his toy company, the Mecha Workshop, together with Don Figueroa, despite having initially approached Pat Lee about a partnership instead. Looking up his name led him to TFWiki, where he not only learned more about Lee's business practices, but also found out about Don, leading to a (hopefully) more promising partnership.<ref name="arma">[http://www.poeghostal.com/2013/04/interview-valent-wang-and-don-figueroa-on-armarauders.html Interview with Valent Wang and Don Figueroa on ARMARAUDERS] at Poe Ghostal's Points of Articulation.</ref>

==Memorable quotes by and about Pat Lee==
{{bigquote|It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures.|Pat Lee must be the most successful man on the planet!<ref name="jazma" />}}

{{bigquote|If he ever wants out of comics, Pat Lee's got a heck of a career as an auto mechanic.|''Wizard Magazine''<ref>Verbatim quote from a <s>[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v472/dailyraider/patlee.jpg butt-kissing advert]</s> article published in an issue of ''Wizard Magazine''.</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Hasbro sold Dreamwave the comic license a few years back, and now these two brothers are raking in over a million dollars a year, money being spent on fast cars and fancy toys ... But making comics isn't all fun and games; both brothers have shown a business acumen well beyond their twenty-something years. |Local news report on Dreamwave and the brothers Lee during their heyday.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19A-NkfOH3g</ref>}}

{{bigquote|I remember working with Pat Lee and how kind of disappointed I was to find how little of the art was actually him. He gave me an original art page of Armada, and there’s so little art on it!|Simon Furman<ref>Talking about memorable experiences, "[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?p=42871#42871 Simon Furman Q&A Volume 2 LIVE!]"</ref>}}

{{bigquote|If Pat had been some faceless bureaucrat it maybe wouldn’t now seem such an acute betrayal, but he looked me square in the eye and said everything’s hunky-dory. That’s what still, even now, burns.|Simon Furman<ref>Online interview talking about the collapse of Dreamwave</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Probably the richest guy I know.|Don Figueroa <ref>Word Association with the name "Pat Lee" from an [https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000843/http://transfans.co.uk:80/interviews_figueroa.php interview] with TransFans.co.uk</ref>}}

{{bigquote|A guy that really knows how to pitch himself.|Guido Guidi<ref>Word Association with the name "Pat Lee" from an [https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000926/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_guido.php interview] with TransFans.co.uk</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Cars are expensive.|Guido Guidi<ref>Word Association with the name "Dreamwave" from an [https://web.archive.org/web/20090916000926/http://transfans.co.uk/interviews_guido.php interview] with TransFans.co.uk</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Can we get our money?|Adam Patyk<ref>Patyk's response to the question "If you could talk to Pat directly right now, what would you ask of him?" in an [http://web.archive.org/web/20090329225039/http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=39073 interview] with Newsarama (archive copy).</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Some of the shapes and lines are a little misshapen. When you draw your lines, sketch them out in layout mode, and try to get as accurate as possible before making any final lines.|Pat Lee, not practicing what he preaches.<ref>[http://s104.photobucket.com/user/PatLeeProductions/media/page3.jpg.html Quote from Pat Lee's "How to draw Mecha" article from Wizard #118, July 2001.]</ref>}}

{{bigquote|To anyone who wants to break into comics- learn to love drawing backgrounds and study technical work, never have an ego, and treat your fans with respect!|Pat Lee, still not practicing what he preaches.<ref>[http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/796425.html#cutid1 Parting words from Pat Lee in "Extreme Scenes" from Extreme Comics.]</ref>}}

{{bigquote|Please don't believe anything that comes out of this man's mouth. I did, and look where it got me!|Simon Furman in 2010 <ref>[http://www.bleedingcool.com/forums/comic-book-forum/32106-pat-lee-talks-bleeding-cool-via-dabel-brother-3.html#post144857 Furman post at Bleeding Cool, 22 December 2010]</ref>}}

==See also==
* [[Dull surprise]]

==External links==
* [http://www.angelfire.com/pa/infrarred/infrarred2.html Infrarred]
* [http://www.myspace.com/patleeart PatLeeArt] at MySpace
* [http://www.alivenotdead.com/patlee Pat Lee's alivenotdead profile blog site]
* [http://patleeart.deviantart.com/ Pat Lee's deviantART page.]
* [http://www.youtube.com/user/PatLeeArt Pat Lee's Youtube account]
* [http://twitter.com/patleeart Pat Lee's Twitter feed]
* [https://www.resonanceartistry.com/ RESONANCE “Art of Vibrations”]

==References==
{{reflist|3}}

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[[Category:Colorists]]
[[Category:Alternators packaging artists]]
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