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'Til all are one

2022-03-03T13:03:13Z

GorgBlack: /* Foreign names */

{{disambig3|'Til All Are One}}
[[File:RodimusTFMMarvel.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|I SAID that already!]]

"'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>Til all are one'''" is a phrase knit through [[Transformer]]s mythology and legend, often used as a rallying cry by the [[Autobot]]s. It's been translated as either until the end of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], when all Transformers shed their factional affiliations, or until all are rejoined into the [[Transformer afterlife|Allspark]] of [[Primus]].

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
The phrase was first introduced as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s deathbed mantra, and it would then be repeated regularly by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]], and many of the other Autobots. {{storylink|The Transformers: The Movie}}
{{note|It even appears in [[The Transformers (Theme)|movie's closing theme]]: The last verse ends with a declaration that although the stand has been made and the immediate battle is over, the war with the powers of darkness will continue "'til the day when all are one."}}

Having seized the [[Matrix of Leadership]], [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] gloated that "all shall be one" under his rule. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}}

===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
{{noteukonly}}
''After leading the [[Wrecker]]s on a successful raid against a [[Decepticon fuel store]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] returned to [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] to deliver a speech to [[Emirate]] [[Xaaron]]'s Autobots. After revealing that he intended to return to [[Earth]] to continue the fight there, he promised to come back and lead them to victory, finishing with "And all will be one!".'' {{storylink|Resurrection!}}

===''Beast Wars'' cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Wars'' cartoon====
[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] refers to the [[Transformer afterlife|Matrix dimension]] as a place "where all are one." {{storylink|Coming of the Fuzors (Part 2)}}

====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
As [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] consumed the captured sparks of every Cybertronian, he urged "let us all become one!" {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege}}

===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' toyline===
[[Omega Prime]]'s [[Matrix Blade]] had this phrase written across the hilt. {{storylink|Omega Prime#Car_Robots|Omega Prime toy}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:Ancients.jpg|thumb|You're on this council, but we do not grant you the rank of Prime.]]
The Autobot [[Council of Ancients]] held court in a chamber embossed with the same logo that had appeared on [[Omega Prime]]'s [[sword]]. {{storylink|The War Within issue 1|The War Within #1}}

The [[Seal of Primus]] also had "'til all are one" written on it. {{storylink|Conflagration}}

===Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity===
====''Cybertron'' comic====
When [[Primus]] appeared in robot mode above the [[Mini-Con]] civil war occurring on one of Cybertron's moons, all the combatants were dumbstruck. [[Sentinel Maximus]] asked, "Have all become one at last?" {{storylink|Revelations Part 6}}

====''Cybertron'' cartoon====
When communicating with the Autobots, [[Primus]] would intone the phrase in reference to their quest to restore his Allspark. Later, when he created the ''[[Ark (Cybertron)|Ark]]'' out of the four Cybertronian starships signifying the unity of the Transformers, he said that all were finally one. {{Storylink|End}} Optimus later invoked the phrase as the four ships set off on the new [[space bridge]] project. {{storylink|Beginning}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
"All shall be one" was an ancient prophecy believed to hail from the days of the [[Guiding Hand]] and [[Knights of Cybertron]]. [[Nova Prime]] took the phrase to mean that their race could be improved by the merging of several Transformers into one, resulting in the creation of the first [[combiner]], [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]]. [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]] knew this to be a faulty interpretation. {{storylink|Primus: All Good Things|All Good Things}} An ornate hall in the [[Acropolex]], a disguise worn by the ancient [[Titan (group)|Titan]] [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], had the sentence "True freedom exists when all are one." inscribed on the floor. {{storylink|Ruins}}

The Decepticons seemed to have a much darker use for the phrase. During a gladiatorial death match between [[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]] and an [[Cy-Kill (G1)|unnamed opponent]], the crowd began to chant the phrase, apparently attempting to goad Megatron into finishing off his opponent. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 2|Megatron Origin #2}}

During the war, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Optimus Prime]] became famous for his use of the phrase. [[Rotorstorm (G1)|Rotorstorm]] made fun of [[Pyro (G1)|Pyro]]'s [[primus apotheosis]] by tricking him into saying "'til all are one." {{storylink|Bullets}} [[Drift (G1)|Drift]] observed that [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] overused the phrase. "Rodimus" replied that Optimus Prime used it, and Drift simply replied that the legendary Autobot leader had used it about "once a decade" in epic circumstances, not just because he won at [[Cybertronian games#Fullstasis|Fullstasis]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

Much like Nova Prime, [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]] referred to the combiner technology he was working on as "all-who-are-one". {{storylink|Devisive}}

While [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] probed [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]'s memories, he inserted a "[[Trepan's Trigger]]", altering the Decepticon's memories so that the phrase was associated with all his past defeats. Later, when Rodimus inevitably said it while being choked by Overlord, the phrase triggered Overlord's pathological fear of defeat and immobilized him. The crew was able to force Overlord into his [[slow cell]], and Chromedome launched the cell into space and destroyed it. {{storylink|Remembrance Day}} {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}}

[[Baron Karza]] uttered the phrase when he powered himself up by absorbing an army of [[Dire Wraith]]s into his body. {{storylink|The New Colossus}}

===Fun Publications ''Shattered Glass'' continuity===
The evil [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Optimus Prime]] sports a mocking juxtaposition of the famous saying on his [[alternate mode]], reading "'Til all are gone!" {{storylink|Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass}}

The mantra of [[Optimus Prime (SG)|Nova Prime]] was "Til all are redeemed." {{storylink|Optimus Prime (SG)#NovaPrime|''Timelines'' Nova Prime profile card}}

===Aligned continuity===
While discussing the secrets of [[Combiner|combining]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] explained to [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] that "Autobots cannot truly combine 'til all are one." Bumblebee later interpreted this as his team having to be one in spirit, allowing them to become [[Ultra Bee]]. {{storylink|Moon Breaker}}

===''Cyberverse'' cartoon===
[[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]] included the phrase in a speech he wrote for [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron]], {{storylink|Maccadam's}} which he delivered before a crowd to premiere the Decepticon movement. {{storylink|Megatron Is My Hero}}

Eons later, at [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]]'s wake, Optimus led the now unified Autobots and Decepticons in a toast, with the group echoing a cheer of "All are one!" {{storylink|The Perfect Decepticon}}

==Notes==
*The phrase has its roots in early script drafts of ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Rather than feature the [[Matrix of Leadership]], early versions of the movie's story instead had "[[Life Spark]]s", Transformer life-forces very similar to the [[spark]]s that would later be introduced in ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]''. Upon his death, Prime transfers his own Life Spark to Ultra Magnus, and then utters a prototypical version of the phrase clearly derived from this practise: "Til all Life Sparks are one!" The [[authorial intent|original intent]] of the phrase, then, was clearly to reference a time when all Transformer life had ceased and become one in the afterlife, ''long'' before the idea of a [[Transformer afterlife|singular afterlife for the entire race]] was independently created by other writers.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Uchū o hitotsu ni''' (宇宙を一つに)
*''French:'' '''Jusqu'à ce que nous ne fassions qu'un'''
*''Russian:'' '''Пока все не станут едины'''

==See also==
*[[Darkest hour]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Til all are one}}
[[Category:Transformer culture]]

Attack of the Autobots (episode)

2022-01-18T03:43:49Z

GorgBlack: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|Attack of the Autobots (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=20
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=73
|prev2=Mutiny of the Combaticons
|next2=Day of the Machines
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=28
|prev3=Changing Gears
|next3=Day of the Machines
|image=AttackOTAutobot Evil Optimus Hound and Ratchet.jpg
|caption="This photo of us is terrible, Hound! You forgot the red-eye function again!"
|title="Attack of the Autobots"
|production code=#700-19
|airdate=[[October 4]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EkvcT7kffI
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''After a surprise attack (read: diversion) by the Decepticons, the Autobots repair themselves in their regeneration chambers, only to emerge...EVIL!'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AttackOTAutobot Megatron destabilizer.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|We're replacing the Autobots' personalities with Folger's Crystals! Let's see if they notice.]]

The Autobots rush out to meet a [[Decepticon]] sneak attack on [[Ark (G1)|their headquarters]], unaware that it's actually a diversion. While they're occupied, [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] coat themselves in a temporary "[[invisibility spray]]" and sneak inside. Megatron sabotages the [[Autobot]]s' [[recharging chamber]] with a [[personality destabilizer device]], before calling off the attack, leaving the Autobots bemused. After the Autobots recharge the next day, [[Teletraan I]] alerts them to the imminent launch of a rocket, and rather than protect it, they want to destroy it. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] obeys Megatron's first order and smashes [[Teletraan I]].

[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] find a spot in the middle of nowhere for Jazz to try out his new sound system. Bumblebee leaves them to it, heading back to Headquarters. Bumblebee makes it back first, and finds Teletraan disabled and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] behaving oddly. Bluestreak forces him into the recharging chamber, but Jazz arrives in time to discover something's wrong. Jazz manages to disable Bluestreak. Sparkplug repairs Teletraan I, who tells them that the rest of the Autobots are now evil!

[[File:Attackoftheautobots2.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|HASSAN CHOP!]]

Meanwhile, Optimus leads the Autobots on an attack at the local [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] base, where they begin trashing military jets. Spike and Bumblebee rush off to the base to stop them, and Sparkplug and Jazz stay behind to work on a cure. [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]], on Megatron's orders, have gone after the plans for the human solar energy satellite being launched on the rocket. They start chasing the satellite's inventor, [[Harding|Doctor Harding]]. Bumblebee reaches the Air Force base, but is unable to persuade Optimus to stop his rampage.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons take over the rocket base and plan to take the rocket and satellite back to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. At headquarters, Sparkplug cooks up an [[attitude exchanger]] that will "First, drain evil. Second, recharge good." After he and Jazz test it successfully on Bluestreak, he starts building more. As Hound and Ratchet close in on Dr. Harding, Jazz turns up with the first batch and resets them back to good. At the Air Force base, Bumblebee continues to try to stop Optimus, who seems bent on destroying the smaller Autobot along with the planes.

The other Autobots find [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]], and change him back to good using an exchanger, then use him as transport to get to the Air Force Base. There, they manage to change the rest of the Autobots, except for Optimus Prime. The devices pacify Prime's [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]] and [[Roller (G1)|Roller]], but Prime is still on a rampage. Bumblebee takes it upon himself to change the Autobot leader back and succeeds. Optimus gives him a nice, big hug for his trouble.

[[File:Primebumblebeehug.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Bumblebee, from now on, you will be a Hugmaster!]]

Back at the rocket base, Megatron and the Decepticons have boarded the reprogrammed rocket and take off. The Autobots intercept them aboard Skyfire. Prime and Ratchet detach the satellite while Jazz uses a "musical sonic boom" to disable the rocket. The Decepticons abandon it without any further resistance and retreat. Skyfire takes everyone into space, and Prime throws the solar satellite into orbit.

Finally back at headquarters, Prime thanks everyone for helping out, especially Bumblebee. But then Ratchet gets jealous and claims credit for firing the attitude exchangers (which was actually Hound's idea. Hmmm...). Jazz reminds everybody that they have to fix all of the jets that Optimus Prime smashed at the Air Force base, and Spike breaks the tension with a lame joke that his dad finds hilarious.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (2)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (4)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (12)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (13)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (14)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (15)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (16)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (19)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (20)
*[[Roller (G1)|Roller]] (23)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (5)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (6)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (9)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (10)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (24)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (17)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (18)
*[[Harding]] (21)
*Missile Launch Technician (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"My warning diode is pulsating!" 
:—'''Optimus Prime''' does his best to emulate [[Spider-Man]].

"Hey, come back! You didn't finish your nickel-plated knuckle sandwich!" 
:—'''Brawn''' worries about the Decepticons' dietary needs.

"Warning! Evil presence now infiltrating Autobot Headquarters!" 
"Very good, Teletraan I! The personality destabilizer I placed inside ''your'' recharging chamber has converted your Autobot friends from sentimental fools to my kind of mechanisms!" 
"Autobots are noble. Your plan can never succeed." 
"Oh, it can't, eh? Autobots! Obey my first command: Silence that annoying computer!" 
"Optimus Prime, NO—!"
:—'''Teletraan I''' displays some pretty incredible capabilities as it debates with '''Megatron''', right before Optimus shows the computer where to stick it

"Like, wow! Rock and roll with real rocks!" 
"It's ''called'' an ''avalanche!''"
:—'''Jazz''' and his sound system are a bit much for '''Sparkplug'''...not to mention a nearby cliff.

"Destroy, destroy, destroy! Let none stand against us!"
:—Evil '''Optimus Prime''' (No, it's not [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]] or [[Optimus Prime (SG)|any other evil Primes]] you know.)

[[File:AttackOfTheAutobots Attitude Exchanger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|One must wonder why these weren't used on the Decepticons to turn them good and end the war forever. Would Earth be too boring without evil Decepticons to fight?]]
"First, drain evil. Second, recharge good." 
"Let's hope it don't finish up with 'Third, bury Jazz'!"
:—'''Sparkplug''' and '''Jazz'''

'''Optimus''': Well, there won't be any more trouble, thanks to you. And especially to you, Bumblebee. 
'''Ratchet''': Especially to ''him''? ''I'' was the one who saved the satellite, ''and'' came up with the idea of firing those attitude exchangers! 
'''Sparkplug''': Oh, yeah? Well who helped you make 'em in the first place? 
'''Ratchet''': Why, you wouldn't know a microchip from a potato chip!
:—Optimus Prime's thanks to Bumblebee start a little round of glory-hogging.
{{-}}

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Bluestreakg1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:OptimusCDeckAttackoftheAutobots.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Danger, Will Robinson! Danger!"]]
*Ratchet calls Rumble a [[turkeytron]].
*Gadgets and powers:
**The Autobots' optics switch from blue to red when they're evilified, and back to blue when they're recharged with good.
**We get to see all three of Optimus Prime's components in action, which is rare. This is the third appearance of the [[Combat Deck (G1)|Combat Deck]]'s interior cannon in the series, but the ''only'' time it was drawn to be toy-accurate.
**Prowl fires a Laserbeak-ensnaring net from his retracted hand. He fired a similar net at Ravage in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]".
**Jazz deploys his (newly upgraded) speakers. They're loud enough to bring down a mountainside.
**Soundwave, in a rare moment, fires his shoulder mounted cannon at Optimus Prime and Ratchet whilst they are on top of the rocket.
*Prime's tech spec bio states that damage to his other two components can be felt by him. Conversely, this could be interpreted that the energy exchanger's effect on the other two components actually weakened Prime's evil state, which is why he started fighting it right after. That is, if you want to apply his bio to the G1 cartoon.
*This episode may hold the record for the largest number of "evil invention/alien device"s in a single episode: invisibility spray, the personality destabilizer, the recharging chambers, the solar satellite, AND the attitude adjusters are all contenders.
*[[Autobot Spike|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''' Round 4: Soundwave flees without a fight before the onslaught of the mighty Brawn, forfeiting the round. Tally: Brawn 4, Soundwave 0. [[Enter the Nightbird|>>]]

===Real world references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**The [[TIE Fighter]] engine sound effect shows up when Prime says, "My warning diode is pulsating. Decepticon Jets!" as Thundercracker and Skywarp swoop down.
**As Skywarp fires, the sound effect borrowing continues; it's Darth Vader firing his ship's lasers combined with the TIE's engine sounds. And it's complete with [[Darth Vader]]'s breathing! (A similar audio gaffe happens in "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]", as well as ''G.I. Joe: The Movie''. Guess you can't be too choosy when you crib sounds from ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]''.)
**When Jazz uses his [[sound and light show]], the sound effects are two [[lightsaber]]s clashing.
*"Hold on, I'm coming!" A {{w|Sam & Dave}} shout-out, perhaps?
*The first batch of jets the Autobots wreck during their attack on the Air Force base seem to be based (somewhat loosely) on the {{w|F-104 Starfighter}}, while the second group look like Russian {{w|Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23|MiG-23s}}.

===Animation or technical glitches===
*Optimus is missing his fog lights in many shots.
*As Starscream and Megatron prepare to use the invisibility spray, Starscream's shoulder vents are ''behind'' his shoulders instead of on top of them.
*Bluestreak is missing his Autobot symbol as he opens fire on Jazz.
[[File:AttackOTAutobots Jazz on Skyfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|And in this shot, his cockpit is too far forward, and too small. Not to mention the obvious scale issues, considering Jazz was comfortably riding inside him a second ago.]]
*As Teletraan I reports Optimus's attack on the Air Force base, its voice is modulated differently than in the scene immediately beforehand.
*When Spike jumps into Bumblebee, there's no interior opening shown behind Bumblebee's door.
*Spike continues saying "Hold on, I'm coming!" even after he's already inside Bumblebee.
*Megatron orders Soundwave to "reprogram the main computer." Thanks to some recycled animation, Soundwave does this by strolling up to the same bank of computers that Megatron just blew up.
*Skywarp's missing his wing insignia as Megatron exits the computer bunker.
*Thundercracker's wing is sitting above his shoulder instead of behind it as he and Starscream listen to Megatron.
[[File:Attack of the Autobots Optimus Prime truck mode.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|It's hard to believe these two shots happen just mere moments apart.]]
*When Optimus Prime transforms into his vehicle mode, his legs suddenly change from blue to black before they become obscured by his torso. Once he starts driving in truck mode, his truck bed is back to being blue. Also, his truck mode is ''extremely'' poorly drawn, with positively ''tiny'' wheels, a very weirdly shaped front bumper, missing headlights, and two instead of just one stripes above the section where the headlights are supposed to be, neither of which is colored gray.
*When Optimus Prime briefly connects to his trailer and then pulls away again as it transforms into its Combat Deck mode, Optimus's truck mode is much better drawn, but now the trailer is missing its wheels for the entire duration of the shot.
*Skyfire seems to gain more landing gear every time he touches the ground. As he departs from the Air Force base, his nose gear is ridiculously long.
*Skywarp is missing his wing insignia as the Decepticons fly up to the rocket.
*After Bumblebee saves Optimus Prime, a group shot shows Jazz missing his grille.
*Soundwave is missing his insignia as Megatron rants about the fuel tanks.
*Skywarp's missing his wing stripes as the Decepticons fly off. In the same shot, Sunstreaker, colored like Frenzy (!), flies off with them.
*Ratchet's "potato chip" line doesn't quite flow into his next line, which starts with an abrupt "Hey, look!" as if he was replying to a line of Sparkplug's that got cut.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:AttackOfTheAutobots recharging chambers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*How does Rumble keep from falling into the crevasse that he makes with his pile drivers?
*Flying Autobots:
**Prowl sails skyward a ''long'' time after he's blasted by a missile.
**Optimus and Ratchet just float up out of Rumble's crevasse. Both these incidents are in defiance of the cartoon's normal status quo, which mostly holds that Autobots can't fly.
*Was this convoluted scheme ''really'' the best use Megatron could think of for invisibility spray?
*How does Skyfire - or the Dinobots for that matter - fit in the recharging chambers, which appear to be able to fit Optimus Prime as a maximum size?
*Superhuman Spike:
**Sparkplug and Spike's eardrums are somehow not shattered by Jazz's speakers, which are loud enough to start an avalanche.
*An {{w|avalanche}}, by definition, requires snow ("snowslide" is a synonym), none of which is apparent in the desert. What Jazz's speakers initiated is in actuality a {{w|rockslide}}.
[[File:DrhardingG1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Superhuman Dr. Harding:
**Judging by the exterior shot of the lab, as well as the size of the parasols visible from Dr. Harding's window, she is, at absolute minimum, four stories up (probably much higher), yet she manages to survive the fall onto the parasols without so much as whiplash.
**She also survives being thrown by Hound while trapped in a dumpster; a throw with enough force to not only destroy the dumpster but also seriously damage the wall behind it. Even if the dumpster was filled with pillows every bone in Harding's body should've been smashed to pieces by the sheer impact.
*"Good" and "Evil" are apparently scientific states now, detectable by computer!
*Speaking of which, why didn't Teletraan I report Megatron's "evil presence" when he and Starscream were sabotaging the recharging chambers?
[[File:G1toon screamer megs invisible.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*After all the fuss with the invisibility spray, it turns out that the shimmering outlines aren't just for the viewer's benefit; the "invisible" Decepticons are caught on film by Teletraan I. Whoops! And why didn't Teletraan I think to report this BEFORE the Autobots recharged?
*It's not absolutely a contradiction within the cartoon's continuity, but Hound's bio definitely doesn't identify his weapon as a particle beam gun. (That's actually [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]'s weapon.)
*Ratchet's assertion that "Prime's a lost cause" seems like a bit of an exaggeration. Couldn't they just go back to HQ and make some more attitude exchangers?
*If the Decepticons could use a rocket to get back to Cybertron, why waste all the time building a spaceship in the pilot? Can an Earth rocket really make it all the way to Cybertron? (This seeming contradiction, and many other instances of easy travel between Earth and Cybertron, might be explained by "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]", whose events would seem to leave Cybertron in relatively close proximity to our [[Solar System]], even after leaving Earth's orbit. Whether the writers actually had this in mind, however, is open for debate.)
*With two hours of idle time before the rocket launches, why do the Decepticons wait until T minus 30 seconds before boarding?
*Tearing a door off the rocket ''can't'' be good for it. Why not have Soundwave just open the door?
[[File:AttackoftheAutobots Prime and Ratchet on rocket.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Optimus throws the satellite into orbit and it's presumed to be in working order. Even assuming that Dr. Harding was able to convey the precise details of the necessary orbit, Optimus either has an extremely powerful physics calculator or that had to be one heck of a lucky shot.
*[[A Prime Problem|As usual]], the good guy jet "catches" the falling protagonists by just flying under them, rather than matching speeds and actually breaking their fall. ''Splat''.
*Ratchet claims credit for firing the attitude exchangers, but it was Hound's idea. Sparkplug then points out that he helped Ratchet build the things to begin with, but there's been no on-screen evidence that Ratchet was involved in building any of them.
*It's implied that the Autobots are going to ''repair'' all 47 of the busted jets...but jets and air frames and avionics don't really work that way. Once they're smashed and exploded, they're pretty much "beyond repair".
*Teletraan I states that all of the Autobots apart from Jazz and Bumblebee were turned evil—that's seventeen Autobots and maybe five Dinobots. By episode's end, after Ratchet frets that they're out of attitude exchangers, only seven have been accounted for. (To be fair, there is an unaccounted-for period of time between the satellite's launch and the episode's conclusion, but if that's when they took care of the problem, why was Ratchet worried about Prime being "a lost cause"?)
*Why does an advanced alien medical robot like Ratchet have an old-fashioned hand-held wrench (which dates back to the 1400s on Earth) instead of a fancy powered finger or wrist attachment? [[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|He's previously]] [[Divide and Conquer|been demonstrated]] [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 1|to have]] [[Dinobot Island, Part 2|an extensive array]] of built-in tools - including [[Dinobot Island, Part 1|a fingertip welder]].

===Trivia===
*David Wise reused elements of this story for the ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'' (1987) episode "Slash - The Evil Turtle from Dimension X", especially the climax of the story and its rocket chase sequence. This was not an entirely unique incident, as Wise was known for [[David Wise#Recycle-o-matic|recycling his plots]].

===Foreign localization===

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Ataque dos Autobots'''" ("The Attack of the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''L'attaque des Autobots'''" ("Attack of the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La pazzia degli Autorobot'''" ("Madness of the Autobots")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''La pazzia degli Autobots'''" ("Madness of the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertron no Gyakushū'''" (サイバトロンの逆襲, "Cybertrons' Counterattack")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[1990]] (released straight to video)
::*This is one of two episodes (the other being "[[Day of the Machines]]") not initially aired in Japan during the run of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''. The episode was eventually dubbed in 1990 and released on [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]]'s {{w|LaserDisc}} set of the series. As such, it was retroactively added to the series' official episode list as episode 73, a numbering reflected in ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]''.
::*Since the episode was dubbed several years after ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' had ended, not all the original cast members were able to return. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (originally voiced by [[Ken Shiroyama]]) and [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (originally voiced by [[Kōki Kataoka]]) were replaced by [[Katsumi Suzuki]].
::*Due to having been released straight-to-video, this is one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' not to have been edited for time in Japan. As such, Japanese DVD and laserdisc releases include an optional English audio track for the episode.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Qìchērén de Gōngjī '''" (汽车人的攻击, "The Attack of the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Napadenie na Avtobotov'''" (Нападение на Автоботов, "Attack on the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2011 — ''Transformers'' — L'Attaque des Autobots ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-19.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1uHn6UMvitp7k_KQdJyKXmt9G_BAqaFw5 Episode dialogue script]

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

City of Steel (episode)

2022-01-18T03:41:57Z

GorgBlack: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig2|the Generation 1 episode|the ''Punishment'' issue|City of Steel (issue)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=19
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=23
|prev2=A Prime Problem
|next2=Auto Berserk
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=52
|prev3=Trans-Europe Express
|image=AutobotsNYC.jpg
|caption=Start spreading the news...
|title="City of Steel"
|production code=#700-18
|airdate=[[October 17]], [[1985]]
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-025jnUVxUE
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Decepticons invade New York City.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:CityofSteel ESB sinking.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Where will you be... the Day after Tomorrow.]]
Over New York City, [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] flies into the [[Decepticon]]s' underground base. The [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]] are digging a hole in the ceiling and the Autobots don't have a clue. After hours of digging, the Constructicons manage to sink the [[Empire State Building]] underground.

The [[Autobot]]s finally get wind of this and head to the city. [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] plan to meet the rest of the Autobots at [[Central Park]]. However, Laserbeak spots them and reports back to [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. He plans to give the Autobots a surprising welcome.

At Central Park, the Autobots are ambushed by Soundwave and his crew, whilst underground the Constructicons inform Megatron that they're directly underneath Optimus Prime. Megatron orders them to dig while Optimus Prime is fighting [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]]. Taken by surprise, Prime falls into the Decepticons' underground base where Megatron severs his [[motor relay]]s, making him powerless. Megatron then threatens the remaining Autobots that unless they leave he will melt the Autobot leader down to scrap. He also shows them his master plan, which is to rebuild New York into [[New Cybertron]]. The Constructicons raise the Empire State building back up, but now it looks like a Cybertronian fortress. Forced to leave the city, the Autobots are gloomy until [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] comes up with a plan to get into the city undetected.

[[File:CityofSteel Prime head.JPG|upright=1.1|thumb|"Aquaman calling all sea creatures!"]]
Seemingly victorious, Megatron gloats over Prime's still body. However, Megatron is still worried that Optimus Prime might try something and orders [[Hook (G1)|Hook]] to disassemble him, which he does with a handy energy blade. After Optimus is turned into a pile of parts, Megatron picks up his head and reactivates Optimus so he can gloat. Prime responds that even though he's in pieces he will still fight. Prime then activates his arms and trips up Megatron. Megatron orders the Constructicons to dispose of Prime's remaining parts how they choose, but he gets to keep the head.

Spike, Bumblebee, Ratchet, [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and [[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] enter the City through the sewers in the hope of rescuing Prime undetected. Elsewhere, the Constructicons are very pleased with themselves for what they did with Prime's left over body parts. They have special plans for his right arm and weapon.

[[File:Alligatorprime.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"What is it, Aquaman?"]]
While scanning for Prime, Hound is confused because his scans show Prime was behind them when before he was ahead. Mirage then spots a giant robot alligator seeming to be made of Prime's body parts (dubbed the [[Alligaticon]]) and the Autobots run away. They trap it in a train and send it and the train packing. When they reach the underground base they find Prime's head and reattach his circuits so he can speak. Prime then activates his legs remotely to come to him and the rest of the Autobots figure out that the Alligaticon was made up of Prime's parts. After capturing it, Ratchet reassembles Prime, minus the right arm. Now that Optimus is safe, the Autobots attack. The Decepticons have turned half of New York City into New Cybertron, complete with killer [[Battle taxi|taxis]], and they're using Prime's arm as a weapon on top of their fortress. The taxis go for Bumblebee, [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]], and [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]], but Prime runs them down.

[[File:BumblebeelovesNY.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Of course you do...]]
After breaking through the Decepticon defenses, Optimus Prime, Ironhide and Ratchet plan to scale the fortress to reclaim Prime's arm. Bumblebee and Spike plan to help by distracting Megatron and Soundwave, even going so far as to insult Megatron. Megatron orders an air strike, but when [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] is downed, the Constructicons become [[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]] and he follows Prime's team up the building. Meanwhile, Spike and Bumblebee manage to sneak in and annoy Megatron, by calling him Megaklutz, and tricking him into destroying the device that controlled Prime's arm. Outside Devastator captures Prime and knocks Ironhide and Ratchet into the fortress. [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] then comments that the whole thing reminds him of ''[[King Kong]]'' as he tries to assist with his remote controlled helicopters. Spike then informs Prime that his arm is no longer controlled by Megatron, and Prime takes the opportunity to use it against Devastator. After Devastator gets hit Prime falls but is saved by Ironhide and Ratchet and as usual the Decepticons retreat.

Now the city is saved, Prime is back together and Bumblebee got a souvenir (an '{{w|I Love New York|I ❤ NY}}' bumper sticker). The Autobots [[roll out]] and return home.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (17)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (18)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (19)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (21)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (22)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (23)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (30)
|c2=
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (1)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (2)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (3)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (4)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (5)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (6)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (7)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (8)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (9)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (10)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (26)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (27)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (29)
*[[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]] (31)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (32)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (15)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (16)
}}

==Quotes==
"I didn't join this outfit to be a dump truck!"
:—'''Long Haul,''' commenting on his [[alternate mode]].

"I feel like I'm in some messy swamp, not under the biggest city in North America."
:—'''Ratchet''', trudging through the sewers of New York.

"It sickens me to say it, Reflector, but this one time I have to hand it to Megatron. The place is finally starting to feel like home."
:—'''Starscream''' agrees with one of Megatron's plans, which heralds the coming of the apocalypse.

"I may not have a weapon, but I can still transform and roll!"
:—'''Optimus Prime''', preparing to crush the battle taxis.

"O-hoo-hoo-hoo, here they come! Auto-Auto-Autobots!"
:—'''Mix-Mix-Mixmaster!'''

"Say 'uncle' or I'll shove your nose in your afterburner!" 
"Uncle, UNCLE!" 
"Gee, I didn't know Decepticons ''had'' uncles!"
:—'''Sideswipe''' lovingly deals with '''Starscream'''. He's obviously been practicing his [[jet judo]].

"You'll never catch us, Megaklutz!" 
"Megaklutz! You dare to insult me in my own command post?!"
:—'''Spike Witwicky''' daring to insult '''Megatron''' in his own command post.

"It will take more than your puny arm to stop Devastator!" 
"Right. Which is why it's lucky the hand at the end of that arm... is holding a gun!"
:—'''Devastator''' reels as '''Optimus Prime''' points out the single flaw in the combiner's otherwise brilliant tower-climbing plan.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft storyboards completed: 17th October 1984
* Storyboards revised: 2nd November 1984
* Storyboards slugged: 8th November 1984 by [[John Walker]]
* Dialogue recording: 12th November 1984

===Continuity notes===
*Megatron mentions the Constructions nagging each other like "hyper-driven [[Chatteroid]]s". Sideswipe calls Laserbeak a "nosey nogoodnikon". Megatron threatens to melt Optimus Prime into paperclips if the Autobots interfere "one minicon". Hound's sensors say that Optimus Prime is ten "mechano-meters" in front of them. Optimus Prime refers to the Alligaticon as a "Reptilicon".<ref>Spellings and parsings from the "City of Steel" dialogue script.</ref>
*Powers and gadgets:
**Wheeljack and company all use their hydrofoils to cross New York Harbor.
**Hook uses a <s>lightsaber</s> laser sword to disassemble Prime.
**Hound displays his tracking sensors.
**Then of course, there's Prime's bizarre telekinetic limb control, something he evidently shares with a far less fortunate [[Waspinator (BW)|bot]].
**Ironhide deploys a grappling hook from his arm, with rappelling lines attached to it.
{{-}}

===Real-world references===
[[File:CityofSteel-Hook'slightsaber.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Let the hate flow through you.]]
[[File:Devastatorkingkong.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Giant: check. Empire State Building: check. But no beauty.]]
*''Star Wars'' sound effects:
**Laserbeak uses a whole series of ''Star Wars'' effects as he rockets over Manhattan, including a ''Millennium Falcon'' engine noise, the [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar (several times), the TIE Fighter ambient cockpit noise, and the sound of an X-Wing diving to attack the Death Star.
**Hook's <s>lightsaber</s> ''laser sword'' ignites with the sound of Luke deflecting the seeker ball's bolts aboard the ''Millennium Falcon''.
*[[Devastator (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Devastator]] climbs the Decepticons' "improved" version of the {{w|Empire State Building}}, very similarly to [[King Kong]], as Wheeljack rather heavy-handedly points out.
*The Alligaticon is likely an allusion to the persistent rumors of alligators living in New York City's sewers.
*Various New York landmarks are seen and/or mentioned: the Twin Towers, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, the Woolworth Building (visible as the first Autobots leave Manhattan), the Brooklyn Bridge. Hound mentions Park Avenue, Madison Avenue, and Lexington Avenue.
*Scrapper invites the Autobots to "{{w|Take the A Train}}".
*The final shot in this episode shows Bumblebee with an "{{w|I Love New York|I &hearts; NY}}" bumper sticker, part of a famous promotional campaign.

===Animation or technical glitches===
As a Season 2 AKOM episode, "City of Steel" features the standard character model oddities:
*Soundwave's backpack is gray instead of blue.
*Megatron's gun barrel is dark gray instead of light gray.
*Prime's backpack is white.
*The "disk" on Bumblebee's back is dark gray instead of yellow.
*Devastator retains his color scheme from [[Heavy Metal War]] (purple window on upper chest, purple top of chest plate, green crotch), rather than the revised color guide used by other studios starting in Season 2.

As an AKOM episode in general, "City of Steel" features an absurd number of straight-ahead animation mistakes:
*Coloring errors:
**Laserbeak's beak is the same dark gray as his head as he flies through the sewers.
**Laserbeak's beak is dark gray (again) as he reports the Autobot sighting. He also has a little bird tongue!
**Scavenger's cab window is green instead of white as he rides the scissor lift.
**Bumblebee's fists are light gray instead of dark gray as Prime orders the Autobots to transform.
**The back of Soundwave's legs are white instead of blue as Prime picks him up during the Central Park fight.
**Ironhide is dark gray instead of red as the Autobots cross the Brooklyn Bridge.
**When Optimus activates his dismembered legs, his head crest is colored entirely in dark gray instead of light gray and blue.
**As Megatron gloats over Prime's dismembered bits, Mixmaster is colored like Bumblebee.
**The first shot of Frenzy driving the train shows him [[FIRRIB|colored like Rumble]].
**As he rams the Constructicons' position, one of Prime's headlights isn't colored white. Of course, it shouldn't be there at all, being part of the arm he's missing at this point.
**Two Laserbeak cassettes (red details) leave Soundwave's chest during the battle at the end. One should be Buzzsaw, with gold details. The condors don't get a transformation sound effect as they convert to robot form.
*It's not without precedent, but Soundwave usually has to push his shoulder button to open his chest compartment. As Laserbeak returns, it opens of its own accord. In the same shot, Soundwave's shoulder button is dark blue instead of light gray.
*As Scavenger rolls past Soundwave, he starts growing larger before he even begins to climb the ramp that's supposed to be bringing him closer to the camera's point of view. At the end of the same pan shot, Hook's head is green instead of black.
*There is ''no way in Hell's Kitchen'' that dinky little scissor lift is strong enough to support the weight of the Empire State Building.
*Wheeljack's team is ''vastly'' oversized as they cruise past the Statue of Liberty.
*For some reason, Prime's voice is muffled as if it's a radio transmission as the Autobots drive along the highway.
[[File:Tinybluestreak.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Baby Bluestreak watches in horror as Giganticus Prime commences his rampage.]]
*There appears to be a total of ten Constructicons working on the Empire State Building.
*Soundwave's shoulder cannon is red and Megatron's face is a darker gray than usual as Megatron laughs about his "terminal welcome" joke.
*Frenzy's mouth isn't moving as he says "Can be hazardous".
*As the Autobots transform, a layering error results in a tiny Bluestreak standing in front of a normal-sized Ratchet and Ironhide, next to a Devastator-sized Optimus.
*Ironhide doesn't so much get knocked down by Frenzy and Rumble's earthquake attack as he does just walk along and randomly fall over. His back is colored light gray instead of dark gray in the sequence.
[[File:CityofSteel Scavengerwreckstheceiling.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*When Scavenger is beating the bucket of his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] against the ceiling below Central Park, a misplaced cel means the cracks that are supposed to be forming in the ceiling appear ''in front'' of his arm instead.
*As usual in the cartoon universe, metal cracks, splits and crumbles just like rock.
*In a long shot of the Autobot/Decepticon battle in Central Park, Bumblebee is inexplicably grappling with Bluestreak while Ratchet fights Reflector.
*In the Central Park sequence, Scavenger's vehicle mode is ''huge'', towering over Megatron and with a bucket significantly larger than Optimus.
*Prime falls a long way into the Decepticon base, but in the previous shot, he was standing on Scavenger's shovel. When Prime finally lands on the base's floor, Scavenger is there waiting for him.
*Prime's "motor relays" are right there in his stomach-grille? Wha? (AKOM shows Jazz having critical circuits in his car mode grille in "The Core", as well.)
*Soundwave's shoulder button is blue again as he presses it to communicate with Megatron. The sound effect that plays is usually reserved for an opening hatch or door. And Soundwave doesn't usually have to push that particular button to radio someone.
*The shot of the submerged Empire State Building is recycled from the earlier scene (ten Constructicons, remember?) Two of the tiny figures shown are supposed to be Megatron and Soundwave, but they're both shown to be on the surface by that point.
*The scene freezes for several seconds as the rebuilt Empire State Building is about to be raised above ground, complete with non-moving clouds of dust and smoke. After the building is raised, the same shot is recycled, showing it back down in the ground.
*Spike says "take a left", but the Autobots take a ramp that goes right.
*A layering error has Megatron's hand passing in front of Prime's smokestack, which is much closer to the camera. Result: a visually microscopic Megatron.
*Prime's eye-flashes don't quite line up with his optics.
*Scrapper's mouthplate isn't moving as he carries Optimus Prime's arm.
*For all their reaction to the Alligaticon, the Autobots sure aren't in any hurry to get away from it. They stroll away at a very leisurely pace.
*Scrapper has Sideswipe's voice as he says the "riding down their own grave" line.
[[File:CityOfSteel Starscream New Cybertron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Starscream has only one wing insignia as he admires the cityscape.
*What the heck were Prime's legs supposed to be, anyway? Part of [[Starscream's Ghost|a crypt]] or something? They're just standing there in a tunnel when Prime summons them.
*Ratchet's voice is more like Gears' as he says the "don't let go" line.
[[File:CityOfSteel Mirage carrying alligatorcon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"This episode is dumb and stupid!" "From the looks of the animation, I'd say a little of both."]]
*One of the series' most infamous dialog screwups happens as the Autobots wrestle with the [[Alligaticon]]. Mirage and Ratchet say, in perfect sync, "This alligator is big and heavy!" Prime then responds with the sage observation: "From the looks of it, I'd say a little of both." The scene appears to be the result of an editing and directorial snafu. Prime should be responding to the Autobots' previous lines: "Now we've got him!" "Or should I say, we've got ''you''?" "I'd say a little of both!" And the combined Ratchet and Mirage line was likely intended to be a series of ad libs as the Autobots struggle with the Alligaticon, rather than a straight line delivered before Prime's line.
*Prime's telekinetic waves change from wide circles, to a narrow band. The narrow band finds its way to.... nothing. It then snaps off with a really loud sound effect.
*Ratchet's mouth disappears for a split second as he finishes repairing Prime.
*One of Prime's chest windows, and one of his exhaust stacks, are among the leftover parts as he stands up.
*Wheeljack's ears aren't flashing as he says "This sure isn't little old New York anymore".
*As Megatron and Soundwave zero in on the Autobots on their monitor, Prime has both his arms.
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**Jazz suddenly shows up for a single shot as the Autobots scatter from Prime's rifle fire.
*Hound and Bluestreak get two sequential transformation effects as they change to car mode, with a slight pause between them, instead of one continuous sound.
*Don't Hound and Bluestreak look where they're going when they drive? There's this huge hole in the street and they just drive right into it.
*Scrapper's voice comes out of nowhere to say the "A train" line to Hound and Bluestreak.
*The car mode Autobots just kind of float over the battle taxis. How'd they do that?
*How long's it take for the animators to forget that truck mode Prime is missing an arm? Only one shot! He's intact for his entire ramming sequence against the taxis and the Constructicons. Only when he rolls up to Ironhide and transforms is his bumper/arm missing again.
*Lots of missing Seeker insignias as the Decepticon jets launch their attack.
*Is Megatron supposed to be touching the blue button on his belly to radio Scrapper? 'Cause he totally misses it.
*Scrapper's voice is a bit off as he gives the order to combine. It's not quite as bad as before, but still not the correct hoarse rasp.
[[File:CityofSteel devastator kong.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[The Core|And now]] he's ''broken'' his 20th Anniversary Prime toy.]]
*Devastator's scale is always an issue, but he's ''really'' oversized here, smashing an entire multi-story building aside with a single blow. Man, [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave]] must've [[Prime Directive issue 4|really loved]] this dorky episode, huh?
*Devastator has two eyes instead of an eyeband as he holds Optimus, and again as he fends off the helicopters.
*Why is Wheeljack upset? Devastator didn't manage to touch his helicopters!
*Does Prime really have to telekinetically control his ''rifle''? Wouldn't pulling the trigger suffice?
*As is normal when a good guy's life is at stake, Devastator (holding Optimus) falls for an absurdly long time. He's moving incredibly slowly as he passes Ironhide and Ratchet.

===Continuity errors===
*Laserbeak's shoot-to-enter door system seems rather improbable, or at least pointlessly complicated. In particular, how does the manhole cover know to land right back on top of the entrance?
*Let's not even get into the plausibility of lowering a thousand-foot building into the ground, rebuilding it for beings several times the size of a human, and then rebuilding it ''again'' into its original form. Ditto for the rest of Manhattan, actually.
*The TV newscaster is heard saying "''...meanwhile, officials are baffled as to the cause of the disappearance of the world-famous Empire State Building.''" Aside from the fact "officials" should be able to just look down the giant hole to Megatron's operation, why is this no higher than ''second'' in newsworthiness? The episode precedes the now-ubiquitous 24-hour new cycle, but what could possibly have been ''more'' notable than the disappearance of an entire skyscraper? It should be all they can talk about for the entire broadcast.
*With all the freaking huge cannons that the Decepticons installed, it's Prime's firearm that's the big cause for panic?
*Megatron, ensconced in his headquarters, responds to a comment of Spike's while Spike is riding down the street inside Bumblebee. How could he possibly hear what he said?
*After Prime dispatches the battle-taxis, there's a scene transition, followed by a shot of Ironhide standing still and not doing anything. Prime rolls up to him and declares "That's the way to cool it, Ironhide!", which strongly indicates that Ironhide was supposed to have been doing something with his liquid nitrogen that got cut out, even though Prime's response didn't.
*Why on earth do the Decepticon jets just fly right through their own building? If the idea is that the Autobots shot them and made them lose control, the animation completely fails to show it.
[[File:Cos prime disassembled.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"I would have waited an eternity for this. It's over, Prime!.... I should probably kill you right now, shouldn't I?"]]
*Spike's "Now, Bumblebee!" line is ridiculous filler. The elevator door opens, they step into Megatron's headquarters, Megatron and Soundwave are right there in front of them... when ''else'' were they going to enact their brilliant plan? And how come Megatron's HQ has no security system to keep them out to begin with?
*While it might be true of Spike, it's kind of weird that Megatron refers to both Spike ''and Bumblebee'' as "Earth pests."
*Where did Wheeljack find two missile-equipped helicopters?
*Megatron retreats, saying "The Autobots may have destroyed our city of New Cybertron"... but the Autobots really have done nothing of the sort.
*Why didn't the Constructicons find the [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] when they took apart Prime?
*Even more curious, how is it that Optimus can survive being reduced to a talking head, when the much lesser damage he took in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' was enough to kill him? Is this because he was supposedly "disassembled", for the most part, rather than damaged?
*Wouldn't it have been a good idea to take three minutes to reattach Optimus Prime's arm ''before'' getting to work on putting the city's buildings back to normal, so that he could have maybe ''helped''? Rather than doing it as the very last thing before they leave? The restoration itself appears to have been completed astonishingly quickly, despite the Autobots not having construction specialists ([[Grapple (G1)|yet]]) and the Cybertronian conversion requiring [[Constructicon (G1)|a team of six]].

===I Love New York errors===
[[File:CityofSteel Hound tracking.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Cityofsteel ironhide grapple.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*The opening pan from the Hudson River shows the Chrysler Building ''south'' of the Empire State Building. It should be north. Both buildings are ''way'' too far south relative to the Twin Towers.
*"Meet us in Central Park" is an incredibly vague order, considering the size of the place.
*The Autobots don't really stop ''in'' Central Park; there's buildings on two sides of them. No traffic or pedestrians, though. Or sidewalks.
* As the Decepticons prepare to raise it back into position, the Empire State Building is drawn as if it borders a park.
*The Brooklyn Bridge is more than just three lanes wide. It also does not have an exit ramp at mid-span.
*Oh, man. Spike went swimming in the East River in 1985? He ''is'' a super-human.
*It could just be chalked up to Hound's optimism, but most subway tracks don't end at a river.

===Trivia===
*Along with "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]", this episode is one of a trio animated by [[AKOM]], showcasing the Constructicons and featuring distinctively bright and "cartoonish" art and animation, lots of use of stock poses, a somewhat more juvenile plot and script than normal, and a common set of animation model oddities (listed above).
*Though it is widely regarded in the [[fandom]] as his normal way of speaking, this is in fact the only time Mixmaster's speech oddity ("Right right right. Mega Mega Megatron!") ever shows up.
*This episode's [[dialogue script]] reveals a deleted scene: the Autobot group waterskiing into the harbor were to use their powers in a fight against Skywarp, Starscream, and Thundercracker (where Mirage was to reference Starscream as a "sitting [[duckatron]]" for blasting Hound's hologram instead of the real one). It makes the Autobots' worrying immediately afterwards about Laserbeak reporting them kind of silly, as they'd already fought some Decepticons on the way in! As it happens, the fight isn't referenced again anyway, making the removal seamless.
*When Megatron warns the Autobots against interfering with his plans, he refers to a "minicon" as a unit of measurement. This term would be later used as the name for the [[Mini-Con]]s, a race of small Transformers (primarily) from the [[Unicron Trilogy]].
*AKOM avoids [[The Core|screwing up]] Devastator's combination sequence by ''not actually showing it''. The pieces of Devastator just fly in from off-screen, already formed.
*Prime's vehicle mode gains toy-accurate cab stripes and his trailer has the additional blue stripes from the toy.
*This was one of several episodes subjected to the [[MSTF]] treatment at [[BotCon 2000]].

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La cité d'acier'''" ("City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cidade de Aço'''" ("City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (both dubs):'' "'''La città d'acciaio'''" ("City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Steel City'''" (スチールシティ)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13]], [[1985]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gāng zhī Chéng '''" (钢之城, "City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gorod iz stali'''" (Город из стали, "The City of Steel")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
*'''''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' MP-21G [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#G2Masterpiece|Bumble G-2 Ver.]] ([[TakaraTomy]], 2015)'''
:A redeco of ''Masterpiece'' Bumble (Bumblebee) with a metallic gold finish based on his ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' toy (which is unrelated to this episode) that includes an "'''I ♥ NY'''" license plate decal based on the bumper sticker he sports at the end of this episode.

*'''''Masterpiece'' MP-45 [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#MP45|Bumble]] (TakaraTomy, 2019)'''
:A completely new mold with more show-accurate robot and vehicle modes, among his accessories includes a "'''I ♥ NY'''" license plate/bumper sticker that attaches to the front of his altmode front grill.

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1999 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume 1: Prime Threat ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1994]] — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1998]] — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[2001]] — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2002]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2003]] — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2004]] — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[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]] [[2008]] — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2011]] — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2014]] — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-18.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[[User:repowers]] [http://builtstlouis.net/tf/manic/s-cityofsteel.html rips this episode to tiny pieces in a September 2000 review]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xMY-X_NZ2AhmtkP3mLTK-W_9to2ghyWv Episode dialogue script]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1iVQQoibKDCa6o4VYlIFiAhF1gypnVTah Storyboard samples including cover dates]

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

Masquerade

2022-01-18T03:39:47Z

GorgBlack: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode
|image=Masquerade Menasors.JPG
|caption=Strangely, nobody suggested [[A Prime Problem|a race]] to determine who the real Stunticons were.
|series=G1toon
|ep=64
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=61
|prev2=War Dawn (episode)
|next2=Fire in the Sky
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=21
|prev3=The Revenge of Bruticus
|next3=Ghost in the Machine (G1)
|title="Masquerade"
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production code=700-63
|airdate=[[December 16]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcgFqw6VSz4
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''After defeating the Stunticons, five of the Autobots pose as the crazed combiners to learn of Megatron's newest plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Masquerade prime vs mmaster.jpg‎|left|thumb|Shortly after this, Menasor threw up.]]
[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] sends the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] on a mission to find components for an unrevealed purpose, including the world's largest, most perfect ruby. While searching for their components, the actions of the Stunticons catch the attention of the [[Autobot]]s, who track their movements and their crimes. Breakdown and Wildrider get the first component: laser lenses from a scientist. Dead End and Drag Strip get the second component: an experimental generator from the Army. Motormaster gets the last one: a perfect ruby from a museum.

The Autobots split into teams and manage to be extremely effective at capturing the Stunticons in the middle of their capers. [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] take on [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] take on [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]. Finally, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] go for [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], who challenges the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] to a game of “chicken” and ends up in a head-on collision. Spike, Bumblebee, and Blaster peer through the dust to see who survived, and it turns out that Optimus is the clear victor with merely a minor headache, while Motormaster lies in a wreck.

[[File:Masquerade Wheeljack Optimaster.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|No Motormaster disguise is complete without a hunk of Big League Chew.]]

Although all five Stunticons have been captured, the Autobots still don't know what their plans were for the components they stole for Megatron. [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] guesses that the parts are going to be made into a weapon. (Nooo, really?) Optimus hatches a scheme to disguise Autobots using [[camouflage paint]] and penetrate the Decepticon camp disguised as Stunticons: Optimus Prime as Motormaster, [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] as Dead End, [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] as Breakdown, [[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] as Drag Strip, and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] as Wildrider.

[[File:Sideswipe FakeBreakdown.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Sideswipe? I, Breakdown, have never heard of such a being!]]

The disguised Autobots infiltrate the Decepticons, although their arrival causes [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|some]] raised eyebrows because they are driving too "safely". They deliver the stolen components to Megatron without being detected.

Back at [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the Stunticons manage to shimmy and shake their way out of their cells, merge into [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and overcome their Autobot captors. They then head back to the Decepticon base.

[[File:Masquerade Megatron manning gun.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|We've been here before.]]

The Constructicons complete Megatron's new weapon, and he reveals its power, but just then Menasor arrives and declares the Autobots as infiltrators. Using Windcharger's magnetic field ability and Mirage's illusion power, the Autobots merge into their own Menasor. The two giants battle it out, and the Autobots are overcome. Megatron trains the new weapon on the Autobots, but the device blows up in his face after a few scattered shots.

Autobot reinforcements arrive, and the Decepticons flee without their usual promises for revenge. It is revealed that Ironhide had made adjustments to the ruby back at Autobot HQ, which caused the device to explode. The Autobots head for home, victorious.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (18)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (19)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (20)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (21)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (22)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (23)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (24)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (25)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (26)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (27)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (28)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (29)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (30)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (31)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (2)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (3)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (4)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (5)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (6)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (33)
*[[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (34)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (35)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (36)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (37)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (38)
*[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (39)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
*Dr. [[Rickel]] (15)
*US Army troops (16)
*Museum guards (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"A near miss deserves a couple o' near-missiles!"
:—'''Inferno'''

"I'll probably hate myself in the morning, but..."
:—'''Inferno''' before he douses the flames on the Stunticon Breakdown

"Well, look who's here! The old King of the Road! When I'm finished with ya, you'll be King of the Junkyard!"
:—'''Motormaster''' taunting '''Optimus Prime''' into a game of chicken

''[The Autobots are towing the defeated Stunticons to Autobot Headquarters]'' 
'''Wheeljack''': Here they come. 
'''Ratchet''': I won't bother asking who won. 
'''Breakdown''': ''(taking note of the Autobots looking at them)'' They're gawking at us! How mortifrying! 
'''Dead End''': The word, Breakdown, is mortiFYing, my sentiment exactly. 
'''Motormaster''': I'm in no mood for your big words, Dead End. 
'''Ironhide''': For you, motormouth, this '''IS''' a dead end.
:—Motormaster complains about Dead End's SAT-level vocabulary

"Man, Optimus. You're a dead ringer for Motormaster." 
"Did you have to say ''dead'' ringer, Spike?"
:—'''Spike Witwicky'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s vocabulary causes '''Optimus Prime''' to wince.

[[File:Masquerade as i preducted.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Everybody out on bad behavior!"
:—'''Breakdown''' after freeing himself and taking out Inferno, Grapple, and Hoist.

"Imagine my turning that ray on the Autobots' headquarters. Perhaps when it's gone, someone will put up a memorial parking lot. Mwahaha!"
:—'''Megatron'''

"Machine appears unstable. Suggest abandoning it." 
"Suggestion noted—and ignored!"
:—'''Soundwave''' warns '''Megatron''', for all the good it does.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Masquerade Jazz camouflage paint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Soundwave fly.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Huh? Tape-bot cannot fly!]]
*It's never explained just how the Autobots disguise themselves. Sideswipe says something about camouflage paint and the Autobots are transformed, details and all, into the Stunticons. It's apparently some high-tech stuff, because it even lets Optimus totally change his transformation scheme. And it just turns right off once Optimus decides the gig is up.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Soundwave informs us that Menasor has "special powers"... which seem to consist of a couple of under-arm mounted guns.
**Sideswipe and Mirage both fire their shoulder missiles, which the writers and animators usually seem to forget about.
**Soundwave can fly in his tape deck mode! When the Decepticons retreat, he transforms and then flies off behind Starscream. It is tempting to assume that the animators took a script direction like "the Decepticons transform and fly off in retreat" a bit too literally.
**Mirage can project a hologram of Menasor's face. This runs contrary to his usual schtick, which is invisibility. His original bio described him as being able to create "the illusion of a different appearance" for up to six minutes, but this is the only time it pops up in the cartoon (presumably because holograms were Hound's gimmick... though per the bio, Hound's great power is to create ''maps'', and simple images on rare occasions.)
*Megatron explains his weapon-du-jour thusly: "The most destructive weapon known to Decepticon science...Utilizing that ruby's light, focused through those perfect lenses, it will fire the most destructive ray of all. More powerful than any laser, it will create a chain reaction in whatever it touches... producing instantaneous destruction." Based on the animation, this appears to be a long-winded way of saying "It blows up rocks."
*Hasn't Megatron learned his lesson about building [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|giant superlasers that can't be moved]]? [[B.O.T. (episode)|Apparently not]]!
*Megatron's line "Suggestion noted...AND IGNORED!" when Soundwave warns him would be revisited during the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Nemesis Part 2]]" when his [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|namesake]] utters those exact sentiments to [[Dinobot II]] on board the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''.
*Two scenes deleted from this episode feature the individual Stunticons talking with each other ''while'' combined as Menasor, only for Menasor himself to then silence all of his components, because their chatter is confusing him! Even without this dialogue, the finished episode portrays Menasor as almost adorably dumb and easily bamboozled - utterly baffled, for example, when Prime accuses him of being an imposter.
*This episode marks the final appearances of [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] in the American version of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon.

===Real-life references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak flies over the faux Stunticons.
**A lengthy sequence of borrowed effects follows as Laserbeak flies onwards - sounds include the ''Falcon'' engine burst, a [[TIE Fighter]]'s targeting computer, [[Death Star]] superlaser, and ''Falcon'' engine whine. As he returns to Soundwave, he gets another ''Falcon'' engine burst.
**''Falcon'' engine and [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine as Menasor flies away from Autobot Headquarters.
**X-Wing and TIE Fighter roar as the Constructicons fly off... and again as Menasor flies off... and again as Starscream and Soundwave fly off.
**A variety of [[lightsaber]] noises as Megatron fires his super not-a-laser weapon.

===Animation and technical errors===
*Coloring errors:
**As Motormaster hands out assignments, Drag Strip has a random rectangle drawn in the middle of his visor, and Dead End's face is miscolored - his mouthplate is light gray instead of yellow, and his visor is red instead of purple.
**As Optimus gets his idea after watching the broadcast, the triangles on his waist are gray instead of yellow.
**As Laserbeak returns to Soundwave, Soundwave is missing his Decepticon insignia, as well as the gold stripes around his cassette door (which is drawn too small as well). He also doesn't move his mouthplate when he speaks.
**As "Motormaster" (Optimus) drives up to Megatron, his door is colored purple like his windows (and his window rims are colored purple too.) A shot later, it's back to black, but the ''next'' shot (Starscream asking about his voice) shows his grille as black instead of gray. The same thing happens as the real Motormaster busts out of the Autobot cell.
**Just after dismissing the Constructicons, Megatron's face is white.
**"And the Autobots are totally unaware of its existence" - "Breakdown" is colored as Sideswipe. (Of course, he IS Sideswipe, but should be... oh, you get the point.)
**As "Motormaster" (Optimus) asks about the weapon, Megatron's forehead colors are reversed (black forehead with gray triangles).
**As "Motormaster" (Optimus) says, "Too many head-on collisions!", his headlights are black instead of white.
**"Motormaster"'s black grille returns again as Megatron explains the weapon, recurring in numerous shots.
**Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are both blue instead of white as Starscream mocks Megatron.
**Soundwave's missing the gold rim around his tape door as he and Starscream move toward the impostor Stunticons.
**"No, he's the imposter!" - "Drag Strip" is missing his Decepticon symbol (and possibly some striping, depending on which color model you trust.)
**"There's one absolute test, 'Stunticons'" - Dead End's tires are white; Soundwave's cheekguards are blue instead of white again. The same error repeats when Starscream calls out for Menasor to destroy the Autobots.[[File:Masquerade Megatron manning gun.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
**When Megatron first grabs the laser, he's colored in reverse (light gray body with a dark gray face).
**Drag Strip is white instead of yellow as Menasor swings his sword. When Menasor hits the fake with the sword, Drag Strip is attached backwards, with his wheels pointing outward.
**When "Motormaster" reverts to Optimus Prime, his headlights aren't colored white and he's missing the horizontal lines on the crest of his helmet.
**"No need for the disguises anymore" - Prime's face is a darker gray than his mouthplate in most of this shot; they should be the same tone. For a second, the faceplate darkens then lightens again.
**When the Autobots begin firing on Menasor, his face is entirely black.
**Just before Megatron fires the laser, Windcharger is miscoloured in green and gray (with yellow stripes on his arms, like Hound).
**As he stares at the destroyed weapon, Sideswipe's fist is white instead of black.
*When Motormaster says "Breakdown and Wildrider", he points to each robot as he says the other's name.
*The Stunticons land on a beach and each of them kicks up sand when they land. A few moments later, they transform and drive off, and no sand is disturbed by their tires.
*The Stunticons clearly never had detailed transformation models worked out:
**Every time the four cars transform to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], they more or less just morph into their Earth forms. When they transform back to [[robot mode]], all the robot bits just slide out from under their car modes, which disappear into their backs.
**Motormaster's transformation is similarly wonky; his arms are just kind of absorbed lengthwise into his torso, which then morphs into his trailer - rather than the arms ''becoming'' the trailer's roof, as they should. Every time he transforms, his trailer/torso rather blatantly changes color from light to dark gray (or vice versa.)
*Ventriloquist bots:
**Ratchet's voice actor in this episode is [[Wally Burr]], not the usual [[Don Messick]], and it shows. Burr uses the same generic deep voice he used for Thundercracker in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" and Jazz in "[[Kremzeek!]]".
**"Yeah, but I don't have to like it" - Ironhide's mouth doesn't move for the first part of this line.
**Menasor's mouth doesn't move as he says his own name.
**As he flies off to "Destroy fake Stunticons", Menasor's mouth - again - doesn't move.
**As Bumblebee says, "Great Cybertron," Spike is mouthing the words.
**The Autobot Menasor gets knocked to the ground, but one who delivers "The generator..." line in Optimus' voice is the one standing up (with the sky behind him).
*Wildrider is missing his transformation sound effect as he approaches the optics shop; Breakdown does get one a second later.
*The experimental generator is inordinately tiny when it's sitting on the flatbed truck.
*Motormaster somehow transforms into (a ''tiny'') truck mode while still inside the museum. Also, a moment later as he drives away, he has a dark gray stripe on his trailer that shouldn't be there.
*While firing on Drag Strip, Warpath is shown driving forward while his treads are stationary.
*As Tracks goes into flight mode, the sandy beach suddenly has squares on it for one shot (as if it were pavement).
*As Motormaster comes into view before the crash with Prime, his bumper extends to the sides of his trailer rather than the sides of his cab.
*When rushing to inspect the aftermath of Optimus and Motormaster's game of chicken, Spike exclaims "I can't see anythi-". Before he can spit out "ng," Blaster cuts him off saying "I'm not getting any radio response."
*After the crash, just before Optimus transforms into robot mode, his cab's grille is missing the vertical line in the middle. His subsequent transformation looks very crude, especially around his legs.
*Blaster contacts the other Autobots and his chest lights up, but during Warpath's report it's no longer flashing.
[[File:G1 cartoon Motormaster slagged.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As often happens, the animators mistake Motormaster's panel lines for the start of a second trailer. It's particularly visible in the last shot of his wrecked form after his collision with Prime.
*Optimus strokes his faceplate during the discussion of the Stunticons' plans, and his finger disappears for a moment.
*The broadcast of the doctor's announcement shows a building with the word "OPTCS" behind him. Earlier it was correctly shown as "REPUBLIC ''OPTICS'' COMPANY".
*The doctor's bow tie has grown to twice the size when he appears on TV.
*Jazz's waist is huge as he stands outside the paint chamber.
*When approaching the crater, Jazz appears to be driving above and not under rocks, and as Windcharger breaks formation to test their disguises, he clips into the cliff edge above them. In the same shot, "Wildrider"'s windows are the same gray as his body, rather than red.
[[File:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Introducing Ultra class Ironhide and Scout class Ratchet.]]
*As a result of animation cels being stacked incorrectly, Ratchet appears teeny-tiny in the front of a crowd shot, making Ironhide look colossal by comparison. The tiny Ratchet should, of course, be (barely visible) at the ''back'' of the crowd.
[[File:Masquerade-menasor-modelchange.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Model make no sense! Menasor confused."]]
*Menasor's limbs:
**When the Stunticons combine at Autobot Headquarters, Motormaster transforms to robot mode... and then the other Stunticons just clip onto him, rather than forming additional new limbs. Of course, it kinda sorta fits with the screwed-up way Menasor is often drawn, but this version has ''Motormaster's feet''.
**During his escape, Menasor constantly changes back and forth between having Dead End and Drag Strip attached ''to'' his arms, and having them ''as'' his arms. (It should be the latter.)
**As Menasor lands at the crater, two successive shots show him from exactly the same angle. In the first, his Drag Strip arm is drawn as the "clip-onto-Motormaster" model... and in the very next shot, it's drawn as the "Drag Strip forms the whole arm" model.
*When Menasor takes off to warn Megatron, he has a purple [[Autobot]] insignia.
*Menasor's under-arm lasers only appear when the plot calls for them - when he fires them in Autobot Headquarters, and again when he fires them on the fake Menasor. The first time, they're dark gray; the second time, they're white.
*Mirage's Autobot symbol is missing as he transforms.
*The weapon's beam comes from ''beside'' the barrel, rather than coming out of it.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:G1 Masquerade Warpath crushes DeadEnd.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Masquerade BreakdownWildriderdefeated.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*During their construction in "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]", Megatron notes that he has outfitted the Stunticons with "automatic force fields that make their hulls impenetrable", which accounts for how well they did in battle. Yet in this episode they are easily taken down by second string Autobots, including non-fighters such as Grapple and Hoist. Warpath even manages to simply punch right through Dead End! Clearly they have been skimping on their scheduled maintenance.
*Motormaster's [[transformation scheme]] greatly differs from that of Optimus Prime - yet after donning his Motormaster disguise, Optimus transforms exactly like Motormaster does. (However bizarre this seems, it was clearly scripted - so we also count it as a possible technology, under Continuity Notes above.)
*The Stunticons are all badly beaten up after their capture. But when they escape, they're suddenly in perfect shape - able to drive, transform, combine and fight with no problems.
*"The weapon [is] but minutes from completion. And then..." "And then... what?" A fine question, indeed! Megatron's crazy laser thing is stuck down in the bottom of a crater, with no obvious way to move about or blow up anything that doesn't come popping down into the crater.
*The Autobots account for their ability to merge (Windcharger's magnetic field) and for the fake Menasor's face (Mirage's hologram) but where do they get working ''hands'' for their fake Menasor?

===Sci-Fi Channel edits===
*In the mid-1990s, many G1 episodes were aired on the [[Cartoon Quest|SciFi]] [[Animation Station|Channel]]. To allow expanded advertising time, they were edited down, cutting "unnecessary" dialog and scenes out. Some of the "unnecessary" dialog cut from this episode included parts of Grapple and Inferno's lines, resulting in them collectively uttering "Time to add firobably hate myself in the morning, but..."

===Trivia===
[[File:Dragstripcartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Dead End and Drag Strip, your job is to upsell."]]
*In full sell-my-toy mode, Motormaster gives a quick introdump at the episode's start, naming off his troops, and then ''again'' a moment later as he hands out assignments.
*In case you missed it, the Autobots chosen to impersonate the Stunticons are based specifically on [[alternate mode]]s. Given this attention to detail, it's not infeasible to think that the plot of this episode may have originally called for the Autobots to simply have their alternate modes painted, since they consistently refrain from transforming once in the Decepticon camp:
**Although the specific models don't line up, Prime and Motormaster both transform into semi trucks
**Jazz and Dead End are both Porsches
**Sideswipe and Breakdown are both Lamborghinis
**Mirage and Drag Strip are both Formula 1 race cars (albeit very different-looking ones)
**And.... weeeeell, Windcharger's a Pontiac Firebird and Wildrider's a Ferrari, but the plot demanded Windcharger for his magnetic abilities. This would also explain why a different device, a projector of some sort, is used to disguise him rather than the camouflage paint.
*Whether by inspiration or by parallel reasoning, several toy redecos have followed the pattern of this episode:
**''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[:File:ClassicsLOCMenasor.jpg|Menasor]] is a [[redeco]] from ''[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]]'' [[:File:LOC CybertronPrime.jpg|Optimus Prime]], [[Transformers: Generations#Asian market exclusives .28.22GDO.22.29|GDO]] [[:File:GenerationsMotorbreathToy.jpg|Motorbreath]] is a retool of ''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' [[:File:TF2010-toy Legends Optimus Prime.jpg|Optimus Prime]] and ''Animated'' Motor Master is a retool of ''Animated'' Optimus Prime. ''[[Transformers: Generations#Combiner Wars .282015-.29|Combiner Wars]]'' Voyager class [[:File:GenerationsVoyOP.jpg|Optimus Prime]] also got [[:File:Generations-CW Voyager Motormaster stock.jpg|a Motormaster retool]].
**''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[:File:Universe2008 DragStrip.jpg|Drag Strip]] is made from ''Classics'' [[:File:Classics Mirage toy.jpg|Mirage]]. ''Combiner Wars'' [[:File:CWDlxMirage.jpg|Mirage]] is also a [[:File:Generationstoy-Dragstrip.jpg|Dragstrip]] retool.
**At one point there was intended to be a ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Binaltech]]'' [[Wildrider (G1)#Notes|Wildrider]] created from ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[:File:AltWindcharger toy.jpg|Windcharger]] (or rather, his ''Binaltech'' [[:File:Binaltech Overdrive Toy.jpg|counterpart]]), but that never eventuated.
**[[Don Figueroa]] used ''Universe'' [[:File:Universe2008 SideSwipe toy.jpg|Sideswipe]] as a basis for the [[2005 IDW continuity]] version of Breakdown, and the toy's mold was used for both the ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[BotCon 2010]] [[:File:BreakdownBotcon.JPG|''Generation 2''-esque Breakdown]] toy and the ''Timelines'' [[Transformers Collectors' Club|TFCC:]] [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service|TFSS]] [[:File:TFSS Preview Breakdown.jpg|Generation 1-esque Breakdown]] toys! Furthermore, ''Animated'' Breakdown uses the same mold as ''Animated'' Sideswipe (the Rodimus Minor mold).
**''[[Titanium Series]]'' [[:File:ROTF-toy DeadEndTitanium.jpg|live-action movie Dead End]] reuses [[:File:Movie TitaniumRM Jazz.jpg|live-action movie Jazz]]'s mold, while the ''Timelines'' toy of an [[:File:Animated Dead End Toy.JPG|''Animated''-esque Dead End]] is a redeco of ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' [[:File:Ani-toy Jazz Deluxe.jpg|Jazz]].
** By 2017, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime]], [[Mirage (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Mirage]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Power of the Primes|Jazz]] had all received ''Combiner Wars'' style toy releases.
*If any one episode served to cement Megatron's poor reputation among certain (more snarky) elements of the fandom, this is surely it. He comes up with a madcap scheme to build a useless weapon, doesn't listen to any of his troops' rather intelligent suggestions, insults his underlings for no reason, misses the obvious, toys with his enemies, pouts when he loses, and flies off with nothing in the end.
*Man, Starscream saw through the whole charade in about two seconds, didn't he?

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mascarade'''" ("Masquerade")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Perfekte Tarnung'''" ("Perfect Disguise")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 17]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''I falsi Stunticons'''" ("The Fake Stunticons")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Sotto copertura'''" ("Undercover")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Masquerade'''" (マスカレード)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 19]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shēn Rù Hǔ Xué '''" (深入虎穴, "Deep in the Decepticon's Lair")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maskarad'''" (Маскарад, "Masquerade")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:CWDlxMirage.jpg|upright=1.55|thumb]]
*'''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|''Combiner Wars'']] Voyager Class Optimus Prime''' (Hasbro, 2015)
*'''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|''Combiner Wars'']] Deluxe Class Mirage''' (Hasbro, 2015)

:Both ''Combiner Wars'' Optimus Prime and Mirage are the only Autobots that are based on their pre-Stunticon disguises as they share the same transformation schemes with their retool/pretools Motormaster and Drag Strip.

{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Cosmic Rust / Masquerade ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{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. 8 (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 14 ([[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 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[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==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-63.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=18aM3T_RHrxrFIZEwiHm2bYxugAkqtCU6 Episode dialogue script with deleted lines]

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

A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)

2022-01-18T03:37:57Z

GorgBlack: /* Foreign localization */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (Legends)}}
{{episode
|image=G1toon starscream king of the castle.jpg
|caption="It's only a model." "Shhh."
|series=G1toon
|ep=40
|prev2=Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 2
|next2=The Golden Lagoon (episode)
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=30
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=11
|prev3=The Master Builders (episode)
|next3=The Golden Lagoon (episode)
|title="A Deceptacon Raider in King Arthur's Court" "A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court"
|airdate=[[October 24]], 1985
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|production code=#700-39
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Unknown Generation 1 animation studios|Unknown]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ci98CseGP-g
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''The Transformers go to the sixth century but avoid Camelot, as it is a silly place.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Ramjetinpast.gif|left|thumb|You yellow bastard! Come back here, and get what's coming to you! I'll bite yer legs off!]]

[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] are battling it out with [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]], and [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]. When the [[Decepticon]]s retreat out of exhaustion, Rumble detects energy in a nearby cave, only for the Decepticons to get caught in a cave-in when they enter to investigate. While searching for the energy source, they accidentally activate ancient runes that transport them to [[United Kingdom|Britain]] in the year 543 A.D. There, they are greeted by Sir [[Wigend of Blackthorn]] and his knights, who believe the [[Transformer]]s are knights of an enemy realm.

[[File:Raiderrumblejoust.jpg|thumb|Listen... in order to maintain airspeed velocity, Ramjet needs to spin his turbines 43 times every second, right?]]

The Decepticons agree to help Wigend's knights win their conflict with rival Sir [[Aetheling the Red]], but Starscream obviously wants to rule and have a land of his own. Nearby, Aetheling's daughter [[Nimue]] is spying on their conversation and runs to warn her father, but is detected by Ravage and pursued until the newly arrived [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]], Warpath and Hoist rescue her.

Aetheling decides to organize a jousting tournament in hopes of settling his feud with Wigend peacefully. After Spike fails in the tournament, Wigend sends Ramjet and Rumble to compete on his behalf (Rumble riding Ramjet in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]), but they are defeated by Warpath and Sir Aetheling. An enraged Starscream is sick of chivalry, kidnaps Nimue and threatens her life unless Sir Aetheling agrees to give up his realm. The Autobots give chase but cannot keep up due to lack of energy and collapse out of exhaustion. The chase is also observed by an [[Solomon|owl]], who flies off to inform his master, the wizard [[Beorht]], of this new development.

[[File:Raiderstarscreamcooks.jpg|left|thumb|What manner of man are you, that can summon up fire without flint or tinder?]]

Starscream holds Nimue prisoner in Wigend's castle, which he has commandeered, and forces its residents to construct and power a primitive electrical generator to keep the Decepticons energized. Having gathered sulfur, charcoal and rock salt to make gunpowder, Starscream then sends Rumble to get the last ingredient...{{w|potassium nitrate}} from lots of bird droppings.

[[File:Raiderrollinthehay.jpg|thumb|Yes! Yes! You must give us ALL a good spanking!]]

Spike attempts to rescue Nimue from Wigend's keep, only to find Sir Wigend has switched sides and the two of them are now a happy couple. Despite feeling rejected, Spike still agrees to help fight the war against the Decepticons. Meanwhile, the Autobots and Sir Aetheling's knights charge towards the castle to battle it out with the Decepticons. The Autobots help the knights cross the moat and scale the walls, but they can't put up much of a fight due to their dangerously low energy levels. Starscream's gunpowder projectiles make short work of the invading forces.

[[File:Raiderdragonvsautobots.jpg|left|thumb|When suddenly... the ANIMATOR suffered a fatal heart attack! And the cartoon peril was no more.]]

Beorht the wizard appears and summons lightning that repowers Warpath and Hoist back up to fighting strength, though not enough to use their weapons. They take back the battle with Starscream and are victorious, destroying Starscream's power dynamo. Beorht concludes the robots are [[time travel]]ers and that the cave they arrived in was the [[Dragon Mound]], a time travel structure of his own design. He leads the Autobots and captive Decepticons back to the cave, only to find it guarded by the eponymous [[dragon]]. Starscream refuses to go any closer, but Beorht pulls out a pouch of "[[Dragon's Bane]]", his own name for gunpowder, noting that a little bit of it works every time. He throws the concoction at the dragon and it explodes, frightening away the beast.

Spike and the Transformers re-enter the Dragon Mound and return to the present. When they arrive back in their own time, they are greeted by multiple cannon blasts by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Starscream tackles his leader in a burst of enthusiasm at being back safely. Megatron, on the other hand, isn't nearly as happy to see Starscream, who has just ruined his shot...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (5)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (6)

|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (1)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (2)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (3)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (4)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (16)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (17)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (18)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (19)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (20)

|c3=
*[[Nimue]] (7)
*[[Wigend of Blackthorn]] (8)
*[[Wulf]] (9)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
*[[Deore]] (12)
*[[Aetheling the Red]] (13)
*[[Beorht]] (14)

|c4=
*[[Solomon]] (10)
*A [[dragon]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
[[File:Beorht01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Look! It's the old man from Scene 24!]]
[[File:Raiderrumblepoo.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|"Who's that there?" "I dunno. Must be a king." "Why?"]]

"Oohh! I just changed heads last week!"
:—A ground-bound '''Ramjet''' learns that even a tough jet is no match for [[Warpath (G1)|a tank]].

"Out of the way, Rumble! It could be dangerous. As your leader, I must take the risk. Anyway, I'm lower on energy than you!"
:—'''Starscream''' acting true to form.

"Huh! Inferior construction, even for an Autobot. One good whack, it breaks right in two!"
:—'''Ramjet''' examining the "wreckage" of Sir Wulf and his horse.

"What's more important is that we have 1,451 years to go before we have to worry about the Autobots and that bungler Megatron!"
:—Even trapped in the past, '''Starscream''' looks on the bright side, unaware his math is failing.

"Whatcha waiting for, Red Knight? Don't you wanna rumble with Rumble?"
:—"Sir" '''Rumble''' prepares to joust.

"Make some idiot twenty feet tall, and he thinks he rules the Earth."
:— '''Beorht''' isn't too impressed by Starscream.

"Starscream! Lower the drawbridge! ''Ugh!'' I got your stupid potassium nitrate!"
:—'''Rumble''', carrying a pot of bird droppings while also covered in same.

"What's the matter? Aren't you glad to see us?" 
"RRRRAGGGH!!"
:—'''Starscream''' asks a rather loaded question of '''Megatron'''.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script: 8 March 1985
* Script revised by [[Ron Friedman]]: 13 March 1985

===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 DecepRaiderinKingArthurs WarpathramsRamjet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|''In war we're tough and able Quite in-de-fa-ti-gable Although at times, we're given rhymes That are quite un-sing-able!'']]
* Ramjet apparently changes his head on a regular basis. Hah!
* Fans have made much of the fact that Warpath defeats Ramjet in a collision, but really, Ramjet's specialty is hitting ''other planes''. Even a tough jet doesn't compare to a ''tank''. It's impressive he withstood one hit when you get down to it.
* Warpath makes a strange observation, noting that he's so low on energy that he "can't even stay transformed". Apparently, remaining in vehicle mode consumes energy.
* Warpath speaks with a moving mouthplate in this episode, rather than the cheek blinkers he sometimes has.
* Even if he can't fire lasers, Warpath can still fire shells (and does so, trying to hit Ramjet in the castle).
* Given it was established that Starscream was a scientist before the war, it makes sense he's the one who takes the lead in creating the electric generator and the gunpowder.

===Real-world references===
[[File:Exteriordragonmound.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|SO, brave knights, if you do DOUBT your courage or your strength, come no further, for ''[[Death|DEATH]]'' awaits you all... with nasty, big, pointy teeth!]]
* The title of this episode is an homage to the novel ''{{w|A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court}}'' written by [[Mark Twain]] and published in 1889.
* The Dragon Mound is surrounded by a {{w|Stonehenge}}-like structure.
* The instrument panel on the time-travel device is written in {{w|Runic alphabet}}. [[:File:Runes1.jpg|[1]]] [[:File:Runes2.jpg|[2]]] [[File:Runes1.jpg|1px]][[File:Runes2.jpg|1px]]
* Sir Wigend was to have sworn by {{w|Wodin}} in a deleted line.
* Surprisingly, there is a slight bit of Arthurian legend present in the episode. Nimue (better known as the Lady of the Lake) is an Arthurian character who fell in love with Merlin. Unsurprisingly, that Nimue is nothing like this episode's Nimue.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** [[Luke Skywalker]]'s [[lightsaber]] deflecting the seeker ball bolts can be faintly heard as Beorht recharges Warpath and Hoist.
** The sound of a lightsaber igniting is used as Beorht drops his electrically charged staff.
* Despite the title, [[King Arthur]] doesn't make an appearance in this tale, thus making him Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Film.

===Animation or technical errors===
*This episode omits Warpath's glowing blue faceplate-slits, which light up when he talks throughout the rest of the season. In fact, when he consoles Spike after Nimue is captured, his mouthplate moves up and down, which it doesn't do in any other episode.
*Warpath's chest cannon's length changes frequently during the episode.
* The first shot of Warpath has him rolling along in tank mode, drawn at about a 1/4-angle viewpoint, but the ground beneath him is scrolling parallel to the camera.
* A bizarre flash of energy envelopes Ramjet as he returns to [[robot mode]] after colliding with Warpath.
* When Starscream raises his right arm to point, the Decepticon emblem on his wing is no longer there.
* Again showing a wanton disregard for the background matte, Warpath slides sideways as he drives down the hill.
[[File:DecepticonRaider Nimue.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85|Oh, wicked, bad, evil, ''naughty'' Zoot!]]
*Nimue has cleavage that appears and disappears from shot to shot and sometimes frame to frame. And no, you are not a pervert if you watched the episode six times to chronicle this error.
* The script seems to have called for a trumpet fanfare to summon Spike to the jousting field (thus Hoist's "That's your call!" line.) The sound editors complied by timing a fanfare in the background music to coincide with the moment, but the resulting effect is that Warpath seems to be listening to the background music.
* A glint of light from Sir Aetheling's sword gets a ''very'' loud sound effect. Since sunlight is so loud, y'know.
* When Ramjet rams into Warpath in the jousting duel, his canopy is smashed and nose cone crushed in, yet less than a minute later, he's back to normal when the remaining Decepticons attempt to flee with Starscream.
* As Starscream walks up to kidnap Nimue, the background scrolls behind him much faster than the speed of his walk.
* Starscream is missing his wing emblems as he drives off with Nimue.
* Warpath's tank mode is rather consistently portrayed as bigger and taller than Hoist's truck mode. While that would be accurate in the real world, Hoist is taller than Warpath in robot mode.
* Starscream's mouth doesn't move during most of his "No, Rumble, not I..." line.
* After he throws the gunpowder and puts his hands on his hips, one of Starscream's arm guns isn't quite attached to his arm.
* The tires on Hoist's feet are white instead of black as he stands up after the lightning recharge.
* Hoist tackles Starscream even though one frame later he's seen in vehicle mode.
* A bit of clumsy sound editing towards the end of this episode results in a small but noticeable error. As Hoist says, "That is, if there's a way—" his voice is very abruptly cut off. Then Beohrt announces: "Hoist said 'time'!" when Hoist has actually said nothing of the sort. The line as recorded was "That is, if there's a way back to our own time!" and it was followed by a short scene of Starscream feebly requesting a little energy and being threatened by Warpath, before Beorht makes his proclamation. The removal of the Warpath/Starscream scene appears to have inadvertently clipped the relevant few words off the end of Hoist's line.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:Spike gets kissed.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Look, let me go back in there and face the peril." "No, it's too perilous." "...Oh, let me have just a little bit of peril?"]]
* The historical accuracy of some aspects of this episode is somewhat lacking. (No! Really?)
** While the recipe for gunpowder expressed in this episode is roughly correct, gunpowder would not make its way to medieval Europe for another eight hundred years or so, and then only from the Far East. Of course, the whole ''point'' of its appearance is that it's a rare, mysterious, wizardly type of thing, so hey.
** Plate armour of the kind worn by the various knights in this episode was not introduced into medieval Europe until around the year 1400—almost a thousand years from the stated ''anno domini'' 543. Even so, one should be fair to the writers and cartoonists, given that major motion pictures like ''Excalibur'' also made this sort of error (or used it for dramatic effect because audiences would easily recognise a stereotypical "knight" as opposed to a historically accurate version). We can let slide the armor that Hoist creates for Spike.
**Also, everyone seems to be speaking {{w|Early Modern English}} instead of {{w|Old English}}. Way to go!
* Starscream's math is off by a decade: 543 + 1451 = 1994, rather than the correct date of the Transformers' awakening, 1984.
* If anyone can figure out how Starscream was able to create wire from gold and jewels by simply squeezing them with his hand, let us know. Please. It keeps us up at night.
* Warpath's cannon changes from shooting lasers to shells again
* As usual, many humans are pretty much invincible. Wulf survives getting headbutted off his horse by Ramjet with barely a scratch. Even with his armor on, half of Wulf's bones should have been shattered to bits by a blow like that.

===Trivia===
[[File:Deceptacon.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Nu!" "No no no no, it's not that, it's 'ni'." "Nu!" "No no, 'ni'. You're not doing it properly."]]
* The original broadcast version of this episode featured the misspelled title, "A Decept'''a'''con Raider..." The error was corrected for the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' version of the episode. Likewise, when [[Rhino Entertainment|Kid Rhino]] recreated the title cards for their DVD release of the series, it was also amended. This flub seemed minor then, [[Scorpinok (episode)|but]] [[A Tale of Two Heros|years]] [[Imprisoned Inferno|later...]]
* Per the [[dialogue script]], Starscream was going to say the "Autobots have us trapped like [[robo-rat]]s!" after the Decepticons were caved in by Warpath, but the line was shortened as-aired. Robo-rats would later be name-dropped in "[[Sea Change]]".
* Spike actually gets a kiss from a girl. What will [[Carly]] think?
* This episode is one of four pre-movie episodes in which [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] does not appear.
[[File:DecepticonRaider-NotHank.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Fear not, Ranger! Or is that "Fear not-Ranger"?]]
* Among the audience members watching the joust is a dark-skinned man whose outfit greatly resembles the one worn by Hank the Ranger in the {{w|Dungeons and Dragons (TV series)|''Dungeons and Dragons'' animated series}}—not entirely surprising, as that program was produced by [[Marvel Productions]], who partnered with [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] on ''Transformers'', and both shows were animated by [[Toei Animation|Toei]]. Next to "Hank" are a man with a shield and a woman in a cloak, but they do not otherwise strongly resemble Eric the Cavalier or Sheila the Thief, characters who were associated with magical versions of those items in the ''Dungeons and Dragons'' cartoon.
*Beorht wishes "godspeed" to the departing time-travelers, which has to be pretty rare as '80s cartoons go.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Um Cavaleiro Decepticon na Corte do Rei Arthur'''" ("A Decepticon Knight in King Arthur's Court")
:*''Original airdate:''

'''French'''
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''La cour du roi Décepticon'''" ("The court of the Decepticon king")
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''La cour du roi Deceptican'''" ("The court of the Decepticon king")
:*''Title (European French DVD release):'' "'''Un commando Decepticon à la cour du Roi Arthur'''" ("A Decepticon Commando in King Arthur's Court")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Sprung in die Vergangenheit'''" ("Jump into the Past")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[July 9]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Un Decepticon alla corte di re Artù'''" ("A Decepticon in King Arthur's Court")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
:* This episode was never broadcast in Italy in the '80s and, as such, it only got dubbed in Italian with the 2008 full G1 redubbing.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Time Traveller'''" (タイムトラベラー, "Time Travellers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[February 7]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Bàtiānhǔ Rùqīn Yàsè Wángcháo'''" (霸天虎入侵亚瑟王朝, "Decepticons Invade King Arthur's Dynasty")
:*''Original airdate:''

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Deseptikony pri dvore Korolya Artura'''" (Десептиконы при дворе Короля Артура, "A Decepticons in King Arthur's Court")
:*''Original airdate:''?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{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]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 4 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 9 ([[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]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-39.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ssSwRIGXT24_8xAN3hePqgdFpgsSKkG3 Digital restoration of first draft script, originally submitted 8th March 1985]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GFwum58xVCsE7FmWgQnnvzL0XCGAheBW Full episode script, as revised by Ron Friedman 13th March 1985]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Masquerade

2022-01-18T03:30:54Z

GorgBlack: /* Foreign localization */

{{episode
|image=Masquerade Menasors.JPG
|caption=Strangely, nobody suggested [[A Prime Problem|a race]] to determine who the real Stunticons were.
|series=G1toon
|ep=64
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=61
|prev2=War Dawn (episode)
|next2=Fire in the Sky
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=21
|prev3=The Revenge of Bruticus
|next3=Ghost in the Machine (G1)
|title="Masquerade"
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production code=700-63
|airdate=[[December 16]], 1985
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcgFqw6VSz4
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''After defeating the Stunticons, five of the Autobots pose as the crazed combiners to learn of Megatron's newest plan.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Masquerade prime vs mmaster.jpg‎|left|thumb|Shortly after this, Menasor threw up.]]
[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] sends the [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]] on a mission to find components for an unrevealed purpose, including the world's largest, most perfect ruby. While searching for their components, the actions of the Stunticons catch the attention of the [[Autobot]]s, who track their movements and their crimes. Breakdown and Wildrider get the first component: laser lenses from a scientist. Dead End and Drag Strip get the second component: an experimental generator from the Army. Motormaster gets the last one: a perfect ruby from a museum.

The Autobots split into teams and manage to be extremely effective at capturing the Stunticons in the middle of their capers. [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]], and [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] take on [[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]]. [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] take on [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] and [[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]]. Finally, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] go for [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]], who challenges the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]] to a game of “chicken” and ends up in a head-on collision. Spike, Bumblebee, and Blaster peer through the dust to see who survived, and it turns out that Optimus is the clear victor with merely a minor headache, while Motormaster lies in a wreck.

[[File:Masquerade Wheeljack Optimaster.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|No Motormaster disguise is complete without a hunk of Big League Chew.]]

Although all five Stunticons have been captured, the Autobots still don't know what their plans were for the components they stole for Megatron. [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] guesses that the parts are going to be made into a weapon. (Nooo, really?) Optimus hatches a scheme to disguise Autobots using [[camouflage paint]] and penetrate the Decepticon camp disguised as Stunticons: Optimus Prime as Motormaster, [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] as Dead End, [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] as Breakdown, [[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] as Drag Strip, and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] as Wildrider.

[[File:Sideswipe FakeBreakdown.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Sideswipe? I, Breakdown, have never heard of such a being!]]

The disguised Autobots infiltrate the Decepticons, although their arrival causes [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|some]] raised eyebrows because they are driving too "safely". They deliver the stolen components to Megatron without being detected.

Back at [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]], the Stunticons manage to shimmy and shake their way out of their cells, merge into [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and overcome their Autobot captors. They then head back to the Decepticon base.

[[File:Masquerade Megatron manning gun.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|We've been here before.]]

The Constructicons complete Megatron's new weapon, and he reveals its power, but just then Menasor arrives and declares the Autobots as infiltrators. Using Windcharger's magnetic field ability and Mirage's illusion power, the Autobots merge into their own Menasor. The two giants battle it out, and the Autobots are overcome. Megatron trains the new weapon on the Autobots, but the device blows up in his face after a few scattered shots.

Autobot reinforcements arrive, and the Decepticons flee without their usual promises for revenge. It is revealed that Ironhide had made adjustments to the ruby back at Autobot HQ, which caused the device to explode. The Autobots head for home, victorious.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (9)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (12)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (13)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (14)
*[[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] (18)
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] (19)
*[[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]] (20)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (21)
*[[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (22)
*[[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]] (23)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (24)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (25)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (26)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (27)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (28)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (29)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (30)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (31)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (32)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (1)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (2)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (3)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (4)
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (5)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (6)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (7)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (33)
*[[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (34)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (35)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (36)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (37)
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] (38)
*[[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] (39)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (11)
*Dr. [[Rickel]] (15)
*US Army troops (16)
*Museum guards (17)
}}

==Quotes==
"A near miss deserves a couple o' near-missiles!"
:—'''Inferno'''

"I'll probably hate myself in the morning, but..."
:—'''Inferno''' before he douses the flames on the Stunticon Breakdown

"Well, look who's here! The old King of the Road! When I'm finished with ya, you'll be King of the Junkyard!"
:—'''Motormaster''' taunting '''Optimus Prime''' into a game of chicken

''[The Autobots are towing the defeated Stunticons to Autobot Headquarters]'' 
'''Wheeljack''': Here they come. 
'''Ratchet''': I won't bother asking who won. 
'''Breakdown''': ''(taking note of the Autobots looking at them)'' They're gawking at us! How mortifrying! 
'''Dead End''': The word, Breakdown, is mortiFYing, my sentiment exactly. 
'''Motormaster''': I'm in no mood for your big words, Dead End. 
'''Ironhide''': For you, motormouth, this '''IS''' a dead end.
:—Motormaster complains about Dead End's SAT-level vocabulary

"Man, Optimus. You're a dead ringer for Motormaster." 
"Did you have to say ''dead'' ringer, Spike?"
:—'''Spike Witwicky'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s vocabulary causes '''Optimus Prime''' to wince.

[[File:Masquerade as i preducted.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
"Everybody out on bad behavior!"
:—'''Breakdown''' after freeing himself and taking out Inferno, Grapple, and Hoist.

"Imagine my turning that ray on the Autobots' headquarters. Perhaps when it's gone, someone will put up a memorial parking lot. Mwahaha!"
:—'''Megatron'''

"Machine appears unstable. Suggest abandoning it." 
"Suggestion noted—and ignored!"
:—'''Soundwave''' warns '''Megatron''', for all the good it does.

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Masquerade Jazz camouflage paint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Soundwave fly.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Huh? Tape-bot cannot fly!]]
*It's never explained just how the Autobots disguise themselves. Sideswipe says something about camouflage paint and the Autobots are transformed, details and all, into the Stunticons. It's apparently some high-tech stuff, because it even lets Optimus totally change his transformation scheme. And it just turns right off once Optimus decides the gig is up.
*Gadgets and powers:
**Soundwave informs us that Menasor has "special powers"... which seem to consist of a couple of under-arm mounted guns.
**Sideswipe and Mirage both fire their shoulder missiles, which the writers and animators usually seem to forget about.
**Soundwave can fly in his tape deck mode! When the Decepticons retreat, he transforms and then flies off behind Starscream. It is tempting to assume that the animators took a script direction like "the Decepticons transform and fly off in retreat" a bit too literally.
**Mirage can project a hologram of Menasor's face. This runs contrary to his usual schtick, which is invisibility. His original bio described him as being able to create "the illusion of a different appearance" for up to six minutes, but this is the only time it pops up in the cartoon (presumably because holograms were Hound's gimmick... though per the bio, Hound's great power is to create ''maps'', and simple images on rare occasions.)
*Megatron explains his weapon-du-jour thusly: "The most destructive weapon known to Decepticon science...Utilizing that ruby's light, focused through those perfect lenses, it will fire the most destructive ray of all. More powerful than any laser, it will create a chain reaction in whatever it touches... producing instantaneous destruction." Based on the animation, this appears to be a long-winded way of saying "It blows up rocks."
*Hasn't Megatron learned his lesson about building [[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|giant superlasers that can't be moved]]? [[B.O.T. (episode)|Apparently not]]!
*Megatron's line "Suggestion noted...AND IGNORED!" when Soundwave warns him would be revisited during the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Nemesis Part 2]]" when his [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|namesake]] utters those exact sentiments to [[Dinobot II]] on board the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''.
*Two scenes deleted from this episode feature the individual Stunticons talking with each other ''while'' combined as Menasor, only for Menasor himself to then silence all of his components, because their chatter is confusing him! Even without this dialogue, the finished episode portrays Menasor as almost adorably dumb and easily bamboozled - utterly baffled, for example, when Prime accuses him of being an imposter.
*This episode marks the final appearances of [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]], [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], and [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] in the American version of the original ''Transformers'' cartoon.

===Real-life references===
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engine roar as Laserbeak flies over the faux Stunticons.
**A lengthy sequence of borrowed effects follows as Laserbeak flies onwards - sounds include the ''Falcon'' engine burst, a [[TIE Fighter]]'s targeting computer, [[Death Star]] superlaser, and ''Falcon'' engine whine. As he returns to Soundwave, he gets another ''Falcon'' engine burst.
**''Falcon'' engine and [[X-wing Fighter|X-Wing]] diving whine as Menasor flies away from Autobot Headquarters.
**X-Wing and TIE Fighter roar as the Constructicons fly off... and again as Menasor flies off... and again as Starscream and Soundwave fly off.
**A variety of [[lightsaber]] noises as Megatron fires his super not-a-laser weapon.

===Animation and technical errors===
*Coloring errors:
**As Motormaster hands out assignments, Drag Strip has a random rectangle drawn in the middle of his visor, and Dead End's face is miscolored - his mouthplate is light gray instead of yellow, and his visor is red instead of purple.
**As Optimus gets his idea after watching the broadcast, the triangles on his waist are gray instead of yellow.
**As Laserbeak returns to Soundwave, Soundwave is missing his Decepticon insignia, as well as the gold stripes around his cassette door (which is drawn too small as well). He also doesn't move his mouthplate when he speaks.
**As "Motormaster" (Optimus) drives up to Megatron, his door is colored purple like his windows (and his window rims are colored purple too.) A shot later, it's back to black, but the ''next'' shot (Starscream asking about his voice) shows his grille as black instead of gray. The same thing happens as the real Motormaster busts out of the Autobot cell.
**Just after dismissing the Constructicons, Megatron's face is white.
**"And the Autobots are totally unaware of its existence" - "Breakdown" is colored as Sideswipe. (Of course, he IS Sideswipe, but should be... oh, you get the point.)
**As "Motormaster" (Optimus) asks about the weapon, Megatron's forehead colors are reversed (black forehead with gray triangles).
**As "Motormaster" (Optimus) says, "Too many head-on collisions!", his headlights are black instead of white.
**"Motormaster"'s black grille returns again as Megatron explains the weapon, recurring in numerous shots.
**Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are both blue instead of white as Starscream mocks Megatron.
**Soundwave's missing the gold rim around his tape door as he and Starscream move toward the impostor Stunticons.
**"No, he's the imposter!" - "Drag Strip" is missing his Decepticon symbol (and possibly some striping, depending on which color model you trust.)
**"There's one absolute test, 'Stunticons'" - Dead End's tires are white; Soundwave's cheekguards are blue instead of white again. The same error repeats when Starscream calls out for Menasor to destroy the Autobots.[[File:Masquerade Megatron manning gun.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
**When Megatron first grabs the laser, he's colored in reverse (light gray body with a dark gray face).
**Drag Strip is white instead of yellow as Menasor swings his sword. When Menasor hits the fake with the sword, Drag Strip is attached backwards, with his wheels pointing outward.
**When "Motormaster" reverts to Optimus Prime, his headlights aren't colored white and he's missing the horizontal lines on the crest of his helmet.
**"No need for the disguises anymore" - Prime's face is a darker gray than his mouthplate in most of this shot; they should be the same tone. For a second, the faceplate darkens then lightens again.
**When the Autobots begin firing on Menasor, his face is entirely black.
**Just before Megatron fires the laser, Windcharger is miscoloured in green and gray (with yellow stripes on his arms, like Hound).
**As he stares at the destroyed weapon, Sideswipe's fist is white instead of black.
*When Motormaster says "Breakdown and Wildrider", he points to each robot as he says the other's name.
*The Stunticons land on a beach and each of them kicks up sand when they land. A few moments later, they transform and drive off, and no sand is disturbed by their tires.
*The Stunticons clearly never had detailed transformation models worked out:
**Every time the four cars transform to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], they more or less just morph into their Earth forms. When they transform back to [[robot mode]], all the robot bits just slide out from under their car modes, which disappear into their backs.
**Motormaster's transformation is similarly wonky; his arms are just kind of absorbed lengthwise into his torso, which then morphs into his trailer - rather than the arms ''becoming'' the trailer's roof, as they should. Every time he transforms, his trailer/torso rather blatantly changes color from light to dark gray (or vice versa.)
*Ventriloquist bots:
**Ratchet's voice actor in this episode is [[Wally Burr]], not the usual [[Don Messick]], and it shows. Burr uses the same generic deep voice he used for Thundercracker in "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" and Jazz in "[[Kremzeek!]]".
**"Yeah, but I don't have to like it" - Ironhide's mouth doesn't move for the first part of this line.
**Menasor's mouth doesn't move as he says his own name.
**As he flies off to "Destroy fake Stunticons", Menasor's mouth - again - doesn't move.
**As Bumblebee says, "Great Cybertron," Spike is mouthing the words.
**The Autobot Menasor gets knocked to the ground, but one who delivers "The generator..." line in Optimus' voice is the one standing up (with the sky behind him).
*Wildrider is missing his transformation sound effect as he approaches the optics shop; Breakdown does get one a second later.
*The experimental generator is inordinately tiny when it's sitting on the flatbed truck.
*Motormaster somehow transforms into (a ''tiny'') truck mode while still inside the museum. Also, a moment later as he drives away, he has a dark gray stripe on his trailer that shouldn't be there.
*While firing on Drag Strip, Warpath is shown driving forward while his treads are stationary.
*As Tracks goes into flight mode, the sandy beach suddenly has squares on it for one shot (as if it were pavement).
*As Motormaster comes into view before the crash with Prime, his bumper extends to the sides of his trailer rather than the sides of his cab.
*When rushing to inspect the aftermath of Optimus and Motormaster's game of chicken, Spike exclaims "I can't see anythi-". Before he can spit out "ng," Blaster cuts him off saying "I'm not getting any radio response."
*After the crash, just before Optimus transforms into robot mode, his cab's grille is missing the vertical line in the middle. His subsequent transformation looks very crude, especially around his legs.
*Blaster contacts the other Autobots and his chest lights up, but during Warpath's report it's no longer flashing.
[[File:G1 cartoon Motormaster slagged.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As often happens, the animators mistake Motormaster's panel lines for the start of a second trailer. It's particularly visible in the last shot of his wrecked form after his collision with Prime.
*Optimus strokes his faceplate during the discussion of the Stunticons' plans, and his finger disappears for a moment.
*The broadcast of the doctor's announcement shows a building with the word "OPTCS" behind him. Earlier it was correctly shown as "REPUBLIC ''OPTICS'' COMPANY".
*The doctor's bow tie has grown to twice the size when he appears on TV.
*Jazz's waist is huge as he stands outside the paint chamber.
*When approaching the crater, Jazz appears to be driving above and not under rocks, and as Windcharger breaks formation to test their disguises, he clips into the cliff edge above them. In the same shot, "Wildrider"'s windows are the same gray as his body, rather than red.
[[File:Huge Ironhide and Small Ratchet.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Introducing Ultra class Ironhide and Scout class Ratchet.]]
*As a result of animation cels being stacked incorrectly, Ratchet appears teeny-tiny in the front of a crowd shot, making Ironhide look colossal by comparison. The tiny Ratchet should, of course, be (barely visible) at the ''back'' of the crowd.
[[File:Masquerade-menasor-modelchange.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Model make no sense! Menasor confused."]]
*Menasor's limbs:
**When the Stunticons combine at Autobot Headquarters, Motormaster transforms to robot mode... and then the other Stunticons just clip onto him, rather than forming additional new limbs. Of course, it kinda sorta fits with the screwed-up way Menasor is often drawn, but this version has ''Motormaster's feet''.
**During his escape, Menasor constantly changes back and forth between having Dead End and Drag Strip attached ''to'' his arms, and having them ''as'' his arms. (It should be the latter.)
**As Menasor lands at the crater, two successive shots show him from exactly the same angle. In the first, his Drag Strip arm is drawn as the "clip-onto-Motormaster" model... and in the very next shot, it's drawn as the "Drag Strip forms the whole arm" model.
*When Menasor takes off to warn Megatron, he has a purple [[Autobot]] insignia.
*Menasor's under-arm lasers only appear when the plot calls for them - when he fires them in Autobot Headquarters, and again when he fires them on the fake Menasor. The first time, they're dark gray; the second time, they're white.
*Mirage's Autobot symbol is missing as he transforms.
*The weapon's beam comes from ''beside'' the barrel, rather than coming out of it.

===Continuity errors===
[[File:G1 Masquerade Warpath crushes DeadEnd.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:Masquerade BreakdownWildriderdefeated.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*During their construction in "[[The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1]]", Megatron notes that he has outfitted the Stunticons with "automatic force fields that make their hulls impenetrable", which accounts for how well they did in battle. Yet in this episode they are easily taken down by second string Autobots, including non-fighters such as Grapple and Hoist. Warpath even manages to simply punch right through Dead End! Clearly they have been skimping on their scheduled maintenance.
*Motormaster's [[transformation scheme]] greatly differs from that of Optimus Prime - yet after donning his Motormaster disguise, Optimus transforms exactly like Motormaster does. (However bizarre this seems, it was clearly scripted - so we also count it as a possible technology, under Continuity Notes above.)
*The Stunticons are all badly beaten up after their capture. But when they escape, they're suddenly in perfect shape - able to drive, transform, combine and fight with no problems.
*"The weapon [is] but minutes from completion. And then..." "And then... what?" A fine question, indeed! Megatron's crazy laser thing is stuck down in the bottom of a crater, with no obvious way to move about or blow up anything that doesn't come popping down into the crater.
*The Autobots account for their ability to merge (Windcharger's magnetic field) and for the fake Menasor's face (Mirage's hologram) but where do they get working ''hands'' for their fake Menasor?

===Sci-Fi Channel edits===
*In the mid-1990s, many G1 episodes were aired on the [[Cartoon Quest|SciFi]] [[Animation Station|Channel]]. To allow expanded advertising time, they were edited down, cutting "unnecessary" dialog and scenes out. Some of the "unnecessary" dialog cut from this episode included parts of Grapple and Inferno's lines, resulting in them collectively uttering "Time to add firobably hate myself in the morning, but..."

===Trivia===
[[File:Dragstripcartoon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Dead End and Drag Strip, your job is to upsell."]]
*In full sell-my-toy mode, Motormaster gives a quick introdump at the episode's start, naming off his troops, and then ''again'' a moment later as he hands out assignments.
*In case you missed it, the Autobots chosen to impersonate the Stunticons are based specifically on [[alternate mode]]s. Given this attention to detail, it's not infeasible to think that the plot of this episode may have originally called for the Autobots to simply have their alternate modes painted, since they consistently refrain from transforming once in the Decepticon camp:
**Although the specific models don't line up, Prime and Motormaster both transform into semi trucks
**Jazz and Dead End are both Porsches
**Sideswipe and Breakdown are both Lamborghinis
**Mirage and Drag Strip are both Formula 1 race cars (albeit very different-looking ones)
**And.... weeeeell, Windcharger's a Pontiac Firebird and Wildrider's a Ferrari, but the plot demanded Windcharger for his magnetic abilities. This would also explain why a different device, a projector of some sort, is used to disguise him rather than the camouflage paint.
*Whether by inspiration or by parallel reasoning, several toy redecos have followed the pattern of this episode:
**''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[:File:ClassicsLOCMenasor.jpg|Menasor]] is a [[redeco]] from ''[[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]]'' [[:File:LOC CybertronPrime.jpg|Optimus Prime]], [[Transformers: Generations#Asian market exclusives .28.22GDO.22.29|GDO]] [[:File:GenerationsMotorbreathToy.jpg|Motorbreath]] is a retool of ''[[Reveal the Shield]]'' [[:File:TF2010-toy Legends Optimus Prime.jpg|Optimus Prime]] and ''Animated'' Motor Master is a retool of ''Animated'' Optimus Prime. ''[[Transformers: Generations#Combiner Wars .282015-.29|Combiner Wars]]'' Voyager class [[:File:GenerationsVoyOP.jpg|Optimus Prime]] also got [[:File:Generations-CW Voyager Motormaster stock.jpg|a Motormaster retool]].
**''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[:File:Universe2008 DragStrip.jpg|Drag Strip]] is made from ''Classics'' [[:File:Classics Mirage toy.jpg|Mirage]]. ''Combiner Wars'' [[:File:CWDlxMirage.jpg|Mirage]] is also a [[:File:Generationstoy-Dragstrip.jpg|Dragstrip]] retool.
**At one point there was intended to be a ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Binaltech]]'' [[Wildrider (G1)#Notes|Wildrider]] created from ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[:File:AltWindcharger toy.jpg|Windcharger]] (or rather, his ''Binaltech'' [[:File:Binaltech Overdrive Toy.jpg|counterpart]]), but that never eventuated.
**[[Don Figueroa]] used ''Universe'' [[:File:Universe2008 SideSwipe toy.jpg|Sideswipe]] as a basis for the [[2005 IDW continuity]] version of Breakdown, and the toy's mold was used for both the ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[BotCon 2010]] [[:File:BreakdownBotcon.JPG|''Generation 2''-esque Breakdown]] toy and the ''Timelines'' [[Transformers Collectors' Club|TFCC:]] [[Transformers Figure Subscription Service|TFSS]] [[:File:TFSS Preview Breakdown.jpg|Generation 1-esque Breakdown]] toys! Furthermore, ''Animated'' Breakdown uses the same mold as ''Animated'' Sideswipe (the Rodimus Minor mold).
**''[[Titanium Series]]'' [[:File:ROTF-toy DeadEndTitanium.jpg|live-action movie Dead End]] reuses [[:File:Movie TitaniumRM Jazz.jpg|live-action movie Jazz]]'s mold, while the ''Timelines'' toy of an [[:File:Animated Dead End Toy.JPG|''Animated''-esque Dead End]] is a redeco of ''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' [[:File:Ani-toy Jazz Deluxe.jpg|Jazz]].
** By 2017, [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#Combiner Wars|Optimus Prime]], [[Mirage (G1)/toys#Combiner Wars|Mirage]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys#Power of the Primes|Jazz]] had all received ''Combiner Wars'' style toy releases.
*If any one episode served to cement Megatron's poor reputation among certain (more snarky) elements of the fandom, this is surely it. He comes up with a madcap scheme to build a useless weapon, doesn't listen to any of his troops' rather intelligent suggestions, insults his underlings for no reason, misses the obvious, toys with his enemies, pouts when he loses, and flies off with nothing in the end.
*Man, Starscream saw through the whole charade in about two seconds, didn't he?

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mascarade'''" ("Masquerade")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Perfekte Tarnung'''" ("Perfect Disguise")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 17]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''I falsi Stunticons'''" ("The Fake Stunticons")
:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Sotto copertura'''" ("Undercover")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Masquerade'''" (マスカレード)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 19]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shēn Rù Hǔ Xué '''" (深入虎穴, "Deep in the Decepticon's Lair")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Маскарад'''" ("Masquerade")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:CWDlxMirage.jpg|upright=1.55|thumb]]
*'''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|''Combiner Wars'']] Voyager Class Optimus Prime''' (Hasbro, 2015)
*'''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|''Combiner Wars'']] Deluxe Class Mirage''' (Hasbro, 2015)

:Both ''Combiner Wars'' Optimus Prime and Mirage are the only Autobots that are based on their pre-Stunticon disguises as they share the same transformation schemes with their retool/pretools Motormaster and Drag Strip.

{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 1990 — ''Transformers'' — Cosmic Rust / Masquerade ([[Tempo Video]])
;{{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. 8 (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 14 ([[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 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta ([[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==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-2/synopses/700-63.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=18aM3T_RHrxrFIZEwiHm2bYxugAkqtCU6 Episode dialogue script with deleted lines]

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