https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&feedformat=atom&user=LuckyKoiMediaWiki - User contributions [en]2026-05-21T21:21:21ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.45.3https://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447127Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T19:25:26Z<p>LuckyKoi: </p>
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<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual .<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
<br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
<br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', along with a shot of the computer analysis of the monster, is cut. <br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Sari's gasp when Bumblebee is jumping at the monster, is cut for time. <br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Dr. Sumdac shaking hands with Optimus at the ceremony, Opimus's comment regarding 'Not being a hero' and question to Ratchet about 'things being like this in your day, along with Ratchet's reponce, is cut. <br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the foreshadowing scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 3)===<br />
<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447126Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T19:23:06Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Japanese version (Part 2) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual orgasm.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', along with a shot of the computer analysis of the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Sari's gasp when Bumblebee is jumping at the monster, is cut for time. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Dr. Sumdac shaking hands with Optimus at the ceremony, Opimus's comment regarding 'Not being a hero' and question to Ratchet about 'things being like this in your day, along with Ratchet's reponce, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the foreshadowing scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447125Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T19:21:29Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Japanese version (Part 2) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual orgasm.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', along with a shot of the computer analysis of the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Sari's gasp when Bumblebee is jumping at the monster, is cut for time. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Dr. Sumdac shaking hands with Optimus at the ceremony, Opimus's comment regarding 'Not being a hero' and question to Ratchet about 'things being like this in your day, along with Ratchet's reponce, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the foreshadowing scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
*<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447124Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T19:11:59Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Japanese version (Part 2) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual orgasm.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', along with a shot of the computer analysis of the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Sari's gasp when Bumblebee is jumping at the monster, is cut for time. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447118Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T18:42:52Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Japanese version (Part 2) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual orgasm.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', along with a shot of the computer analysis of the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Sari's gasp when Bumblebee is jumping at the monster, is cut for time. <br />
*During the ceremony, the cheering crowd has been replaced with what looks to be a photo of a Japanese crowd. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447103Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T18:33:06Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Japanese version (Part 2) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual orgasm.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
*'''Cut:'''Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', along with a shot of the computer analysis of the monster, is cut. <br />
*During the ceremony, the cheering crowd has been replaced with what looks to be a photo of a Japanese crowd. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Transform_and_Roll_Out&diff=447095Transform and Roll Out2010-04-10T18:28:42Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Japanese version (Part 2) */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{disambig2|the [[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]] multi-part episode|the command|roll out}}<br />
{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|series2=<br />
|image=TFA_TFandRollout_AutobotHeroes.jpg<br />
|caption=''Epic''<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|next2=Sound and Fury<br />
|ep=1, 2 and 3<br />
|next=Home Is Where the Spark Is<br />
|title="Transform and Roll Out"<br />
|airdate=[[December 26]], [[2007]] (US)<br>[[April 3]], [[April 10]], [[April 17]], [[2010]] (JP)<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br> [[Minoru Yamaoka]]<br> [[Makoto Fuchigami]]<br />
|animation studio= [[Mook]]}}<br />
'''When a small crew of maintenance Autobots comes into possession of the powerful AllSpark, a battle with their long-forgotten enemies sends them crashing toward a strange, distant planet known as... ''Earth.'''''<br />
<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 1):'' 新章! トランスフォーマー (''Shinshō! Transformer'', "A New Chapter! Transformers")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 2):'' 英雄、その名はオートボット (''Eiyū, sono na wa Autobot'', "The Heroes Are Called Autobots")<br />
:''Japanese title (Part 3):'' オールスパークの秘密 (''AllSpark no himitsu'', "Secret of the AllSpark")<br />
:''German title:'' "'''Transformieren und Abfahrt'''"<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''Transformacja i jazda'''" ("Transform and Roll Out")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
===Part 1===<br />
In deep, deep space, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] watches a history vid of the [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], prompting [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to complain about him watching that "junk" when the other members of the crew need assistance. Prime wonders if they were designed for more than repairing [[space bridge]]s. The two 'Bots transform into their vehicle modes and head out into the asteroid field.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout TheAllsparkdiscovered.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Well... at least there's no mass-shifting.]]<br />
Outside, [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], dangling from a high rock by his wrecking ball (and becoming quite queasy in the process), is freed by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], who also ends up taking a tumble. Bumblebee complains about the sheer amount of rocks blocking the space bridge node, and one is shattered unexpectedly by [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s throwing star. Prime gives his troops a speech about teamwork (which Prowl moans at theatrically), but at that point the space bridge lights up, sending rocks and Autobots flying. Fancy footwork by Optimus saves each of his teammates from the debris, and a well-aimed grappling line shuts down the bridge. With his subordinates stunned at their leader's skills, Prime is forced to admit he trained at [[Autobot Academy|Cybertron's military academy]]. Bumblebee's query as to what the heck he's doing on a nowhere maintenance assignment is left unanswered as they notice something glowing in the rubble.<br />
<br />
Prime clears away the debris to reveal a large, chest-like object. Ratchet is horrified and immediately demands they throw it back into the space bridge, but an alert from [[Teletran-1]] announces the arrival of a signature consistent with the long-lost [[Decepticon]]s. Ratchet then insists they take the object and just get out of there post-haste.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Decepticonship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Yes, this is a scout ship. Way to go, Magnanimous.]]<br />
On board [[Teletran-1|their ship]], Ratchet finally reveals what they've found: the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], the source of all Transformer life that was lost centuries ago. Optimus, worried about the oncoming Decepticon signal, contacts the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] for help. After taking a bit of snark from [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]], Optimus reveals what they found, which shuts Sentinel up fast. Sentinel then puts the crew through to [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], who tells Optimus Prime to stay put while they send reinforcements... and not to worry about that Decepticon thing. Optimus, considering this to be a really stupid move, orders the crew to start booking it out of there.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Ani crew.JPG|left|200px|thumb|Scotty, engage!]]<br />
This proves wise, as the signal is indeed a Decepticon ship—a [[Nemesis (Animated)|command ship]], in fact. The identification markings are ones that Optimus and Ratchet recognize, meaning its commander can only be one person: [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], leader of the Decepticons. On board the Decepticon ship, [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] doubts the AllSpark is aboard the Autobot ship and declares Megatron a fool. [[Lugnut]] denounces Starscream as a traitor, while [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] calls Lugnut an idiot for his blind loyalty and [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] just acts... well, crazy. The Decepticons continue to bicker at each other until Megatron enters, shutting up all of them. The Decepticons chase the Autobot ship, and Starscream volunteers to board them. Megatron quickly shoots that idea down. Just before he leaves, Starscream wishes his commander "luck" with a pat on the back... affixing a bomb to Megatron in the process.<br />
<br />
Megatron makes his way to the Autobots' ship and begins to melt his way through its hull. Optimus uses external manipulator arms to grapple with Megatron, until the bomb detonates, sending the ship careening uncontrollably into a space bridge node, which explodes after they go through the gate. Starscream begins to make a speech declaring himself the new Decepticon leader, but the other three have abandoned ship, noting that the fireball from the space bridge explosion is only getting larger. Too late, Starscream realizes the trouble he's in...<br />
<br />
An unknown distance away, the Autobot ship reappears above a [[Earth|small blue and green planet]]. Prime checks on his troops, but Megatron has gotten aboard, having survived the explosion, but at the cost of his right arm. Prime uses his grappling line to shut off the gravity, making it more difficult for Megatron to fight. All five Autobots face off against the Decepticon, but he's too strong (though Prowl does manage to cut off Megatron's damaged arm). Prime and Megatron both end up in the storage bay where the AllSpark is... and as the ship enters the atmosphere, Prime is able to blow the hatch and kick the screaming Megatron out of the ship.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Arkatmosphere.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Oddly familiar.]]<br />
On a small farm, a young boy hears a thud and runs to where something has landed in a not-too-distant field. He is shocked to find a robotic head staring lifelessly up at him.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Prime orders his team into emergency stasis pods to prepare for a crash-landing. He manages to steer the ship away from the city below and gets to a stasis pod just before the ship plunges into [[Lake Erie]].<br />
<br />
Fifty years later, [[Detroit]] is once again a thriving city, but instead of manufacturing automobiles, robots are the city's stock-in-trade. [[Isaac Sumdac]] is talking to a public school class taking a tour of his facilities, which gets interrupted by Isaac's daughter, [[Sari Sumdac]], and her robot dog, [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]]. As Sari is carted off to her lessons by a [[Tutor Bot|robot tutor]], Isaac shows the school kids a nanotech lab, just in time to witness a roach infused with microbots grow out of control and start consuming everything in sight. Isaac tries to keep things calm, but the monster bursts out of the lab...<br />
<br />
===Part 2===<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Firefighters monster.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Yeah, watering it will surely stop the beast.]]<br />
The monster continues to grow, absorbing just about everything it touches to increase its size and power. In the process, it destroys a lot of the factory. [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]], the S.W.A.T team, the fire department, ambulances, and robot drones arrive, but the creature absorbs several of the responding vehicles, too. Fanzone uses a bazooka-type weapon and destroys the beast, despite Sumdac's objection. This protest proves well-founded, as the remnants of the creature start flowing back together again, save for one piece that drops into the nearby lake and works its way down to the Autobots' ship, its nanites seeking the absorbable technology there. It infiltrates via a small breach in the outer hull, but thankfully, the ship's intruder alert systems are functional and awaken the Autobots before any damage is done. Examining the situation, they decide to have Teletran-1 give them Earth forms so they can blend in and help out. A probe is launched into the chaos and scans various vehicles, including an ambulance, a police motorcycle, an armored personnel carrier, a fire truck, and [[Captain Fanzone's car]]. Everyone deploys except Ratchet, who remains behind to analyze the sample of alien material. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Autobots.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Avengers, ASSEMBLE!]]<br />
During the fight, Bulkhead and Bumblebee spot Sari trying to wrest her security key from Sparkplug's mouth. Mistaking which is owner and which is pet, they approach her, but Bulkhead's greeting only scares her away. She quickly gets nabbed by the monster, but Bumblebee saves her, earning her trust and friendship. Prowl attempts to take on the bug-slug by himself, against Prime's orders, and gets absorbed. Prime orders Ratchet to join them in battle to save Prowl, but the old veteran insists that finding a "cure" code to neutralize the nanites' programming makes more sense than coming out and getting trashed. A somewhat chastened Prime agrees, and Ratchet soon delivers the goods. However, the new program must be uploaded by direct contact—meaning from inside the monster. This means the smallest, fastest one of them has to do it. Bumblebee reluctantly takes on the task. The beast has been using some of Prowl's absorbed intelligence and comm link tech, though, so it knows what they're planning and is now smart enough to fight back. Despite this, Bumblebee succeeds in delivering the code, and the bug dissolves into a dusty shower of deactivated nanites. Prowl is soon uncovered, but he's suffered grave wounds and must be taken back to the Autobots' ship for repairs. Sari pesters Bumblebee to be taken along, and her new friend reluctantly agrees, since there's no time to make her go away quietly. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Sari followedmehome.jpg|left|150px|thumb|Bumblebee, having a pet is a big responsibility.]]<br />
Once on board, Sari's refusal to stay still and quiet causes 'Bee some embarrassment. He quickly and discreetly ejects her into a ventilation port and joins the others. However, the port opens onto a shaft that takes Sari right to the chamber where the AllSpark is being kept. Curious, she touches it, and it reacts to her, sending its energies into her security card key and reconfiguring it into [[AllSpark Key|a key of another sort entirely]]. Prime finds her almost immediately thereafter, but with no time left to spare away from Prowl, he has to bring her back with him to the repair table. Ratchet's prognosis is bleak, but the [[AllSpark Key]] abruptly reacts, glowing and tugging her toward Prowl. Bumblebee, seeming to grasp what's happening, helps her onto the table, and as she approaches, her Key reshapes itself to fit into a slot on Prowl's chest. She inserts it, and with a burst of energy, the Autobot ninja is whole again. The Autobots then take Sari home and, after a brief misunderstanding, are made heroes and are even invited to a ceremony. <br />
<br />
In outer space, Starscream sits aboard the damaged but functional Decepticon ship, babbling that he will find the AllSpark, even though he's been attempting it on his own for the last fifty solar cycles. The ship's computers then detect the traces of AllSpark-like energy in action, and Starscream learns where the Autobots are...<br />
{{-}}<br />
===Part 3===<br />
[[Image:Sariprime.jpg|right|150px|thumb|INSERT WHAT WHERE?!]]<br />
The Autobots are later seen trying to fit in. Bulkhead gets firsthand experience in traffic jams, some birds mistake Prowl for the statue of the [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|bald guy]] next to him, Bumblebee learns how organics fuel up, and Ratchet can't get a stasis nap without getting a dozen or so parking tickets. Optimus Prime remarks that the Autobots are programmed to respect life, which they always understood to stem from the AllSpark, but as organics are life, they must respect and protect them too. Optimus also expresses curiosity about how little organics are made. Sari's whispered explanation leaves him rather... shocked. The Autobots make a new home base out of a building Sari's dad got out of a merger, an abandoned auto factory that Bumblebee describes as a real fixer-upper—a REAL fixer-upper. All of a sudden, they get alerted to a fire. The Autobots proceed to douse the blaze and save its victims, no problem, unaware they are being watched by Starscream.<br />
<br />
The next day, during the inauguration ceremony for the Sumdac [[Fully Automated Rapid Transit System]] (F.A.R.T.S., for short), Starscream enters Earth's atmosphere and takes on a group of fighter jets. He destroys all but one, which he scans. As the civilians and Autobots watch the aerial display of the [[Crimson Angels]], Isaac Sumdac notices there is an extra jet present that he didn't hire. That one jet then leaves the formation and streaks toward the ceremony platform, where it transforms into Starscream, who fires his null-ray cannons at the Autobots.<br />
<br />
After a short fight, which the Autobots lose, Starscream knocks out Bumblebee and takes him, Isaac, the mayor, and Capt. Fanzone hostage in the F.A.R.T.S. train, flying it to the top of a very tall tower. He demands that the Autobots deliver the AllSpark if they want him to release the train car. The Autobots don't trust him, but don't want to risk human lives, so Sari offers a plan, but they ignore her. She continues to tell a sob story until the Autobots listen. The Autobots proceed with her plan, and Prowl and Sari fly up to the transit pod to rescue the hostages while the other Autobots keep Starscream busy. Once Starscream realizes what's happening, he takes a brief beating but recovers quickly. Starscream then throws the train—thus keeping his end of the deal—with Sari, Prowl, and Bumblebee on top of/in it. Between Bumblebee's agility and Prowl's thrusters, Sari is rescued and the train lands without much damage. The Autobots then challenge Starscream to a friendly game of Keep Away, during which Starscream almost gets the AllSpark, but Bulkhead gets it instead, because he said he got it. A furious Starscream unleashes a devastating, prolonged (as in nearly 12 seconds) null-ray blast on the Autobots, briefly knocking them all senseless.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA TFandRollout Prime SS Allsparkactivates.jpg|left|150px|thumb|In the old days, The Touch would have started playing now.]]<br />
With the Autobots down, Starscream takes the AllSpark from Optimus and blows a couple of blocks of Detroit right off the map. Not ready to give up, Optimus climbs all the way up a building to get it back from Starscream, which Starscream doesn't see coming because he was too busy gloating. After a quick back-and-forth exchange of possessing it, both grab it at the same time. As they struggle, the AllSpark opens and emits a strange energy wave that blasts Starscream away. <br />
<br />
The explosion has left Prime dangling precariously, and he takes a tremendous plummet to the pavement. He notes weakly that he now knows what it feels like to be a hero, then dies, but Sari uses the AllSpark Key to revive him.<ref>[[The many deaths of Optimus Prime|This is something of an Optimus Prime record]]: Dead after only three episodes, revived a mere 75 seconds later. Way to go.</ref> The Autobots later go about fixing up Detroit, earning the enduring gratitude of the citizenry. Professor Sumdac is also grateful, for the Autobots saved him and Sari, but he fears what will happen if the Autobots—not to mention the rest of the world—were to discover the source of his robotic empire.<br />
<br />
Unseen by Sumdac, one of the [[Sensors|optics]] of his source of technology glows in a darkened room. Megatron still functions...<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters|<br />
c1=<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (1)<br />
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (2)<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (3)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (4)<br />
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (5)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (6)<br />
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (7)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (8)<br />
*[[Lugnut]] (9)<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] (10)<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (11)<br />
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (12)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] (13)<br />
*[[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel]] (14)<br />
*[[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]] (15)<br />
*[[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] (16)<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (17)<br />
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (18)<br />
<br />
|c4=<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] ()<br />
*[[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] ()<br />
*[[Tutor Bot]] ()<br />
*[[Burger Bot]] ()}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
"Do you ever get the feeling that you were programmed for something more than just repairing space bridges?"<br/><br />
"I got a diagnostics program that can delete that feeling like a bad line of code."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''''s dreams are crushed to a fine powder by '''Ratchet'''<br />
<br />
<br />
"Know what? You're even uglier at this angle!"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' is about to realize there are some things you should never, EVER, say to a Decepticon.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Hi, I'm Bumblebee!"<br /><br />
"I'm Sari."<br /><br />
"Oh, don't be, I like my name."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''' and '''Sari''' are off to an awkward start.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Y'know, all things considered, fixin' space bridges wasn't such a bad gig."<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', just before embarking on the plan to dissolve the bug monster<br />
<br />
<br />
"Uh...am I going to be able to ''breathe'' down there?"<br /><br />
"Oh, sure! ...What's 'breathe'?"<br />
:—'''Sari''' is in good hands with '''Bumblebee'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
"And to think, Ultra Magnus told me not to be a hero. Is this what it was like in your day?"<br /><br />
"The Decepticons didn't leave us very much to cheer about."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' at the ceremony<br />
<br />
<br />
"Enjoy it while you can, 'heroes.' You're about to take a fall."<br />
:—'''Starscream''', watching a news report on the Autobots<br />
<br />
<br />
"Give up the AllSpark or give up the Earth. How am I supposed to decide?"<br><br />
"Heroes are the ones who make the hard choices."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''' and '''Ratchet''' after Starscream makes his ultimatum<br />
<br />
<br />
"Let go, Autobot!"<br /><br />
"Never! The AllSpark is life!"<br /><br />
"Then, let it end yours!"<br />
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Optimus Prime''', fighting over the AllSpark<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, this...is what it feels like...to be a hero."<br />
:—'''Optimus Prime''', just before dying<br />
<br />
<br />
"Fixing bridges? Isn't this where we started out?"<br />
:—'''Bumblebee''', as the Autobots clean up the city<br />
<br />
==Home releases==<br />
[[Image:Animatedshort01.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Meet the Press lives on through our young ones.]]<br />
"Transform and Roll Out" was released to DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on June 17, 2008. The DVD includes all three episodes of the pilot movie and two all-new animated shorts. [[Career Day|The first short]] features Optimus Prime attempting to give a speech at [[Black River Elementary School]]'s career day, but being repeatedly interrupted by nagging questions from [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|some little kid]] and overwhelming cheers for him to transform. [[Evel Knievel Jump|The second]] features Bumblebee messing up one of Prowl's cool stunts. Together, the two shorts run just under three minutes.<br />
<br />
Target sold an [[exclusive]] version of the DVD with a special bonus disc that included the episode "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]."<br />
<br />
All three episodes were also condensed and re-told in the [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] paperback "cine-manga" style book ''[[Transformers Animated Volume 1]]''.<br />
{{-}}<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Japanese version (Part 1)===<br />
*The episode begins with the [[Otoboto family]] telling the viewers to watch in a well-lit room (to prevent seizures and damage to your eyesight, you know).<br />
<br />
*As the [[title sequence]] begins, [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] asks how everyone is doing, then introduces himself as leader of the Autobots. When he realizes nobody knows who he is, he ''assures'' them that he's leader of the Autobots. Then the [[Transformers Evo.|theme song]] starts.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet and Optimus's conversation as they walk down a hall, where Prime refers to feeling like being meant for "more than just repairing space bridges", and Ratchet's snarky response about deleting that feeling "like a bad line of code".<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Bulkhead's comment on their medic being always grumpy, Ratchet responding to Bumblebee's "old man" comment with a smack upside the head and the retort of "I may have one servor in the scrapheap, but I can still hear!".<br />
<br />
*The usual cries of "Transform!" and attack names are added in. ([[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s "stingers" are now called "Energy Stingers", for instance.) Perhaps most annoyingly, ''every single thing Optimus does'' has the prefix of "Ultra" added to it. In the span of ten seconds, he goes through his "Ultra Anchor", "Ultra Axe" and "Ultra Net" attacks.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' After shutting down the space bridge, the following sequence where Ratchet is repairing Bumblebee, Bulkhead commenting about Optimus's moves, Optimus reluctantly admitting that he used to train at the Academy, and Bumblebee saying that he should've been with the Elite Guard.<br />
<br />
* '''Cut:''' Ratchet's poking back at Optimus wanting to see some action, Bumblebee pointing out they're repair bots, Optimus correcting on not without backup and Bulkhead in awe on them connecting with Cybertron Command Headquarters.<br />
<br />
*[[Teletran-1]] now speaks as though "she" is in a state of perpetual orgasm.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobots first happen upon the ''[[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]]'' and all freak over [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], a new [[scene transition]] is added when transitioning into the discussion between the Decepticon forces. A guitar riff of the classic Generation 1 scene transition music is even used.<br />
<br />
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]]'s "hothead" persona now speaks with a thick American accent, spouting English words like "Hey!" and "Man!"<br />
<br />
*New [[commercial bumper]]s have been crafted, featuring stock art of the characters with their voice actors screaming their name, followed by "Transform!"<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]]'s entire speech on the bridge ("This is a dark day...") followed by him getting caught in the explosion was cut for time.<br />
<br />
*When Bulkhead tumbles into Optimus, following his line "A little warning would have helped!", he screams out "Mommyyyyyyy!" Yeah, Japanese Bulkhead ain't so smart.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After Megatron is kicked from the ship, the establishing shots of Paw Paw (the street sign, the outside of the barn and the scroll across [[Isaac Sumdac]]'s lab) have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' Following Prime's line "Not until I've steered us clear of this populated sector!", the brief scenes of the Autobots being sealed in their stasis pods have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As soon as the ship crashes into Lake Eerie and leaves a stream of upturned water on the surface, the scenes of the ship sinking and Teletran-1 "initiating emergency stasis mode" on the pods as they turn grey have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the long shot of the sinking ship slowly coming toward the camera, with a new voice-over of Teletran-1 telling the Autobots "good night".<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' As Isaac Sumdac narrates the history of Detroit and automaton manufacturing, the scene of the trash-collecting automaton has been cut.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The scenes of [[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] pulling the bubblegum off her face, eating it, the crowd reacting in disgust, Isaac Sumdac reacting in frustration, the kid asking Sari what its like to grow up around robots and [[Tutor Bot]] hauling Sari off have been cut for time.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' After the cockroach absorbs the nanobot liquid, all the scenes involving Isaac Sumdac explaining the nanobots to the children and the children looking through microscopes at the nanobots have been cut for time. The episode resumes at the roach growing bigger.<br />
<br />
*'''Cut:''' The close-up of Isaac Sumdac saying "Nothing to be concerned about, children!" and the kid remarking that "This accident doesn't look too happy" have been cut for time. The episode resumes with the roach crashing through the window behind him.<br />
<br />
*The Otoboto Family segment features [[Hiroyuki Otoboto]] telling his son, [[Tatsuya Otoboto]], about ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', complete with clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". Mr. Otoboto then produces a complete set of ''Animated'' Autobot toys. Tatsuya is thrilled, but wouldn't ya know it? [[Megumi Otoboto|Mrs. Otoboto]] comes in with dinner! During mealtime conversation, Mrs. Otoboto makes the mistake of using the word "transform", which inevitably causes Tatsuya to start talking about Transformers, much to the amusement of his father and the annoyance of his older sister, [[Yūka Otoboto|Yūka]]. Tatsuya then causes a "freeze frame" so that he can introduce himself and his family (messing with his father's glasses in the process for his own amusement). Oddly, despite being "frozen", everyone proceeds to blink. As time resumes its normal pace, Hiroyuki wonders what happened to his glasses. He then digs into his dinner, except, oh no! It's too hot! ''Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!''<br />
<br />
*During the "next episode" segment, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee proceed to have an argument. Bumblebee thinks Optimus's name is too long and hard to remember. Bumblebee suggests that "[[Convoy]]" would be better, but Prime shoots the idea down immediately. Bumblebee opts to call him "Oputi", since it has fewer syllables. Prime refuses to be called such a name (more fitting for a dog), so Bumblebee settles on "Pu-Pu" after "Opura" is also rejected. Prime refuses that too, thinking it sounds cute, but that it would be hard not to laugh instinctively at it. Bumblebee then tricks Prime into answering to it, which frustrates him even ''further''. The argument proceeds ''past'' the "next episode" segment and straight into the sponsor cards.<br />
<br />
===Japanese version (Part 2)===<br />
*Instead of Optimus introducing at the opening, Bumblebee introduces himself as well praising the awesomeness of [[JAM Project]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The rush of emergency vehicles driving through the city was cut for time. As was the following scene of Fanzone getting into his car and about to enjoy his lunch at the Burgerbot, and being disappointed at the emergency call, along with his leaving.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone arriving at Sumdac laboratories, and his little dilemma regarding his broken megaphone, and his first directions to the police force.<br />
*Optimus now has "Ultra Jump" to add to his "arsenal" as he distracts the nano-monster.<br />
*Bulkhead now uses "''dosukoi''" on occasion, a word usually used by [[Wikipedia:Sumo|sumo wrestlers]].<br />
*'''Cut:''' The left to right pan of the ruined laboratory where the tour had taken place was cut for time.<br />
*'''Cut:''' Much of the flying debris from the monster falling into the ocean. <br />
* During the [[trans-scan|trans-scanning]], Teletran-1 announces the name of the vehicle being scanned, and the Autobot's as they are re-formatted. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Fanzone noticing the four vehicles confronting the monster and attempts to call them back, before noticing that they are unmanned and include his own car. <br />
*'''Cut:''' Immediately after the previous cut, the scene where Bulkhead and Bumblebee attempt to converse with the police drones while fighting the monster, is cut. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After Bumblebee takes Sari into the parking garage, Fanzone's and Dr. Sumdac's observation of Bumblebee, his unknown purposes, and ordering of the Police drones to save Sari, is cut. <br />
*Bumblebee counts off while disabling the police drones, and he has an extra line even though his mouth doesn't move.<br />
*'''Cut:'''Ratchet's comment on Optimus being a 'Typical [[Autobot Academy|Academy Bot]]', is cut. <br />
*During the ceremony, the cheering crowd has been replaced with what looks to be a photo of a Japanese crowd. <br />
*'''Cut:''' After the ceremony, the scene in which Starscream is seen monologing in the crashed ''Nemesis'' on the moon.<br />
<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
* Megatron's vehicle mode was depicted flying upside-down, or backwards, or possibly both. To be fair, in space, there is no up and down (and to be even fairer, it's really hard to tell from the toys exactly what ''is'' the front of Megatron's Cybertronian spaceship mode), but that does not excuse the fact that any propulsion system used would be in the ''back'' of the mode.<br />
<br />
*When the Autobot get into the stasis pods, Prime, Bulkhead, and Ratchet are on the left side, with Bumblebee, Prowl, and an empty pod on the right, in that order. Yet when they get out later in the episode, Prime, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead are on the left, and the empty one, Prowl, and Ratchet on the right.<br />
<br />
* As pre-Earth Prime enters the chamber which will re-format his body into his Earth mode, he walks past Ratchet, who is drawn mostly in his pre-Earth mode, except for the fact that his Cybertronian gut is replaced with his ambulance gut. In the next scene, Ratchet is properly drawn, pre-Earth gut and all.<br />
<br />
* When Sari says to the Autobots it is okay to put down their hands, Bulkhead's face is black.<br />
<br />
* When Starscream tackles Optimus Prime through a building as the Autobot tries to escape with the AllSpark, Optimus's axe is missing from Starscream's left wing. It reappears moments later for Optimus to retrieve it.<br />
<br />
* In at least one scene, Starscream's Earth-form wing is shown with a spike, in the same manner as his Cybertronian body.<br />
<br />
===Continuity errors===<br />
* The train Starscream blasts from the tower falls toward the ground very, very slowly.<br />
<br />
* When we first meet Starscream, he states that he has been searching for the AllSpark for fifty ''solar'' cycles. In later episodes, a solar cycle is equivalent to a day and a ''stellar'' cycle is used for years. This is the only time a solar cycle has been used to reference years, so either Starscream entered some sort of temporal anomaly or someone messed up. For more <s>confusion</s> information, See [[Cycle|this page]].<br />
<br />
* Sumdac is using Megatron's hand as a chair. However, he seems to be using the right hand, which was blown up by Starscream. (It ''could'' have fallen off the Autobots' ship, as it was still clinging to the hull when last seen, but that seems unlikely.)<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* The title of the episode itself is a [[Roll out|reference to past Transformers lore]].<br />
<br />
* Footage from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|G1 cartoon]] episodes "[[War Dawn]]" and "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1|More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" is used as history tapes detailing the events of the first [[Great War (Animated)|Great War]], millions of years prior. [[Canon|This]] has been confirmed as purely an in-joke, and should not be taken as linking ''Animated'' to G1, continuity wise.<br />
<br />
* The [[Teletran-1|Autobot ship]] here bears a distinct resemblance to the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], albeit with a colour scheme more reminiscent of [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]]. (As we learn [[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|much later]], there is [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|a very good reason for that]].)<br />
<br />
* Bumblebee says "[[Rattrap|We're all gonna die.]]"<br />
<br />
* Sari's robotic dog [[Sparkplug (robot dog)|Sparkplug]] is likely named after either [[Sparkplug Witwicky]] from G1, the ''Armada'' Mini-Con [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]], or both.<br />
<br />
[[Image:Spikecarlydanielanimated.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Twenty years later, and they're still overdressed.]]<br />
* Characters resembling [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], [[Carly]], and [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel Witwicky]] are seen at a hot dog stand, purchasing some sort of futuristic bunless wieners-on-a-stick. The characters went on to become recurring figures in the background cast of the show, and in "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]" it was revealed that their names were... [[Spike Witwicky (Animated)|Spike]], [[Carly Witwicky (Animated)|Carly]] and [[Daniel Witwicky (Animated)|Daniel Witwicky]].<br />
<br />
* When Optimus Prime dies, his body fades to grays, just as [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] did in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. His spark chamber opens in much the same manner as well.<br />
<br />
* Teletran-1 (spelled with only one "a" in this universe) dispatches a small satellite very similar to the [[Sky Spy]] satellite used on occasion by the Autobots in the ''Generation 1'' cartoon. The glowing energy "boxes" with which it scans vehicles for the Autobots to transform into are lifted wholesale out of "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]".<br />
<br />
* At one point, Bulkhead refers to Optimus as "Boss-bot", echoing an epithet used for ''[[Beast Wars (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] by the [[Fuzor]] [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]].<br />
<br />
===Notes===<br />
* In this episode, [[Tutor Bot]] tries to teach Sari about the [[wikipedia:Smoot-Hawley_Tariff_Act|Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act]], a major economic blunder of the 1930s.<br />
* Bumblebee's voice is slightly different in this episode from how it sounds later, as is Lugnut's voice, which seems very metallic.<br />
* When Prowl gets birdpooped on, he is standing next to a statue of [[wikipedia:Hazen_S._Pingree|Hazen S. Pingree]], four-term mayor of Detroit and one-time governor of Michigan. In real life, the statue is located in Detroit's Grand Circus Park.<br />
* A refurbished Michigan Central Station makes an appearance as the site for the dedication of Detroit's rapid transit system. The real-life station (abandoned since the '80s) was featured in the [[Transformers (2007)|2007 live-action movie]].<br />
* When mocking the Autobots, Starscream actually calls Megatron "the great Megatron" without any sarcasm. Apparently, he'll only give a sincere compliment to his leader when he's insulting something else. Either that or he's just trying to make ''himself'' sound more impressive by building up the reputation of the one he's defeated.<br />
* When Optimus comes back to life, he asks, "Is this the [[Well of All Sparks]]?" and Sari answers, "No, it's Detroit." This is an allusion to the movie ''Field of Dreams'', in which Shoeless Joe Jackson (Ray Liotta) asks Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner), "Is this Heaven?" and Ray answers, "No, it's Iowa."<br />
* According to responses at a panel at BotCon 2008, the unfortunate acronym for Fully Automated Rapid Transit System was totally unintentional...which makes it that much funnier. <br />
* Ratchet is able to use his front windshield as a video screen.<br />
* Several elements present in this opener were changed/dropped in the main series, including expressive vehicle modes, the replacement of solar cycles with stellar cycles in terminology, the recolouring of Ratchet's magnetism from yellow to pink, and Sari's Key changing shape. However, the expressions on vehicle mode were briefly used again by [[Wasp]] in the episode [[Predacons Rising]].<br />
* During [[Sari Sumdac|Sari's]] "conversation" with the [[AllSpark (Animated)|AllSpark]], it shows her the faces of Ultra Magnus, Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream, then the Cybertronian [[Alternate mode|vehicle modes]] for Optimus and Ratchet, the AllSpark's case and the [[Teletran-1|Autobots' ship]]. Then Sari unknowingly shows the AllSpark a man in a suit, a woman, a boy, the planet [[Earth]], pyramids, purple flowers, a horse, an aircraft with a giant cloud coming from the back, a cell and a DNA strand. The woman has dark skin and red hair like Sari.<br />
* This movie was (lovingly) lampooned at the [[MSTF]] panel for [[BotCon 2008]], along with "[[War Dawn]]", the episode from which most of the "history vid" footage was taken.<br />
* It's Detroit. There are guns everywhere. Why are the humans using ''water'' to take down the monster?<br />
* In this episode, Starscream's engines use a sound effect borrowed from ''The Phantom Menace'': the sound made by Sebulba's podracer engines.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Battle Begins ([[Pack-in material|Hasbro]]) — Part 1 only.<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio (NTSC version) / English and German audio (PAL version).<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transformieren und Abfahrt (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
== Footnote ==<br />
<references/><br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]<br />
[[Category:MSTF]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Along_Came_a_Spider&diff=446930Along Came a Spider2010-04-10T04:17:14Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Trivia */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|image=TFA Along Spider Blackarachnia introduction.JPG<br />
|caption=[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee, you seem to have lubricated yourself]].<br />
|ep=9<br />
|title="Along Came a Spider"<br />
|airdate=[[February 16]], 2008<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Irineo Maramba]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br />
|animation studio=[[Mook]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee and Bulkhead's first Halloween turns even spookier when they encounter a giant spider that turns out to be the deadly Decepticon Blackarachnia.'''<br />
<br />
:''German Title:'' "'''Im Netz der Spinne'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''W Sieci Pająka'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] introduces [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] to the concept of [[Halloween]], starting with selecting pumpkins. As she explains the idea of choosing just the right costume, Optimus's attention is distracted by a large black widow spider decoration. He remembers back to his academy days….<br />
<br />
[[Image:Alongcameaspiderthreefriends.jpg|left|210px|thumb|"So once again, we find that evil of the past seeps into the present like salad dressing through cheap wax paper, mixing memory and desire."]]<br />
<br />
''On [[Archa Seven]], Optimus and his friend Elita-1 admire the strange webbing stretching across the high rocks, not knowing what it is, until [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] calls to them to hurry up. Optimus cautions that such worlds are normally considered off-limits to Autobots, but there's supposedly a real Decepticon [[Twilight (Animated)|ship]] somewhere in the area. Elita's there for the historical value, but Sentinel just wants to get his hands on the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] cache that must be in it. Optimus is still wary of potential punishment should they get caught, but figures he has to keep the other two from getting in over their heads. Sentinel insists that never happens—right before the ground crumbles under their feet, sending all three plunging into a deep cavern. Strange, skittering noises echo from its dark reaches. Optimus activates his shoulder-light to see….''<br />
<br />
Bulkhead snaps Optimus's attention back to the present by donning a bedsheet (which just covers his head) and going "Boo," startling his leader. Optimus claims a ghost from his past just has him jumpy, then stalks off.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume bots.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee's decision to dress up as Count Blackula didn't go down well.]]<br />
<br />
Back at the Autobot base, Sari critiques Bumblebee and Bulkhead's costumes, but says her own costume is only one surprise planned for the night. Noticing Optimus lost in thought, she uses the [[AllSpark Key]] to activate one of the car plant's cranes, swinging another spider decoration in his face. The unexpected sight of it gives Optimus a bad flashback, and he quickly hacks the fake spider to bits. He admonishes Sari for making frivolous use of the Key, and she counters about him needlessly using his axe. Optimus stares down at the remains of the decoration, and his thoughts travel back again….<br />
<br />
''As Optimus, Elita, and Sentinel walk through the cavern, Sentinel enthuses about the rich hoard of energon he's sure they'll find soon. Optimus shushes him as he hears something, and soon all three are casting their lights about, trying to pinpoint the skittering. The source reveals itself as an enormous, alien spider, which quickly traps Elita with some webbing. As Optimus fights it off, Sentinel frees her with his charged shield, but the spider abruptly takes him down. Elita starts using her special power-download ability, but Optimus, holding back the spider, tells her it won't work on organics. She instead borrows the unconscious Sentinel's shield power and shield itself, using them to defend herself, then to bring down a huge stalactite to impale the spider. As Sentinel wakes up and Elita returns his shield, Optimus says that it's not worth staying around, be it for history or energon. Sentinel still insists on one good reason to leave, and he gets three when another trio of giant spiders drop down to confront them. Sentinel quickly puts up his shield's energy barrier, covering Optimus and Elita's retreat. Optimus rolls out, and Elita follows, calling his name….''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Saricostume.jpg|left|130px|thumb|Arise, Sarimus Prime.]]<br />
<br />
Optimus suddenly becomes aware of Sari calling his name to show off her costume—a costume of him. He doesn't appreciate her vocal impersonation of him, and declines to join the trio on their trick-or-treat outing.<br />
<br />
As Sari and the two Autobots progress though a local neighborhood, Bumblebee is a bit spooked by the atmosphere. Sari reminds him it's all pretend—unaware they're being tracked by an enormous spider traveling over the rooftops. As she coaches them through their first actual "trick or treat," Bumblebee spots the spider watching them and freaks out, but it's gone before anyone else sees it. Sari teases him for being more timid than Optimus, but 'Bee protests he knows the difference between a fake decoration and a real giant spider. Listening in from headquarters, Optimus has Bumblebee clarify what he saw, then heads out to meet them, advising them to stay put. As Optimus [[rolls out]], his thoughts roll back….<br />
<br />
''Racing through the caverns, Optimus reaches the wreckage of a [[Decepticon]] warship. Separated from the other two, he heads inside, hoping to find them there. Instead, he finds an impressive stash of energon cubes, just as Sentinel predicted. He also finds an impressive stash of giant spider eggs. As the spiderlings hatch and start attacking, Optimus gets stuck on some webbing, but Elita shows up in time to help. As they fight to escape from more full-grown spiders, Optimus has Elita borrow his grappler ability. They bring down a huge stalactite through the ship's ruined overhead, grappling their way out as the energon detonates below them. However, Elita's download ability times out just then, and she goes plunging back too fast for Optimus to catch her. Sentinel arrives on top of the ship as she plummets into the hold, but knowing the energon is going to blow any second, Optimus grapples himself and Sentinel to safety rather than risk going after Elita just then. Once they break the surface, Optimus scans for Elita's energy signature, but doesn't find it. A furious Sentinel blames everything on Optimus.''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Blackarach anim beast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|All those eyes, and she still can't see why those kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.]]<br />
<br />
In the present, still en route to Sari and company's location, Optimus swears he won't let it happen again. Meanwhile, Bumblebee stresses that they have to stay vigilant until Optimus arrives—even as Sari is yanked out from under them by the giant spider. Bumblebee quickly cuts Sari free, but as he and Bulkhead surround the spider, it transforms into a female robot who calls herself [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]. Sari's not too surprised or impressed by her femininity, but it makes a much bigger impression on Bulkhead—right up to the point Blackarachnia stabs him with two of her spider legs, knocking him out. She quickly gives Bumblebee the same treatment, then tells Sari they should go, now that Sari's safe. Sari protests the two Autobots are her friends, and Blackarachnia apologizes, pretending she can't tell which robots are good or bad on Earth. As Sari futilely tries to revive Bulkhead with her AllSpark Key, Blackarachnia notes that the organic nature of her venom precludes that solution, since the All Spark doesn't affect organics. She offers to try helping the Autobots if Sari will just hand her the Key, but her ruse is interrupted when Optimus lassos her legs out from under her. Blackarachnia appears shocked to see him, but quickly frees herself and starts fighting back—using Bumblebee's stingers and Bulkhead's strength. Instead of borrowing any of Optimus's powers, though, she judo-throws him across the street, then kidnaps Sari.<br />
<br />
Optimus desperately pursues the pair across the rooftops. He catches up, stuns Blackarachnia with a faceful of foam, then grapples Sari free. Despite this respite and Sari's warning, Blackarachnia still catches Optimus half-unaware. He fights back, but she dodges him constantly, claiming to know all his textbook Autobot Academy moves. Optimus wonders if he knows her, and she berates him for forgetting his friends—even if he remembered Sentinel. Optimus is horrified to realize he's facing Elita-1. She finally relates what really happened that day:<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Elita-1 mutation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Even Female Transformers have to worry about bloating.]]<br />
<br />
''Trapped in the ship and surrounded by the spiders, Elita tries desperately to download their abilities. Instead, she is infected with their venom, and it mutates her into a freak, a half-organic, half-robotic being.''<br />
<br />
Optimus realizes that her half-organic nature is what masked her energy signature from his scans. Blackarachnia sneers that if he'd known and saved her, she'd just have been dismantled and examined on some lab table on Cybertron. Optimus reproves her for joining the Decepticons, but she counters that at least she knows where she stands with them. She webs up Optimus and snatches the AllSpark Key, certain that if anything can purge her organic half, it can. She plugs it into herself, but the unleashed energies begin causing all organic life in range, including Sari, to wither and sicken. Optimus breaks free, but before he can stop Blackarachnia, she grabs up Sari and throws her off the roof. Sari snags a flagpole long enough for Bumblebee and Bulkhead to save her, leaving Optimus free to deal with Blackarachnia. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA ep9 Optimus and Blackarachnia rooftop.jpg|right|205px|thumb|Never liked the [[Silverbolt (BW)|Bird-dog]] anyway.]]<br />
<br />
However, Blackarachnia collapses on her own, though. Optimus surmises her spark can't survive without her organic half, but she's too weak to pull out the AllSpark Key and stop the reaction. Optimus forces through the energy barrier around her and removes it for her, restoring the organic life in the area to normal. As he helps her up, Blackarachnia asks him to go, not wanting to be seen like that. Still calling her Elita, Optimus asks her to come with them, promising his group will find a cure, and allow him to earn back her trust. She seems to respond positively, but it's another sham. Blackarachnia stabs him unconscious and leaves, vowing it will be a long time before she trusts another Autobot, especially him.<br />
<br />
Later, Optimus returns Sari the AllSpark Key. She thanks him and admits he was right—maybe it's time she gave the Key a rest. Bumblebee trundles in painfully, still damaged from his fall after catching Sari, and asks if she could use it once more. Bulkhead asks who the bug-bot lady was, and Optimus responds it was someone he should never have left behind. Elsewhere, Blackarachnia stands on a rooftop, gazing at the moon and sobbing over her fate.<br />
{{--}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters<br />
|c1=<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead ]] (2)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] (6) (Flashback)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1/Blackarachnia]] (5)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
'''Bumblebee''': ''[Bad Slavic accent]'' Velcome. I am Count Dracubot. I vant to drink your motor oil.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Hey, guys! I finally found something big enough for my ghost costume.<br /><br />
''[Fumes surround his feet, causing Sari to cough]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Bulkhead, where did you get that sheet?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': It was just draped over some house. Weird place for a bed sheet, huh?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Oh, that's not a bedsheet. That's a fumigation tent.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Really…? What's a fumigation tent?<br /><br />
''[As well as the fumes, Bulkhead's feet are now covered in dead cockroaches.]''<br />
:—Sari sees the Autobots' costumes.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I've got a good feeling about this. Any cycle now, we're gonna be overflowing with rich, All Spark-infused, energon-y goodness!"<br /><br />
"Did you really just say 'energon-y goodness'?"<br />
:—'''Sentinel''''s speech <strike>tick</strike>—er, tic bemuses '''Elita-1'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Sari''': Optimus! Check out my costume!<br /><br />
''[Camera reveals that Sari is Optimus Prime]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Oh, look at me. I'm Optimus Prime. I'm scared of spiders.<br /><br />
''[Bumblebee and Bulkhead chuckle]''<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': That's ''not'' what I sound like—is it?<br /><br />
'''Bumblebee''': Last chance to join us, Boss Bot.<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': Thanks, but I'll pass. Just be careful out there, all right?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Don't worry. I'll keep these two out of trouble. ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Transform and roll out!<br /><br />
''[Optimus gives Sari a look]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Couldn't resist.<br />
:—Sari and the Autobots roast Optimus Prime.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee''': Who are you?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': What are you?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Duh. She's a girl.<br />
:—The gang meets Blackarachnia.<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, who ''was'' that bug-bot lady?"<br /><br />
"Someone I never should have left behind."<br />
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Optimus Prime''' talk some heavy stuff.<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Bulkhead jaw drop.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of jaw droppers before but this is ridiculous.]]<br />
* Shortly after Sentinel says that he and Optimus should go back for Elita when the Decepticon ship explodes, his nose and forehead are painted silver, like Optimus.<br />
* As Blackarachnia is stroking Bulkhead, his jaw falls off, then is seen re-attached to him the next cut--an obviously intentional, throw-away [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop animation joke.]<br />
* Sentinel's light blue markings can be seen several times during flashbacks.<br />
<br />
===Continuity===<br />
* Though not quite an error, the events of Optimus's flashbacks in this episode are [[Endgame, Part I|later]] revealed to be the reason for his being expelled from the Autobot Academy.<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]], [[Elita One]] was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s paramour. The ''Animated'' incarnation of the character refrains from attempting to visually homage the original pink-and-white Elita, instead creating a blue-and-yellow pony-tailed character who bears a resemblance to Elita's earlier (pony-tailed) form, Ariel. Similarly, her relationship with Optimus is less distinct - as confirmed [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|later]], she used to be Sentinel's girlfriend, but present-day scenes do suggest ''some'' kind of personal tension (though that could be guilt on Optimus's part and anger on Elita's).<br />
* Sentinel is depicted here as Optimus's friend and peer, whereas in all other series he's either been Optimus's mentor, a superior officer, or a predecessor. In this way it seems the roles of Sentinel and [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] have been reversed from past continuities.<br />
* With this episode, [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] make their first appearance in Transformers cartoons since ''Beast Wars''. They look ''exactly'' like they did in the Generation 1 cartoon, which even ''Beast Wars'' didn't pull off.<br />
* Speaking of which, Sari's Optimus costume resembles the original [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from ''Generation 1'' more than it does the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|one in the timeline she's in]].<br />
* Bulkhead's jaw drop is certain to remind some of when [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]'s jaw did practically the same thing in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Showdown (episode)|Showdown]]."<br />
<br />
===Real-world references===<br />
* Bulkhead's "ghost" costume, with its constant cloud of pesticides at the bottom, coincidentally resembles "Pig-Pen's" costume from ''[[wikipedia:It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"|It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown]]''.<br />
* Judging how Blackarachnia [[Spider-Man|can swing from a thread]], the Autobots had best take a look overhead.<br />
* "Little help for the vertically challenged?". Bulkhead throwing Bumblebee is better known to X-Men fans as the Fastball Special, usually performed by [[wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] and [[Wolverine]].<br />
* This episode's title is a reference to the James Patterson novel "Along Came A Spider", or possibly some nursery rhyme but for coolness, we'll go with the novel.<br />
<br />
===Trivia===<br />
* In a flashback, prior to Blackarachnia's transformation, a helmet can be seen sitting in a corner of the Decepticon ship. In the season 3 episode "[[Predacons Rising]]", it is confirmed that she starts wearing the helmet to conceal the extent of her transformation.<br />
* This episode makes a point of how Sari has been overusing the AllSpark Key previously, and that it can't be used to cure every Transformer injury. The writers evidently anticipated that reaction from the audience.<br />
* Referring to himself as "vertically challenged," Bumblebee seems to be over his height complex, which was such a major point in "[[Total Meltdown]]".<br />
* This is the first time Sentinel has been fully on screen. When he appeared in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]", all that was seen of him was his big jerk head.<br />
* In the flashbacks, neither Sentinel nor Optimus is addressed as "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]". It's possible they hadn't attained that rank yet. (Sentinel is actually credited as just "Sentinel", not Sentinel Prime or Sentinel Minor, like he is in "[[Autoboot Camp]]", making it much more likely that the non-mention of their ranks was intentional.)<br />
* On a related note, in the flashbacks, Sentinel's Autobot insignia (unsurprisingly) does not have the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] "[[:Image:Cyb Elite Guard Badge.png|wings]]" we see when he's introduced [[The Elite Guard|in the present]].<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume Bumblebee.jpeg|thumb|200px|right|Bumblebee attempts to get into character, and fails.]]<br />
* Blackarachnia claims that she's been waiting to be cured for "a thousand [[Units of time|stellar cycles]]", which gives us a rough time frame for when the flashbacks in this episode took place. Whether they occur before or after "[[Autoboot Camp]]" is unclear, but it's probably before if we assume that our favorite jerk was only going by "Sentinel", and not "Sentinel Minor" at that point.<br />
* This episode gives us at least one reason why Sentinel hates Optimus. The incident is also later established as the cause of Optimus' expulsion from the Autobot Academy in "[[Endgame, Part I]]".<br />
* The hand motions Bulkhead makes at the end of the episode when he says "So who was that Bug-Bot-Lady?" are... interesting, to say the least.<br />
* While dressed up as Count Dracubot, Bumblebee states that he "wants to drink your motor oil." As we learn [[Rise of the Constructicons|later]], this is roughly the equivalent of a vampire saying he wants to bum a few beers off you. Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on this whole Halloween thing.<br />
* When we see Sari, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee together in the city, one of the kids in the bottom left of the screen is wearing a Bumblebee costume.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Two: Lost and Found (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Zwei: Die Alten Waffen (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Along_Came_a_Spider&diff=446929Along Came a Spider2010-04-10T04:16:41Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Trivia */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|image=TFA Along Spider Blackarachnia introduction.JPG<br />
|caption=[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee, you seem to have lubricated yourself]].<br />
|ep=9<br />
|title="Along Came a Spider"<br />
|airdate=[[February 16]], 2008<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Irineo Maramba]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br />
|animation studio=[[Mook]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee and Bulkhead's first Halloween turns even spookier when they encounter a giant spider that turns out to be the deadly Decepticon Blackarachnia.'''<br />
<br />
:''German Title:'' "'''Im Netz der Spinne'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''W Sieci Pająka'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] introduces [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] to the concept of [[Halloween]], starting with selecting pumpkins. As she explains the idea of choosing just the right costume, Optimus's attention is distracted by a large black widow spider decoration. He remembers back to his academy days….<br />
<br />
[[Image:Alongcameaspiderthreefriends.jpg|left|210px|thumb|"So once again, we find that evil of the past seeps into the present like salad dressing through cheap wax paper, mixing memory and desire."]]<br />
<br />
''On [[Archa Seven]], Optimus and his friend Elita-1 admire the strange webbing stretching across the high rocks, not knowing what it is, until [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] calls to them to hurry up. Optimus cautions that such worlds are normally considered off-limits to Autobots, but there's supposedly a real Decepticon [[Twilight (Animated)|ship]] somewhere in the area. Elita's there for the historical value, but Sentinel just wants to get his hands on the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] cache that must be in it. Optimus is still wary of potential punishment should they get caught, but figures he has to keep the other two from getting in over their heads. Sentinel insists that never happens—right before the ground crumbles under their feet, sending all three plunging into a deep cavern. Strange, skittering noises echo from its dark reaches. Optimus activates his shoulder-light to see….''<br />
<br />
Bulkhead snaps Optimus's attention back to the present by donning a bedsheet (which just covers his head) and going "Boo," startling his leader. Optimus claims a ghost from his past just has him jumpy, then stalks off.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume bots.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee's decision to dress up as Count Blackula didn't go down well.]]<br />
<br />
Back at the Autobot base, Sari critiques Bumblebee and Bulkhead's costumes, but says her own costume is only one surprise planned for the night. Noticing Optimus lost in thought, she uses the [[AllSpark Key]] to activate one of the car plant's cranes, swinging another spider decoration in his face. The unexpected sight of it gives Optimus a bad flashback, and he quickly hacks the fake spider to bits. He admonishes Sari for making frivolous use of the Key, and she counters about him needlessly using his axe. Optimus stares down at the remains of the decoration, and his thoughts travel back again….<br />
<br />
''As Optimus, Elita, and Sentinel walk through the cavern, Sentinel enthuses about the rich hoard of energon he's sure they'll find soon. Optimus shushes him as he hears something, and soon all three are casting their lights about, trying to pinpoint the skittering. The source reveals itself as an enormous, alien spider, which quickly traps Elita with some webbing. As Optimus fights it off, Sentinel frees her with his charged shield, but the spider abruptly takes him down. Elita starts using her special power-download ability, but Optimus, holding back the spider, tells her it won't work on organics. She instead borrows the unconscious Sentinel's shield power and shield itself, using them to defend herself, then to bring down a huge stalactite to impale the spider. As Sentinel wakes up and Elita returns his shield, Optimus says that it's not worth staying around, be it for history or energon. Sentinel still insists on one good reason to leave, and he gets three when another trio of giant spiders drop down to confront them. Sentinel quickly puts up his shield's energy barrier, covering Optimus and Elita's retreat. Optimus rolls out, and Elita follows, calling his name….''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Saricostume.jpg|left|130px|thumb|Arise, Sarimus Prime.]]<br />
<br />
Optimus suddenly becomes aware of Sari calling his name to show off her costume—a costume of him. He doesn't appreciate her vocal impersonation of him, and declines to join the trio on their trick-or-treat outing.<br />
<br />
As Sari and the two Autobots progress though a local neighborhood, Bumblebee is a bit spooked by the atmosphere. Sari reminds him it's all pretend—unaware they're being tracked by an enormous spider traveling over the rooftops. As she coaches them through their first actual "trick or treat," Bumblebee spots the spider watching them and freaks out, but it's gone before anyone else sees it. Sari teases him for being more timid than Optimus, but 'Bee protests he knows the difference between a fake decoration and a real giant spider. Listening in from headquarters, Optimus has Bumblebee clarify what he saw, then heads out to meet them, advising them to stay put. As Optimus [[rolls out]], his thoughts roll back….<br />
<br />
''Racing through the caverns, Optimus reaches the wreckage of a [[Decepticon]] warship. Separated from the other two, he heads inside, hoping to find them there. Instead, he finds an impressive stash of energon cubes, just as Sentinel predicted. He also finds an impressive stash of giant spider eggs. As the spiderlings hatch and start attacking, Optimus gets stuck on some webbing, but Elita shows up in time to help. As they fight to escape from more full-grown spiders, Optimus has Elita borrow his grappler ability. They bring down a huge stalactite through the ship's ruined overhead, grappling their way out as the energon detonates below them. However, Elita's download ability times out just then, and she goes plunging back too fast for Optimus to catch her. Sentinel arrives on top of the ship as she plummets into the hold, but knowing the energon is going to blow any second, Optimus grapples himself and Sentinel to safety rather than risk going after Elita just then. Once they break the surface, Optimus scans for Elita's energy signature, but doesn't find it. A furious Sentinel blames everything on Optimus.''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Blackarach anim beast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|All those eyes, and she still can't see why those kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.]]<br />
<br />
In the present, still en route to Sari and company's location, Optimus swears he won't let it happen again. Meanwhile, Bumblebee stresses that they have to stay vigilant until Optimus arrives—even as Sari is yanked out from under them by the giant spider. Bumblebee quickly cuts Sari free, but as he and Bulkhead surround the spider, it transforms into a female robot who calls herself [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]. Sari's not too surprised or impressed by her femininity, but it makes a much bigger impression on Bulkhead—right up to the point Blackarachnia stabs him with two of her spider legs, knocking him out. She quickly gives Bumblebee the same treatment, then tells Sari they should go, now that Sari's safe. Sari protests the two Autobots are her friends, and Blackarachnia apologizes, pretending she can't tell which robots are good or bad on Earth. As Sari futilely tries to revive Bulkhead with her AllSpark Key, Blackarachnia notes that the organic nature of her venom precludes that solution, since the All Spark doesn't affect organics. She offers to try helping the Autobots if Sari will just hand her the Key, but her ruse is interrupted when Optimus lassos her legs out from under her. Blackarachnia appears shocked to see him, but quickly frees herself and starts fighting back—using Bumblebee's stingers and Bulkhead's strength. Instead of borrowing any of Optimus's powers, though, she judo-throws him across the street, then kidnaps Sari.<br />
<br />
Optimus desperately pursues the pair across the rooftops. He catches up, stuns Blackarachnia with a faceful of foam, then grapples Sari free. Despite this respite and Sari's warning, Blackarachnia still catches Optimus half-unaware. He fights back, but she dodges him constantly, claiming to know all his textbook Autobot Academy moves. Optimus wonders if he knows her, and she berates him for forgetting his friends—even if he remembered Sentinel. Optimus is horrified to realize he's facing Elita-1. She finally relates what really happened that day:<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Elita-1 mutation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Even Female Transformers have to worry about bloating.]]<br />
<br />
''Trapped in the ship and surrounded by the spiders, Elita tries desperately to download their abilities. Instead, she is infected with their venom, and it mutates her into a freak, a half-organic, half-robotic being.''<br />
<br />
Optimus realizes that her half-organic nature is what masked her energy signature from his scans. Blackarachnia sneers that if he'd known and saved her, she'd just have been dismantled and examined on some lab table on Cybertron. Optimus reproves her for joining the Decepticons, but she counters that at least she knows where she stands with them. She webs up Optimus and snatches the AllSpark Key, certain that if anything can purge her organic half, it can. She plugs it into herself, but the unleashed energies begin causing all organic life in range, including Sari, to wither and sicken. Optimus breaks free, but before he can stop Blackarachnia, she grabs up Sari and throws her off the roof. Sari snags a flagpole long enough for Bumblebee and Bulkhead to save her, leaving Optimus free to deal with Blackarachnia. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA ep9 Optimus and Blackarachnia rooftop.jpg|right|205px|thumb|Never liked the [[Silverbolt (BW)|Bird-dog]] anyway.]]<br />
<br />
However, Blackarachnia collapses on her own, though. Optimus surmises her spark can't survive without her organic half, but she's too weak to pull out the AllSpark Key and stop the reaction. Optimus forces through the energy barrier around her and removes it for her, restoring the organic life in the area to normal. As he helps her up, Blackarachnia asks him to go, not wanting to be seen like that. Still calling her Elita, Optimus asks her to come with them, promising his group will find a cure, and allow him to earn back her trust. She seems to respond positively, but it's another sham. Blackarachnia stabs him unconscious and leaves, vowing it will be a long time before she trusts another Autobot, especially him.<br />
<br />
Later, Optimus returns Sari the AllSpark Key. She thanks him and admits he was right—maybe it's time she gave the Key a rest. Bumblebee trundles in painfully, still damaged from his fall after catching Sari, and asks if she could use it once more. Bulkhead asks who the bug-bot lady was, and Optimus responds it was someone he should never have left behind. Elsewhere, Blackarachnia stands on a rooftop, gazing at the moon and sobbing over her fate.<br />
{{--}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters<br />
|c1=<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead ]] (2)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] (6) (Flashback)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1/Blackarachnia]] (5)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
'''Bumblebee''': ''[Bad Slavic accent]'' Velcome. I am Count Dracubot. I vant to drink your motor oil.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Hey, guys! I finally found something big enough for my ghost costume.<br /><br />
''[Fumes surround his feet, causing Sari to cough]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Bulkhead, where did you get that sheet?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': It was just draped over some house. Weird place for a bed sheet, huh?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Oh, that's not a bedsheet. That's a fumigation tent.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Really…? What's a fumigation tent?<br /><br />
''[As well as the fumes, Bulkhead's feet are now covered in dead cockroaches.]''<br />
:—Sari sees the Autobots' costumes.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I've got a good feeling about this. Any cycle now, we're gonna be overflowing with rich, All Spark-infused, energon-y goodness!"<br /><br />
"Did you really just say 'energon-y goodness'?"<br />
:—'''Sentinel''''s speech <strike>tick</strike>—er, tic bemuses '''Elita-1'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Sari''': Optimus! Check out my costume!<br /><br />
''[Camera reveals that Sari is Optimus Prime]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Oh, look at me. I'm Optimus Prime. I'm scared of spiders.<br /><br />
''[Bumblebee and Bulkhead chuckle]''<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': That's ''not'' what I sound like—is it?<br /><br />
'''Bumblebee''': Last chance to join us, Boss Bot.<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': Thanks, but I'll pass. Just be careful out there, all right?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Don't worry. I'll keep these two out of trouble. ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Transform and roll out!<br /><br />
''[Optimus gives Sari a look]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Couldn't resist.<br />
:—Sari and the Autobots roast Optimus Prime.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee''': Who are you?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': What are you?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Duh. She's a girl.<br />
:—The gang meets Blackarachnia.<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, who ''was'' that bug-bot lady?"<br /><br />
"Someone I never should have left behind."<br />
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Optimus Prime''' talk some heavy stuff.<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Bulkhead jaw drop.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of jaw droppers before but this is ridiculous.]]<br />
* Shortly after Sentinel says that he and Optimus should go back for Elita when the Decepticon ship explodes, his nose and forehead are painted silver, like Optimus.<br />
* As Blackarachnia is stroking Bulkhead, his jaw falls off, then is seen re-attached to him the next cut--an obviously intentional, throw-away [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop animation joke.]<br />
* Sentinel's light blue markings can be seen several times during flashbacks.<br />
<br />
===Continuity===<br />
* Though not quite an error, the events of Optimus's flashbacks in this episode are [[Endgame, Part I|later]] revealed to be the reason for his being expelled from the Autobot Academy.<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]], [[Elita One]] was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s paramour. The ''Animated'' incarnation of the character refrains from attempting to visually homage the original pink-and-white Elita, instead creating a blue-and-yellow pony-tailed character who bears a resemblance to Elita's earlier (pony-tailed) form, Ariel. Similarly, her relationship with Optimus is less distinct - as confirmed [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|later]], she used to be Sentinel's girlfriend, but present-day scenes do suggest ''some'' kind of personal tension (though that could be guilt on Optimus's part and anger on Elita's).<br />
* Sentinel is depicted here as Optimus's friend and peer, whereas in all other series he's either been Optimus's mentor, a superior officer, or a predecessor. In this way it seems the roles of Sentinel and [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] have been reversed from past continuities.<br />
* With this episode, [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] make their first appearance in Transformers cartoons since ''Beast Wars''. They look ''exactly'' like they did in the Generation 1 cartoon, which even ''Beast Wars'' didn't pull off.<br />
* Speaking of which, Sari's Optimus costume resembles the original [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from ''Generation 1'' more than it does the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|one in the timeline she's in]].<br />
* Bulkhead's jaw drop is certain to remind some of when [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]'s jaw did practically the same thing in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Showdown (episode)|Showdown]]."<br />
<br />
===Real-world references===<br />
* Bulkhead's "ghost" costume, with its constant cloud of pesticides at the bottom, coincidentally resembles "Pig-Pen's" costume from ''[[wikipedia:It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"|It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown]]''.<br />
* Judging how Blackarachnia [[Spider-Man|can swing from a thread]], the Autobots had best take a look overhead.<br />
* "Little help for the vertically challenged?". Bulkhead throwing Bumblebee is better known to X-Men fans as the Fastball Special, usually performed by [[wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] and [[Wolverine]].<br />
* This episode's title is a reference to the James Patterson novel "Along Came A Spider", or possibly some nursery rhyme but for coolness, we'll go with the novel.<br />
<br />
===Trivia===<br />
* In a flashback, prior to Blackarachnia's transformation, a helmet can be seen sitting in a corner of the Decepticon ship. In the season 3 episode "[[Predacons Rising]]", it is confirmed that she starts wearing the helmet to conceal the extent of her transformation.<br />
* This episode makes a point of how Sari has been overusing the AllSpark Key previously, and that it can't be used to cure every Transformer injury. The writers evidently anticipated that reaction from the audience.<br />
* Referring to himself as "vertically challenged," Bumblebee seems to be over his height complex, which was such a major point in "[[Total Meltdown]]".<br />
* This is the first time Sentinel has been fully on screen. When he appeared in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]", all that was seen of him was his big jerk head.<br />
* In the flashbacks, neither Sentinel nor Optimus is addressed as "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]". It's possible they hadn't attained that rank yet. (Sentinel is actually credited as just "Sentinel", not Sentinel Prime or Sentinel Minor, like he is in "[[Autoboot Camp]]", making it much more likely that the non-mention of their ranks was intentional.)<br />
* On a related note, in the flashbacks, Sentinel's Autobot insignia (unsurprisingly) does not have the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] "[[:Image:Cyb Elite Guard Badge.png|wings]]" we see when he's introduced [[The Elite Guard|in the present]].<br />
* Blackarachnia claims that she's been waiting to be cured for "a thousand [[Units of time|stellar cycles]]", which gives us a rough time frame for when the flashbacks in this episode took place. Whether they occur before or after "[[Autoboot Camp]]" is unclear, but it's probably before if we assume that our favorite jerk was only going by "Sentinel", and not "Sentinel Minor" at that point.<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume Bumblebee.jpeg|thumb|200px|right|Bumblebee attempts to get into character, and fails.]]<br />
* This episode gives us at least one reason why Sentinel hates Optimus. The incident is also later established as the cause of Optimus' expulsion from the Autobot Academy in "[[Endgame, Part I]]".<br />
* The hand motions Bulkhead makes at the end of the episode when he says "So who was that Bug-Bot-Lady?" are... interesting, to say the least.<br />
* While dressed up as Count Dracubot, Bumblebee states that he "wants to drink your motor oil." As we learn [[Rise of the Constructicons|later]], this is roughly the equivalent of a vampire saying he wants to bum a few beers off you. Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on this whole Halloween thing.<br />
* When we see Sari, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee together in the city, one of the kids in the bottom left of the screen is wearing a Bumblebee costume.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Two: Lost and Found (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Zwei: Die Alten Waffen (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Cloaked_mystery_villain&diff=446910Cloaked mystery villain2010-04-10T03:07:36Z<p>LuckyKoi: </p>
<hr />
<div>{{noname-nickname}}<br />
:''The cloaked mystery villain is a... thing from the [[Animated (franchise)|Animated]] [[continuity family]].''<br />
<br />
[[Image:TheHoodedClaw01.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Who knows what evil lurks in the sparks of bots? The shadow knows!]]<br />
<br />
The '''cloaked mystery villain''' is a giant spectral entity, able to form itself from a translucent blob of crimson fire. Just who or what it is... only the Japanese may know.<br />
<br />
==Fiction==<br />
===''Animated'' cartoon===<br />
<br />
The cloaked mystery villain appeared hovering in front of the [[Earth]], arms stretched out, no doubt plotting villainy on a global scale. Its allegiance or methods unknown, it apparently wasn't friends with the [[Autobot]]s.<br />
<br />
Later, the humongous, dark, red-glowing silhouette of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] appeared on Earth, but was defeated by a punch of [[burning justice]] from [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. {{storylink|title sequence|Animated title sequence (Japan)}}<br />
<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
[[Image:TFA MysteryVillainSpeculation.jpeg|thumb|150px|right|Perhaps the 'Mystery' isnt all that difficult.]]<br />
[[category:Animated characters]]<br />
[[category:Japanese-original characters]]<br />
*Just what the hell is up with this guy? ''Who is he?'' He could conceivably be an obtuse representation of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], given that Megatron shows up later in the title sequence as a gigantic black silhouette with red flames spewing all about, but the build and the head of the cloaked mystery villain are entirely different from Megatron's. It's quite possible he may just be a poetic personification of ''Evil incarnate'', too. We may never know.<br />
<br />
*And neither will ''you''.<br />
<br />
*On second thought, it could just be another prank by a [[Bumblebee (Animated)|certain yellow]] [[Along_Came_a_Spider#Trivia|oil-sucker.]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Along_Came_a_Spider&diff=446909Along Came a Spider2010-04-10T03:06:32Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Trivia */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|image=TFA Along Spider Blackarachnia introduction.JPG<br />
|caption=[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee, you seem to have lubricated yourself]].<br />
|ep=9<br />
|title="Along Came a Spider"<br />
|airdate=[[February 16]], 2008<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Irineo Maramba]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br />
|animation studio=[[Mook]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee and Bulkhead's first Halloween turns even spookier when they encounter a giant spider that turns out to be the deadly Decepticon Blackarachnia.'''<br />
<br />
:''German Title:'' "'''Im Netz der Spinne'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''W Sieci Pająka'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] introduces [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] to the concept of [[Halloween]], starting with selecting pumpkins. As she explains the idea of choosing just the right costume, Optimus's attention is distracted by a large black widow spider decoration. He remembers back to his academy days….<br />
<br />
[[Image:Alongcameaspiderthreefriends.jpg|left|210px|thumb|"So once again, we find that evil of the past seeps into the present like salad dressing through cheap wax paper, mixing memory and desire."]]<br />
<br />
''On [[Archa Seven]], Optimus and his friend Elita-1 admire the strange webbing stretching across the high rocks, not knowing what it is, until [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] calls to them to hurry up. Optimus cautions that such worlds are normally considered off-limits to Autobots, but there's supposedly a real Decepticon [[Twilight (Animated)|ship]] somewhere in the area. Elita's there for the historical value, but Sentinel just wants to get his hands on the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] cache that must be in it. Optimus is still wary of potential punishment should they get caught, but figures he has to keep the other two from getting in over their heads. Sentinel insists that never happens—right before the ground crumbles under their feet, sending all three plunging into a deep cavern. Strange, skittering noises echo from its dark reaches. Optimus activates his shoulder-light to see….''<br />
<br />
Bulkhead snaps Optimus's attention back to the present by donning a bedsheet (which just covers his head) and going "Boo," startling his leader. Optimus claims a ghost from his past just has him jumpy, then stalks off.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume bots.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee's decision to dress up as Count Blackula didn't go down well.]]<br />
<br />
Back at the Autobot base, Sari critiques Bumblebee and Bulkhead's costumes, but says her own costume is only one surprise planned for the night. Noticing Optimus lost in thought, she uses the [[AllSpark Key]] to activate one of the car plant's cranes, swinging another spider decoration in his face. The unexpected sight of it gives Optimus a bad flashback, and he quickly hacks the fake spider to bits. He admonishes Sari for making frivolous use of the Key, and she counters about him needlessly using his axe. Optimus stares down at the remains of the decoration, and his thoughts travel back again….<br />
<br />
''As Optimus, Elita, and Sentinel walk through the cavern, Sentinel enthuses about the rich hoard of energon he's sure they'll find soon. Optimus shushes him as he hears something, and soon all three are casting their lights about, trying to pinpoint the skittering. The source reveals itself as an enormous, alien spider, which quickly traps Elita with some webbing. As Optimus fights it off, Sentinel frees her with his charged shield, but the spider abruptly takes him down. Elita starts using her special power-download ability, but Optimus, holding back the spider, tells her it won't work on organics. She instead borrows the unconscious Sentinel's shield power and shield itself, using them to defend herself, then to bring down a huge stalactite to impale the spider. As Sentinel wakes up and Elita returns his shield, Optimus says that it's not worth staying around, be it for history or energon. Sentinel still insists on one good reason to leave, and he gets three when another trio of giant spiders drop down to confront them. Sentinel quickly puts up his shield's energy barrier, covering Optimus and Elita's retreat. Optimus rolls out, and Elita follows, calling his name….''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Saricostume.jpg|left|130px|thumb|Arise, Sarimus Prime.]]<br />
<br />
Optimus suddenly becomes aware of Sari calling his name to show off her costume—a costume of him. He doesn't appreciate her vocal impersonation of him, and declines to join the trio on their trick-or-treat outing.<br />
<br />
As Sari and the two Autobots progress though a local neighborhood, Bumblebee is a bit spooked by the atmosphere. Sari reminds him it's all pretend—unaware they're being tracked by an enormous spider traveling over the rooftops. As she coaches them through their first actual "trick or treat," Bumblebee spots the spider watching them and freaks out, but it's gone before anyone else sees it. Sari teases him for being more timid than Optimus, but 'Bee protests he knows the difference between a fake decoration and a real giant spider. Listening in from headquarters, Optimus has Bumblebee clarify what he saw, then heads out to meet them, advising them to stay put. As Optimus [[rolls out]], his thoughts roll back….<br />
<br />
''Racing through the caverns, Optimus reaches the wreckage of a [[Decepticon]] warship. Separated from the other two, he heads inside, hoping to find them there. Instead, he finds an impressive stash of energon cubes, just as Sentinel predicted. He also finds an impressive stash of giant spider eggs. As the spiderlings hatch and start attacking, Optimus gets stuck on some webbing, but Elita shows up in time to help. As they fight to escape from more full-grown spiders, Optimus has Elita borrow his grappler ability. They bring down a huge stalactite through the ship's ruined overhead, grappling their way out as the energon detonates below them. However, Elita's download ability times out just then, and she goes plunging back too fast for Optimus to catch her. Sentinel arrives on top of the ship as she plummets into the hold, but knowing the energon is going to blow any second, Optimus grapples himself and Sentinel to safety rather than risk going after Elita just then. Once they break the surface, Optimus scans for Elita's energy signature, but doesn't find it. A furious Sentinel blames everything on Optimus.''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Blackarach anim beast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|All those eyes, and she still can't see why those kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.]]<br />
<br />
In the present, still en route to Sari and company's location, Optimus swears he won't let it happen again. Meanwhile, Bumblebee stresses that they have to stay vigilant until Optimus arrives—even as Sari is yanked out from under them by the giant spider. Bumblebee quickly cuts Sari free, but as he and Bulkhead surround the spider, it transforms into a female robot who calls herself [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]. Sari's not too surprised or impressed by her femininity, but it makes a much bigger impression on Bulkhead—right up to the point Blackarachnia stabs him with two of her spider legs, knocking him out. She quickly gives Bumblebee the same treatment, then tells Sari they should go, now that Sari's safe. Sari protests the two Autobots are her friends, and Blackarachnia apologizes, pretending she can't tell which robots are good or bad on Earth. As Sari futilely tries to revive Bulkhead with her AllSpark Key, Blackarachnia notes that the organic nature of her venom precludes that solution, since the All Spark doesn't affect organics. She offers to try helping the Autobots if Sari will just hand her the Key, but her ruse is interrupted when Optimus lassos her legs out from under her. Blackarachnia appears shocked to see him, but quickly frees herself and starts fighting back—using Bumblebee's stingers and Bulkhead's strength. Instead of borrowing any of Optimus's powers, though, she judo-throws him across the street, then kidnaps Sari.<br />
<br />
Optimus desperately pursues the pair across the rooftops. He catches up, stuns Blackarachnia with a faceful of foam, then grapples Sari free. Despite this respite and Sari's warning, Blackarachnia still catches Optimus half-unaware. He fights back, but she dodges him constantly, claiming to know all his textbook Autobot Academy moves. Optimus wonders if he knows her, and she berates him for forgetting his friends—even if he remembered Sentinel. Optimus is horrified to realize he's facing Elita-1. She finally relates what really happened that day:<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Elita-1 mutation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Even Female Transformers have to worry about bloating.]]<br />
<br />
''Trapped in the ship and surrounded by the spiders, Elita tries desperately to download their abilities. Instead, she is infected with their venom, and it mutates her into a freak, a half-organic, half-robotic being.''<br />
<br />
Optimus realizes that her half-organic nature is what masked her energy signature from his scans. Blackarachnia sneers that if he'd known and saved her, she'd just have been dismantled and examined on some lab table on Cybertron. Optimus reproves her for joining the Decepticons, but she counters that at least she knows where she stands with them. She webs up Optimus and snatches the AllSpark Key, certain that if anything can purge her organic half, it can. She plugs it into herself, but the unleashed energies begin causing all organic life in range, including Sari, to wither and sicken. Optimus breaks free, but before he can stop Blackarachnia, she grabs up Sari and throws her off the roof. Sari snags a flagpole long enough for Bumblebee and Bulkhead to save her, leaving Optimus free to deal with Blackarachnia. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA ep9 Optimus and Blackarachnia rooftop.jpg|right|205px|thumb|Never liked the [[Silverbolt (BW)|Bird-dog]] anyway.]]<br />
<br />
However, Blackarachnia collapses on her own, though. Optimus surmises her spark can't survive without her organic half, but she's too weak to pull out the AllSpark Key and stop the reaction. Optimus forces through the energy barrier around her and removes it for her, restoring the organic life in the area to normal. As he helps her up, Blackarachnia asks him to go, not wanting to be seen like that. Still calling her Elita, Optimus asks her to come with them, promising his group will find a cure, and allow him to earn back her trust. She seems to respond positively, but it's another sham. Blackarachnia stabs him unconscious and leaves, vowing it will be a long time before she trusts another Autobot, especially him.<br />
<br />
Later, Optimus returns Sari the AllSpark Key. She thanks him and admits he was right—maybe it's time she gave the Key a rest. Bumblebee trundles in painfully, still damaged from his fall after catching Sari, and asks if she could use it once more. Bulkhead asks who the bug-bot lady was, and Optimus responds it was someone he should never have left behind. Elsewhere, Blackarachnia stands on a rooftop, gazing at the moon and sobbing over her fate.<br />
{{--}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters<br />
|c1=<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead ]] (2)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] (6) (Flashback)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1/Blackarachnia]] (5)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
'''Bumblebee''': ''[Bad Slavic accent]'' Velcome. I am Count Dracubot. I vant to drink your motor oil.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Hey, guys! I finally found something big enough for my ghost costume.<br /><br />
''[Fumes surround his feet, causing Sari to cough]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Bulkhead, where did you get that sheet?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': It was just draped over some house. Weird place for a bed sheet, huh?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Oh, that's not a bedsheet. That's a fumigation tent.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Really…? What's a fumigation tent?<br /><br />
''[As well as the fumes, Bulkhead's feet are now covered in dead cockroaches.]''<br />
:—Sari sees the Autobots' costumes.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I've got a good feeling about this. Any cycle now, we're gonna be overflowing with rich, All Spark-infused, energon-y goodness!"<br /><br />
"Did you really just say 'energon-y goodness'?"<br />
:—'''Sentinel''''s speech <strike>tick</strike>—er, tic bemuses '''Elita-1'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Sari''': Optimus! Check out my costume!<br /><br />
''[Camera reveals that Sari is Optimus Prime]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Oh, look at me. I'm Optimus Prime. I'm scared of spiders.<br /><br />
''[Bumblebee and Bulkhead chuckle]''<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': That's ''not'' what I sound like—is it?<br /><br />
'''Bumblebee''': Last chance to join us, Boss Bot.<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': Thanks, but I'll pass. Just be careful out there, all right?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Don't worry. I'll keep these two out of trouble. ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Transform and roll out!<br /><br />
''[Optimus gives Sari a look]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Couldn't resist.<br />
:—Sari and the Autobots roast Optimus Prime.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee''': Who are you?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': What are you?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Duh. She's a girl.<br />
:—The gang meets Blackarachnia.<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, who ''was'' that bug-bot lady?"<br /><br />
"Someone I never should have left behind."<br />
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Optimus Prime''' talk some heavy stuff.<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Bulkhead jaw drop.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of jaw droppers before but this is ridiculous.]]<br />
* Shortly after Sentinel says that he and Optimus should go back for Elita when the Decepticon ship explodes, his nose and forehead are painted silver, like Optimus.<br />
* As Blackarachnia is stroking Bulkhead, his jaw falls off, then is seen re-attached to him the next cut--an obviously intentional, throw-away [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop animation joke.]<br />
* Sentinel's light blue markings can be seen several times during flashbacks.<br />
<br />
===Continuity===<br />
* Though not quite an error, the events of Optimus's flashbacks in this episode are [[Endgame, Part I|later]] revealed to be the reason for his being expelled from the Autobot Academy.<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]], [[Elita One]] was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s paramour. The ''Animated'' incarnation of the character refrains from attempting to visually homage the original pink-and-white Elita, instead creating a blue-and-yellow pony-tailed character who bears a resemblance to Elita's earlier (pony-tailed) form, Ariel. Similarly, her relationship with Optimus is less distinct - as confirmed [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|later]], she used to be Sentinel's girlfriend, but present-day scenes do suggest ''some'' kind of personal tension (though that could be guilt on Optimus's part and anger on Elita's).<br />
* Sentinel is depicted here as Optimus's friend and peer, whereas in all other series he's either been Optimus's mentor, a superior officer, or a predecessor. In this way it seems the roles of Sentinel and [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] have been reversed from past continuities.<br />
* With this episode, [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] make their first appearance in Transformers cartoons since ''Beast Wars''. They look ''exactly'' like they did in the Generation 1 cartoon, which even ''Beast Wars'' didn't pull off.<br />
* Speaking of which, Sari's Optimus costume resembles the original [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from ''Generation 1'' more than it does the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|one in the timeline she's in]].<br />
* Bulkhead's jaw drop is certain to remind some of when [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]'s jaw did practically the same thing in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Showdown (episode)|Showdown]]."<br />
<br />
===Real-world references===<br />
* Bulkhead's "ghost" costume, with its constant cloud of pesticides at the bottom, coincidentally resembles "Pig-Pen's" costume from ''[[wikipedia:It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"|It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown]]''.<br />
* Judging how Blackarachnia [[Spider-Man|can swing from a thread]], the Autobots had best take a look overhead.<br />
* "Little help for the vertically challenged?". Bulkhead throwing Bumblebee is better known to X-Men fans as the Fastball Special, usually performed by [[wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] and [[Wolverine]].<br />
* This episode's title is a reference to the James Patterson novel "Along Came A Spider", or possibly some nursery rhyme but for coolness, we'll go with the novel.<br />
<br />
===Trivia===<br />
* In a flashback, prior to Blackarachnia's transformation, a helmet can be seen sitting in a corner of the Decepticon ship. In the season 3 episode "[[Predacons Rising]]", it is confirmed that she starts wearing the helmet to conceal the extent of her transformation.<br />
* This episode makes a point of how Sari has been overusing the AllSpark Key previously, and that it can't be used to cure every Transformer injury. The writers evidently anticipated that reaction from the audience.<br />
* Referring to himself as "vertically challenged," Bumblebee seems to be over his height complex, which was such a major point in "[[Total Meltdown]]".<br />
* This is the first time Sentinel has been fully on screen. When he appeared in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]", all that was seen of him was his big jerk head.<br />
* In the flashbacks, neither Sentinel nor Optimus is addressed as "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]". It's possible they hadn't attained that rank yet. (Sentinel is actually credited as just "Sentinel", not Sentinel Prime or Sentinel Minor, like he is in "[[Autoboot Camp]]", making it much more likely that the non-mention of their ranks was intentional.)<br />
* On a related note, in the flashbacks, Sentinel's Autobot insignia (unsurprisingly) does not have the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] "[[:Image:Cyb Elite Guard Badge.png|wings]]" we see when he's introduced [[The Elite Guard|in the present]].<br />
* Blackarachnia claims that she's been waiting to be cured for "a thousand [[Units of time|stellar cycles]]", which gives us a rough time frame for when the flashbacks in this episode took place. Whether they occur before or after "[[Autoboot Camp]]" is unclear, but it's probably before if we assume that our favorite jerk was only going by "Sentinel", and not "Sentinel Minor" at that point.<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume Bumblebee.jpeg|thumb|180px|right|Bumblebee attempts to get into character, and fails.]]<br />
* This episode gives us at least one reason why Sentinel hates Optimus. The incident is also later established as the cause of Optimus' expulsion from the Autobot Academy in "[[Endgame, Part I]]".<br />
* The hand motions Bulkhead makes at the end of the episode when he says "So who was that Bug-Bot-Lady?" are... interesting, to say the least.<br />
* While dressed up as Count Dracubot, Bumblebee states that he "wants to drink your motor oil." As we learn [[Rise of the Constructicons|later]], this is roughly the equivalent of a vampire saying he wants to bum a few beers off you. Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on this whole Halloween thing.<br />
* When we see Sari, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee together in the city, one of the kids in the bottom left of the screen is wearing a Bumblebee costume.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Two: Lost and Found (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Zwei: Die Alten Waffen (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=Along_Came_a_Spider&diff=446908Along Came a Spider2010-04-10T03:05:57Z<p>LuckyKoi: /* Trivia */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{episode|<br />
|series=Anitoon<br />
|image=TFA Along Spider Blackarachnia introduction.JPG<br />
|caption=[[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee, you seem to have lubricated yourself]].<br />
|ep=9<br />
|title="Along Came a Spider"<br />
|airdate=[[February 16]], 2008<br />
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]]<br />
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]]<br> [[Irineo Maramba]]<br> [[Yutaka Kagawa]]<br />
|animation studio=[[Mook]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee and Bulkhead's first Halloween turns even spookier when they encounter a giant spider that turns out to be the deadly Decepticon Blackarachnia.'''<br />
<br />
:''German Title:'' "'''Im Netz der Spinne'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
:''Polish title:'' "'''W Sieci Pająka'''" ("In the Spider's Web")<br />
<br />
==Synopsis==<br />
[[Sari Sumdac|Sari]] introduces [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] and [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] to the concept of [[Halloween]], starting with selecting pumpkins. As she explains the idea of choosing just the right costume, Optimus's attention is distracted by a large black widow spider decoration. He remembers back to his academy days….<br />
<br />
[[Image:Alongcameaspiderthreefriends.jpg|left|210px|thumb|"So once again, we find that evil of the past seeps into the present like salad dressing through cheap wax paper, mixing memory and desire."]]<br />
<br />
''On [[Archa Seven]], Optimus and his friend Elita-1 admire the strange webbing stretching across the high rocks, not knowing what it is, until [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] calls to them to hurry up. Optimus cautions that such worlds are normally considered off-limits to Autobots, but there's supposedly a real Decepticon [[Twilight (Animated)|ship]] somewhere in the area. Elita's there for the historical value, but Sentinel just wants to get his hands on the [[Energon (fuel)|energon]] cache that must be in it. Optimus is still wary of potential punishment should they get caught, but figures he has to keep the other two from getting in over their heads. Sentinel insists that never happens—right before the ground crumbles under their feet, sending all three plunging into a deep cavern. Strange, skittering noises echo from its dark reaches. Optimus activates his shoulder-light to see….''<br />
<br />
Bulkhead snaps Optimus's attention back to the present by donning a bedsheet (which just covers his head) and going "Boo," startling his leader. Optimus claims a ghost from his past just has him jumpy, then stalks off.<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume bots.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Bumblebee's decision to dress up as Count Blackula didn't go down well.]]<br />
<br />
Back at the Autobot base, Sari critiques Bumblebee and Bulkhead's costumes, but says her own costume is only one surprise planned for the night. Noticing Optimus lost in thought, she uses the [[AllSpark Key]] to activate one of the car plant's cranes, swinging another spider decoration in his face. The unexpected sight of it gives Optimus a bad flashback, and he quickly hacks the fake spider to bits. He admonishes Sari for making frivolous use of the Key, and she counters about him needlessly using his axe. Optimus stares down at the remains of the decoration, and his thoughts travel back again….<br />
<br />
''As Optimus, Elita, and Sentinel walk through the cavern, Sentinel enthuses about the rich hoard of energon he's sure they'll find soon. Optimus shushes him as he hears something, and soon all three are casting their lights about, trying to pinpoint the skittering. The source reveals itself as an enormous, alien spider, which quickly traps Elita with some webbing. As Optimus fights it off, Sentinel frees her with his charged shield, but the spider abruptly takes him down. Elita starts using her special power-download ability, but Optimus, holding back the spider, tells her it won't work on organics. She instead borrows the unconscious Sentinel's shield power and shield itself, using them to defend herself, then to bring down a huge stalactite to impale the spider. As Sentinel wakes up and Elita returns his shield, Optimus says that it's not worth staying around, be it for history or energon. Sentinel still insists on one good reason to leave, and he gets three when another trio of giant spiders drop down to confront them. Sentinel quickly puts up his shield's energy barrier, covering Optimus and Elita's retreat. Optimus rolls out, and Elita follows, calling his name….''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Saricostume.jpg|left|130px|thumb|Arise, Sarimus Prime.]]<br />
<br />
Optimus suddenly becomes aware of Sari calling his name to show off her costume—a costume of him. He doesn't appreciate her vocal impersonation of him, and declines to join the trio on their trick-or-treat outing.<br />
<br />
As Sari and the two Autobots progress though a local neighborhood, Bumblebee is a bit spooked by the atmosphere. Sari reminds him it's all pretend—unaware they're being tracked by an enormous spider traveling over the rooftops. As she coaches them through their first actual "trick or treat," Bumblebee spots the spider watching them and freaks out, but it's gone before anyone else sees it. Sari teases him for being more timid than Optimus, but 'Bee protests he knows the difference between a fake decoration and a real giant spider. Listening in from headquarters, Optimus has Bumblebee clarify what he saw, then heads out to meet them, advising them to stay put. As Optimus [[rolls out]], his thoughts roll back….<br />
<br />
''Racing through the caverns, Optimus reaches the wreckage of a [[Decepticon]] warship. Separated from the other two, he heads inside, hoping to find them there. Instead, he finds an impressive stash of energon cubes, just as Sentinel predicted. He also finds an impressive stash of giant spider eggs. As the spiderlings hatch and start attacking, Optimus gets stuck on some webbing, but Elita shows up in time to help. As they fight to escape from more full-grown spiders, Optimus has Elita borrow his grappler ability. They bring down a huge stalactite through the ship's ruined overhead, grappling their way out as the energon detonates below them. However, Elita's download ability times out just then, and she goes plunging back too fast for Optimus to catch her. Sentinel arrives on top of the ship as she plummets into the hold, but knowing the energon is going to blow any second, Optimus grapples himself and Sentinel to safety rather than risk going after Elita just then. Once they break the surface, Optimus scans for Elita's energy signature, but doesn't find it. A furious Sentinel blames everything on Optimus.''<br />
<br />
[[Image:Blackarach anim beast.jpg|right|200px|thumb|All those eyes, and she still can't see why those kids like Cinnamon Toast Crunch.]]<br />
<br />
In the present, still en route to Sari and company's location, Optimus swears he won't let it happen again. Meanwhile, Bumblebee stresses that they have to stay vigilant until Optimus arrives—even as Sari is yanked out from under them by the giant spider. Bumblebee quickly cuts Sari free, but as he and Bulkhead surround the spider, it transforms into a female robot who calls herself [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]]. Sari's not too surprised or impressed by her femininity, but it makes a much bigger impression on Bulkhead—right up to the point Blackarachnia stabs him with two of her spider legs, knocking him out. She quickly gives Bumblebee the same treatment, then tells Sari they should go, now that Sari's safe. Sari protests the two Autobots are her friends, and Blackarachnia apologizes, pretending she can't tell which robots are good or bad on Earth. As Sari futilely tries to revive Bulkhead with her AllSpark Key, Blackarachnia notes that the organic nature of her venom precludes that solution, since the All Spark doesn't affect organics. She offers to try helping the Autobots if Sari will just hand her the Key, but her ruse is interrupted when Optimus lassos her legs out from under her. Blackarachnia appears shocked to see him, but quickly frees herself and starts fighting back—using Bumblebee's stingers and Bulkhead's strength. Instead of borrowing any of Optimus's powers, though, she judo-throws him across the street, then kidnaps Sari.<br />
<br />
Optimus desperately pursues the pair across the rooftops. He catches up, stuns Blackarachnia with a faceful of foam, then grapples Sari free. Despite this respite and Sari's warning, Blackarachnia still catches Optimus half-unaware. He fights back, but she dodges him constantly, claiming to know all his textbook Autobot Academy moves. Optimus wonders if he knows her, and she berates him for forgetting his friends—even if he remembered Sentinel. Optimus is horrified to realize he's facing Elita-1. She finally relates what really happened that day:<br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA Elita-1 mutation.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Even Female Transformers have to worry about bloating.]]<br />
<br />
''Trapped in the ship and surrounded by the spiders, Elita tries desperately to download their abilities. Instead, she is infected with their venom, and it mutates her into a freak, a half-organic, half-robotic being.''<br />
<br />
Optimus realizes that her half-organic nature is what masked her energy signature from his scans. Blackarachnia sneers that if he'd known and saved her, she'd just have been dismantled and examined on some lab table on Cybertron. Optimus reproves her for joining the Decepticons, but she counters that at least she knows where she stands with them. She webs up Optimus and snatches the AllSpark Key, certain that if anything can purge her organic half, it can. She plugs it into herself, but the unleashed energies begin causing all organic life in range, including Sari, to wither and sicken. Optimus breaks free, but before he can stop Blackarachnia, she grabs up Sari and throws her off the roof. Sari snags a flagpole long enough for Bumblebee and Bulkhead to save her, leaving Optimus free to deal with Blackarachnia. <br />
<br />
[[Image:TFA ep9 Optimus and Blackarachnia rooftop.jpg|right|205px|thumb|Never liked the [[Silverbolt (BW)|Bird-dog]] anyway.]]<br />
<br />
However, Blackarachnia collapses on her own, though. Optimus surmises her spark can't survive without her organic half, but she's too weak to pull out the AllSpark Key and stop the reaction. Optimus forces through the energy barrier around her and removes it for her, restoring the organic life in the area to normal. As he helps her up, Blackarachnia asks him to go, not wanting to be seen like that. Still calling her Elita, Optimus asks her to come with them, promising his group will find a cure, and allow him to earn back her trust. She seems to respond positively, but it's another sham. Blackarachnia stabs him unconscious and leaves, vowing it will be a long time before she trusts another Autobot, especially him.<br />
<br />
Later, Optimus returns Sari the AllSpark Key. She thanks him and admits he was right—maybe it's time she gave the Key a rest. Bumblebee trundles in painfully, still damaged from his fall after catching Sari, and asks if she could use it once more. Bulkhead asks who the bug-bot lady was, and Optimus responds it was someone he should never have left behind. Elsewhere, Blackarachnia stands on a rooftop, gazing at the moon and sobbing over her fate.<br />
{{--}}<br />
<br />
==Featured characters==<br />
{{featuredcharacters<br />
|c1=<br />
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead ]] (2)<br />
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (3)<br />
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (4)<br />
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] (6) (Flashback)<br />
<br />
|c2=<br />
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1/Blackarachnia]] (5)<br />
<br />
|c3=<br />
*[[Sari Sumdac]] (1)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
==Quotes==<br />
'''Bumblebee''': ''[Bad Slavic accent]'' Velcome. I am Count Dracubot. I vant to drink your motor oil.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Hey, guys! I finally found something big enough for my ghost costume.<br /><br />
''[Fumes surround his feet, causing Sari to cough]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Bulkhead, where did you get that sheet?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': It was just draped over some house. Weird place for a bed sheet, huh?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Oh, that's not a bedsheet. That's a fumigation tent.<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': Really…? What's a fumigation tent?<br /><br />
''[As well as the fumes, Bulkhead's feet are now covered in dead cockroaches.]''<br />
:—Sari sees the Autobots' costumes.<br />
<br />
<br />
"I've got a good feeling about this. Any cycle now, we're gonna be overflowing with rich, All Spark-infused, energon-y goodness!"<br /><br />
"Did you really just say 'energon-y goodness'?"<br />
:—'''Sentinel''''s speech <strike>tick</strike>—er, tic bemuses '''Elita-1'''.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Sari''': Optimus! Check out my costume!<br /><br />
''[Camera reveals that Sari is Optimus Prime]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Oh, look at me. I'm Optimus Prime. I'm scared of spiders.<br /><br />
''[Bumblebee and Bulkhead chuckle]''<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': That's ''not'' what I sound like—is it?<br /><br />
'''Bumblebee''': Last chance to join us, Boss Bot.<br /><br />
'''Optimus''': Thanks, but I'll pass. Just be careful out there, all right?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Don't worry. I'll keep these two out of trouble. ''[Imitating Optimus]'' Transform and roll out!<br /><br />
''[Optimus gives Sari a look]''<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Couldn't resist.<br />
:—Sari and the Autobots roast Optimus Prime.<br />
<br />
<br />
'''Bumblebee''': Who are you?<br /><br />
'''Bulkhead''': What are you?<br /><br />
'''Sari''': Duh. She's a girl.<br />
:—The gang meets Blackarachnia.<br />
<br />
<br />
"So, who ''was'' that bug-bot lady?"<br /><br />
"Someone I never should have left behind."<br />
:—'''Bulkhead''' and '''Optimus Prime''' talk some heavy stuff.<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
===Animation or technical glitches===<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Bulkhead jaw drop.JPG|right|200px|thumb|I've heard of jaw droppers before but this is ridiculous.]]<br />
* Shortly after Sentinel says that he and Optimus should go back for Elita when the Decepticon ship explodes, his nose and forehead are painted silver, like Optimus.<br />
* As Blackarachnia is stroking Bulkhead, his jaw falls off, then is seen re-attached to him the next cut--an obviously intentional, throw-away [http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop animation joke.]<br />
* Sentinel's light blue markings can be seen several times during flashbacks.<br />
<br />
===Continuity===<br />
* Though not quite an error, the events of Optimus's flashbacks in this episode are [[Endgame, Part I|later]] revealed to be the reason for his being expelled from the Autobot Academy.<br />
<br />
===Transformers references===<br />
* In the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 animated series]], [[Elita One]] was [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s paramour. The ''Animated'' incarnation of the character refrains from attempting to visually homage the original pink-and-white Elita, instead creating a blue-and-yellow pony-tailed character who bears a resemblance to Elita's earlier (pony-tailed) form, Ariel. Similarly, her relationship with Optimus is less distinct - as confirmed [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|later]], she used to be Sentinel's girlfriend, but present-day scenes do suggest ''some'' kind of personal tension (though that could be guilt on Optimus's part and anger on Elita's).<br />
* Sentinel is depicted here as Optimus's friend and peer, whereas in all other series he's either been Optimus's mentor, a superior officer, or a predecessor. In this way it seems the roles of Sentinel and [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] have been reversed from past continuities.<br />
* With this episode, [[Energon cube|energon cubes]] make their first appearance in Transformers cartoons since ''Beast Wars''. They look ''exactly'' like they did in the Generation 1 cartoon, which even ''Beast Wars'' didn't pull off.<br />
* Speaking of which, Sari's Optimus costume resembles the original [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] from ''Generation 1'' more than it does the [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|one in the timeline she's in]].<br />
* Bulkhead's jaw drop is certain to remind some of when [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]]'s jaw did practically the same thing in the ''[[Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' episode "[[Showdown (episode)|Showdown]]."<br />
<br />
===Real-world references===<br />
* Bulkhead's "ghost" costume, with its constant cloud of pesticides at the bottom, coincidentally resembles "Pig-Pen's" costume from ''[[wikipedia:It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown"|It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown]]''.<br />
* Judging how Blackarachnia [[Spider-Man|can swing from a thread]], the Autobots had best take a look overhead.<br />
* "Little help for the vertically challenged?". Bulkhead throwing Bumblebee is better known to X-Men fans as the Fastball Special, usually performed by [[wikipedia:Colossus (comics)|Colossus]] and [[Wolverine]].<br />
* This episode's title is a reference to the James Patterson novel "Along Came A Spider", or possibly some nursery rhyme but for coolness, we'll go with the novel.<br />
<br />
===Trivia===<br />
* In a flashback, prior to Blackarachnia's transformation, a helmet can be seen sitting in a corner of the Decepticon ship. In the season 3 episode "[[Predacons Rising]]", it is confirmed that she starts wearing the helmet to conceal the extent of her transformation.<br />
* This episode makes a point of how Sari has been overusing the AllSpark Key previously, and that it can't be used to cure every Transformer injury. The writers evidently anticipated that reaction from the audience.<br />
* Referring to himself as "vertically challenged," Bumblebee seems to be over his height complex, which was such a major point in "[[Total Meltdown]]".<br />
* This is the first time Sentinel has been fully on screen. When he appeared in "[[Transform and Roll Out!]]", all that was seen of him was his big jerk head.<br />
* In the flashbacks, neither Sentinel nor Optimus is addressed as "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]]". It's possible they hadn't attained that rank yet. (Sentinel is actually credited as just "Sentinel", not Sentinel Prime or Sentinel Minor, like he is in "[[Autoboot Camp]]", making it much more likely that the non-mention of their ranks was intentional.)<br />
* On a related note, in the flashbacks, Sentinel's Autobot insignia (unsurprisingly) does not have the [[Cybertron Elite Guard]] "[[:Image:Cyb Elite Guard Badge.png|wings]]" we see when he's introduced [[The Elite Guard|in the present]].<br />
* Blackarachnia claims that she's been waiting to be cured for "a thousand [[Units of time|stellar cycles]]", which gives us a rough time frame for when the flashbacks in this episode took place. Whether they occur before or after "[[Autoboot Camp]]" is unclear, but it's probably before if we assume that our favorite jerk was only going by "Sentinel", and not "Sentinel Minor" at that point.<br />
[[Image:TFA Along Spider Costume Bumblebee.jpeg|thumb|165px|right|Bumblebee attempts to get into character, and fails.]]<br />
* This episode gives us at least one reason why Sentinel hates Optimus. The incident is also later established as the cause of Optimus' expulsion from the Autobot Academy in "[[Endgame, Part I]]".<br />
* The hand motions Bulkhead makes at the end of the episode when he says "So who was that Bug-Bot-Lady?" are... interesting, to say the least.<br />
* While dressed up as Count Dracubot, Bumblebee states that he "wants to drink your motor oil." As we learn [[Rise of the Constructicons|later]], this is roughly the equivalent of a vampire saying he wants to bum a few beers off you. Bumblebee ''really'' needs to work on this whole Halloween thing.<br />
* When we see Sari, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee together in the city, one of the kids in the bottom left of the screen is wearing a Bumblebee costume.<br />
<br />
==Home video releases==<br />
;DVD<br />
*2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Two: Lost and Found (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
*2009 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Zwei: Die Alten Waffen (Paramount) — English and German audio.<br />
<br />
[[Category:Animated episodes]]</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=File:TFA_Along_Spider_Costume_Bumblebee.jpeg&diff=446903File:TFA Along Spider Costume Bumblebee.jpeg2010-04-10T02:47:08Z<p>LuckyKoi: Bumblebee attempts to get into character, and fails.</p>
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<div>Bumblebee attempts to get into character, and fails.</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=User:LuckyKoi&diff=409908User:LuckyKoi2009-12-27T21:44:16Z<p>LuckyKoi: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''LuckyKoi''' is a novice Wiki'er and relatively new Transformers Fan. She has yet to figure out the MyTalk feature, along with much of the Wikipedia formating despite having a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Cheatsheet Cheatsheet]<br />
<br />
Out of everything, her favorite thing about Transformers is the [[fandom]]-- yes, even much of the creepy parts. <br />
<br />
LuckyKoi partakes in the creation of fanart.<br />
<br />
"Ffff--- Cant someone ELSE do the lineart for me?"<br />
-Lucky bemoaning her least favorite aspect of art.</div>LuckyKoihttps://tfwiki.duckdns.org/index.php?title=User:LuckyKoi&diff=409907User:LuckyKoi2009-12-27T21:42:08Z<p>LuckyKoi: New page: '''LuckyKoi''' is a novice Wiki'er and relatively new Transformers Fan. She has yet to figure out the MyTalk feature. Out of everything, her favorite thing about Transformers is the [[fand...</p>
<hr />
<div>'''LuckyKoi''' is a novice Wiki'er and relatively new Transformers Fan. She has yet to figure out the MyTalk feature. Out of everything, her favorite thing about Transformers is the [[fandom]]-- yes, even much of the creepy parts. <br />
<br />
LuckyKoi also partakes in the creation of fanart.<br />
<br />
<blockquote></blockquote>"Ffff--- Cant someone ELSE do the lineart for me?"<br />
--Lucky bemoaning her least favorite aspect of art.<br />
<br />
----<br />
'''Things Only She Would Care About'''</div>LuckyKoi