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Day of the Machines

2026-04-16T19:53:12Z

Shobson20: /* Trivia */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=25
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=74
|prev2=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|next2=Scramble City: Mobilization
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=29
|prev3=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|next3=Enter the Nightbird
|image=Dayofmachinesprimeandtorq.jpg
|caption=Big Brother is watching you!
|title="Day of the Machines"
|season=2
|season ep=9
|production code=#700-24
|airdate=[[October 10]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG5GwNKW1RE
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Megatron's latest scheme involves using the most powerful computer on Earth to control machinery remotely.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Dayofmachinesmegsinacase.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"Megatron! What are you doing in my [[Laserbeak (Animated)|cousin's]] house?!"]]
[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (the former disguised in a guitar case!) not-so-silently infiltrate [[Quantum Laboratories]], a top-secret facility where the world’s most powerful computer, [[TORQ III]], is housed. Megatron reprograms the computer with his own personality and gives it the power to control, from remote distances, dangerous machines of all types through the use of "[[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] cards."

At the same time, scientist Dr. [[Paul Gates]] of Quantum Labs muses with a colleague about the dangers of machine sentience and that, in the wrong hands, TORQ III might be too powerful. Since Fate is both cruel and timely, the very scenario they were discussing comes true when TORQ III locks them in their office and announces that he’s taking over.

Megatron is using TORQ and the circuit linker cards to remotely control fleets of [[oil tanker]]s. This alerts [[Teletraan I]], who notifies [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime then receives Dr. Gates’ distress signal; Gates fills him in on TORQ III’s rebellion and asks to be rescued.

[[File:Dayofmachinesautossurround.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The Autobots play "Monkey in the Middle" with a bunch of Brawls.]]
[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] are assigned to investigate the tankers, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] tags along. Prime leads a group to Quantum Labs, where they immediately come under attack by machines controlled by TORQ. Overwhelmed, Prime orders in the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] (minus [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]) to come help, and they smash, chomp and melt down all of the machines. [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] makes his usual pompous comment about having to save Prime’s bacon when things get rough. Afterward, Prime rescues Dr. Gates and they advance toward the buildings, meeting lots of resistance from TORQ’s machines.

Meanwhile, Hound, Spike and Skyfire sneak aboard an oil tanker and infiltrate the [[Decepticon]]s' [[oil rig|oil platform]]. Their attack falls short when Spike is captured and they are forced to surrender.

After smashing more remote-controlled machines at Quantum, Prime decides to explore inside TORQ’s maze-like complex alone. As Optimus moves in closer, one of the machines places a circuit linker card on him, making him Torq’s slave, and he is brought into the computer’s domain. But—surprise, surprise—Prime rips the card off his body, saying it was a dead circuit linker he placed in the robot’s claw, and he disables TORQ with a well-placed punch to the control panel. At the [[oil rig|oil platform]], Soundwave senses TORQ's demise; Megatron takes over control of the tankers with a gargantuan remote control device.

[[File:DayOfMachines Megatron remote control.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"So this is what a human Cell Phone looks like."]]
Dr. Gates lends the Autobots a high-speed hydrofoil to reach the Decepticons. Back at the [[oil]] platform, Spike has hatched an idea to use an electromagnet (which happened to be in their cell) to immobilize [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]]. Skyfire easily smashes through the cell door and Hound disables the force dome that was protecting the platform. The rest of the Autobots arrive and a battle ensues. Prime faces down Megatron and manages to wrest a remote control device from his hands, then tosses it back to him. Megatron lands on it, crushing it, and comes back up spitting mad. He retaliates by activating the self-destruct mechanism on the platform.

The [[Autobot]]s escape, but Prime stays behind to find Hound, Skyfire and Spike. He rips apart the platform deck, revealing the missing team members, and Skyfire flies them out of danger.

Finally, Prime says goodbye to Dr. Gates, who makes a parting comment about machines being unreliable, and then quickly retracts the statement when he realizes his gaffe. The Autobots laugh at the ungrateful human's hubris.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Teletraan I]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (12)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (13)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (15)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (22)
|c2=
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (8)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (25)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]?
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (26?)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (27?)
|c3=
*Security guard (1)
*[[Carl Andrews]] (6)
*[[Paul Gates]] (7)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (23)
*Oil tanker captain (24)
|c4=
*[[TORQ III]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"Illegal access! Illegal access!" 
"It certainly is."
:—'''TORQ III''' is reprogrammed by '''Megatron'''

"We help! ...Hmm. Always get Autobots out of messes they get into."
:—'''Grimlock''' laments at yet another Autobot bungle he is called upon to resolve. Forcefully.

"It's a safe bet those doors are locked." 
"Fortunately, I have a delicate lock-picking technique."
:—'''Dr. Gates''' and '''Optimus Prime''', right before Prime "delicately" blasts his way into TORQ's building.

"What do you say, guys? Can you bash it down?" 
"With a smile on our lip components!"
:—'''Spike''' and '''Hound''' discuss the finer points of Cybertronian facial structure.

[[File:DayofMachines PaulGates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|I have the vapors!]]
"You took the word right out of my mouth. It was in there with my foot."
:—'''Dr. Paul Gates''' after he tells the ''Autobots'' that all machines are unreliable.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script: 29 November 1984
* Script revised by [[Ron Friedman]]: 6 December 1984

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Skyfire Gerwalk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|You did this on purpose Hasbro!]]
[[File:Dotm ironhide pull my finger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Hey, pull my finger......Okay you can let go now.]]
*Grimlock starts to show some annoyance about having to save the Autobots all the time, a sentiment also noted in "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" It'll finally come to a head in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots]]".
*Gadgets and powers:
**Megatron's gun mode actually shrinks to a human adequate scale, the only time we see him do this.
**Megatron apparently can now reprogram things using an [[R2-D2]] style antenna implanted in his forehead.
**He never gets a chance to fire it, but during the first act of the episode, Ironhide wields a hand-held gun based on his toy's missile launcher.
**Skyfire [[A Plague of Insecticons|once again]] uses his jet-with-legs half-transformation.
***Hound and Spike are forced to exit out of his ''crotch'' in this mode however.
**Ironhide destroys one of TORQ's machines by ''walking right through the blast'' it's emitting and sticking his finger in its hose. He is old because he is '''hard'''!
**Hound fires his shoulder missile for the first and only time ever.
**Prowl fires one of his [[acid pellet]]s.
*This is one of Optimus Prime's shining episodes. He defeats TORQ III almost singlehandedly; he destroys Megatron's remote control device and foils the tanker stealing plan; and he saves Spike, Skyfire and Hound from sinking with the [[oil]] platform. No wonder he's in charge!
*Barring a shot of his vehicle mode in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]" (which may be an animation error), this is Skyfire's last appearance in the original cartoon, and certainly his last speaking role.

===Real-world references===
[[File:G1 TORQ III.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Pay no attention to that 'bot behind the curtain!]]
*Pre-Megatron TORQ III bears some passing resemblance to Oz, the Great and Powerful, though probably owes more to HAL from ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
*It's probably no coincidence that the computer scientist Paul Gates' name is a mashup of {{w|Paul Allen}} and {{w|Bill Gates}}, co-founders of {{w|Microsoft}} who were beginning to get a lot of [http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19840416,00.html media coverage at the time.]

===Animation and technical errors===
*As the security guard closes the Lost and Found cage's gate, his hand phases through the cage door.
*Coloring errors:
**Soundwave's cassette door is blue instead of white before he releases Laserbeak.
**Prowl's face changes from gray to white as he turns to look at Wheeljack after the first commercial break.
**Snarl's tail is white instead of gold as he smashes the tank.
**Is that supposed to be Hook lowering the cargo pipe onto the tanker? 'Cause he's colored yellow instead of green, and has an inexplicably radioed-in voice, and isn't quite on-model, and he never actually transforms, and... maybe it's not supposed to be Hook. Hound does however refer to him by name.
**Prime's whole face is the same blue color as his helmet as he offers the humans a lift down from their window.
**Prime's eyes are red instead of blue as the tentacle machine drags him toward its spinny things and throws it to a nearby building.
**Skyfire's chest cockpit is white instead of blue as he drops his gun.
**Sideswipe's head is colored red instead of black as he flees from a Torq-controlled machine.
**Soundwave's optics are white when he notifies Megatron that the force field is down.
*The access hatch in Megatron's head simply appears out of nowhere on his forehead, and likewise vanishes after closing.
*There's no evidence of the bizarre war machines in the Hall of TORQ when Megatron and Soundwave arrive. They suddenly appear once they're needed for the plot.
*After Megatron attaches the first Circuit Linker card, TORQ appears with his original neutral face rather than his reprogrammed "evil" face.
*The sign on the front of Dr. Gates' building reads "Research and Develop'''e'''ment".
*Teletraan I has the radio-transmission muffle on its voice as it reports the [[oil tanker]] movements to Optimus Prime.
*Prime comments that the tankers are converging near [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]], but the graphics show them in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Decepticon HQ is somewhere near the Pacific coast.
*After he transforms, Prime's cab wheels are somehow in ''front'' of his trailer. (Sure is a pretty sequence otherwise, though!)
*Peter Cullen gives Optimus Prime his Ironhide accent when he orders the Autobots to shoot out the vehicles' tires.
*Slag sure does spend a long time staring at the machines, growling and very pointedly moving his mouth. His missing dialogue:
**"You relatives of Slag, maybe? Say Hello, "Cousin"? No "Hello"? O.K., this gonna be fun!"
*Sludge does nearly the same thing before Prime uses him as a ladder:
**"Uh, Sludge be elevator!"
*"Personnel" is spelled with only one "n" on the TORQ Project's building sign.
*Laserbeak's feet aren't fully drawn as he carries Spike past the camera.
*Laserbeak is shown outside the force field as he flies over Hound. He should be inside.
*The claws holding Sideswipe's wrists just kind of randomly let him go for no reason.
*Soundwave reports that "ORQ" {{sic}} is no longer functional.
*The Decepticons sure take their time getting yanked back by the electromagnet, whose effect should be instantaneous. It also doesn't seem to bother the Autobots, who run right through the spot where the Decepticons were standing when the magnet grabbed them.
*Hound's missile, supposedly removed by the Decepticons, is suddenly back in place as they run out of the cell. (In a nice bit of continuity, his launcher does remain empty after he destroys the force field generator.)
*Sparkplug is suddenly standing, unsheltered, in the middle of the Autobots, who were in a raging firefight just seconds before.
*Skyfire's chest is missing his Autobot symbol as he and Hound react to the platform's explosions. The same error repeats in the episode's closing scene.
*The bottom of Prime's waist is about twice its normal size as he and the other Autobots react to Dr. Gates' "unreliable" comment.
*In the final shot, Skyfire and Prowl are pretty much the same height.

===Continuity errors===
*Dr. Gates' friend walks around with a remote that can open a single filing cabinet. In Dr. Gates' office, no less!
*The scientists should probably have debated the ethics of creating a computer capable of controlling the whole world ''before'' creating a computer capable of controlling the whole world.
*Considering how easily they move around the complex, blowing holes in stuff, it's not at all clear why the Decepticons needed to go through the trouble of sneaking into the place in their [[alternate mode]]s.
*How do the remote linker cards grant control of machines just by being hooked to random parts of them, not their computer circuits?
*Since when do oil tankers travel in enormous fleets? Is this World War II?
*Sparkplug is not with the Autobots in the beginning or during the battle when they arrive at Quantum Labs. He shows up out of nowhere to tell Gates about the circuit linkers, and then disappears from the episode.
*Megatron's subtle approach at the complex also vanishes when it comes to taking over the tankers. Teletraan is alerted to the sudden worldwide redirection of tankers en masse, which could have been avoided had Megatron diverted one or two at a time.
*The Dinobots disappear from the story after their one battle, despite the fact that the Autobots meet more resistance before they reach TORQ III. Also curious is Swoop's total absence.
**In an extended scene in the shooting script,<ref>[http://boltax.blogspot.com/2016/10/transformers-scripts.html Transformers Scripts - Disciples of Boltax]</ref> once Optimus Prime rescues the two scientists with Sludge's boost, Grimlock asks if the Autobots need any more help, Optimus Prime indicates they have everything under control, and Grimlock orders the Dinobots away "till next time Autobots get in nickel-plated pickle!", enjoying his own joke.
*Hound and Skyfire's cell has a bunch of scrap metal and a usable magnet in it...for some reason.
*Hound and Skyfire suddenly have their weapons back after busting out of the "cell."
*Prime claims that he inserted a dead circuit linker into the claw of TORQ's "friend". However, the animation basically allows no opportunity for this to happen. Furthermore, the circuit linker that he took from Sparkplug earlier sure didn't appear to be "dead"!
*Superhuman Spike: Spike picks up a metal electro-magnet which is nearly as big as he is.
*Considering Megatron had a device that could control the tankers after TORQ was shut down, taking over TORQ doesn't appear to have even been necessary in the first place.

===Trivia===
*The original name for this episode was "The Machine Rebellion". {{fact}}
*Like a handful of other Season 2 episodes ("[[Autobot Spike]]", "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"), this one begins with a short narrative voiceover from [[Victor Caroli]]. Unlike the others, this one actually conveys some information that isn't immediately conveyed by the animation (namely, what Quantum Laboratories does.)
*Script writer David Wise had previously used the concept of a computer able to remote-control machinery being taken over by a villain in the ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' episode also named "Day of the Machines". Elements from that ''He-Man'' episode would be further [[David Wise#Recycle-o-matic|cannibalized]] by Wise for the ''Transformers'' episodes "[[Microbots]]" and "[[Kremzeek!]]". Later, the Wise-written ''Defenders of the Earth'' episode "Audie and Tweak" reused elements of this story, namely a TORQ III lookalike (an evil supercomputer personified by a giant ugly face on a screen) that remotely influences other machines and dares the heroes to enter its lair. Wise's ''New Adventures of Speed Racer'' episode "B.O.S.S." recycled these ideas once more, depicting a cybernetic villain installing remote command devices on other machines to control them. The '87 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episode "Casey Jones - Outlaw Hero" (also written by David Wise) has similarities having little robot bugs that control machines. And lastly(?), his ''Mighty Ducks'' episode "The Return of Dr. Droid" recycled story elements yet again, with an evil computer that takes control of various machines and makes them attack the heroes.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''La rébellion de la machine'''" ("The Rebellion of the Machine")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''Le jour des machines'''" ("Day of the Machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Two new funny name-dodging situations happen in this episode, [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3#Foreign localization|again with Optimus]]. He tells Skyfire "'''YOU!''' Take Hound there.", then later he says to Wheeljack "Hey, the tall one! Take those lasers out!".
::*The dialogue between Sideswipe and Optimus before entering the doorway is absent from the dub.
::*Hound's phrase "With a smile on our lip components!" is translated by "If we could smile from all our teeth, we wouldn't hesitate!". That's a joke with the idiomatic French expression "sourire de toutes ses dents" (smile from all your teeth).
::*Optimus Prime's phrase "And if I can get it (the remote), it could be the perfect tool to nail this mission down!" is translated as "And if I can get it, I could send Megatron back to his dear studies!".

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (''dub 1''):'' "'''Il giorno delle macchine'''" ("Day of the machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The first time Dinobots are named, they're called by their English name instead of the Italian one.
::*When Hound is inside Skyfire, he calls the latter by Trailbreaker's name.

:*''Title (''dub 2''):'' "'''Il giorno delle macchine'''" ("Day of the machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Computer no Hanran'''" (コンピュータの反乱, "The Rebellion of the Computer")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[1990]] (released straight to video)
::*This is one of two episodes (the other being "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]") not initially aired in Japan during the run of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''. The episode was eventually dubbed in 1990 and released on [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]]'s {{w|LaserDisc}} set of the series. As such, it was retroactively added to the series official episode list as episode 74, a numbering reflected in ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]''.
::*Having been dubbed several years after ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' had ended, not all the original cast members were able to return. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (originally voiced by [[Ken Shiroyama]]), [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (originally voiced by [[Kōki Kataoka]]) and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (originally voiced by [[Osamu Saka]]) were replaced by [[Katsumi Suzuki]].
::*Due to having been released straight-to-video, this is one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' not to have been edited for time in Japan. As such, Japanese DVD and laserdisc releases include an optional English audio track for the episode.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jīqìrén Shídài '''" (机器人时代, "The Era of Robot")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Dia das Máquinas'''" ("The Day of the Machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1995]] — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1999]] — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[2001]] — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2002]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2003]] — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2004]] — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2006]] — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] [[2007]] — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] [[2008]] — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2009]] — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2011]] — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2014]] — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t1jWkUUek45xXCAqMJExYMn2s9safmPe Digital restoration of first draft script, originally submitted 29th November 1984]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jQ9MxVmcZ39mhPJDGbSb20DiQ5Gia0vD Full episode script, as revised by Ron Friedman 6th December 1984]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16axZDlFmN6-HUkI4zhBftCUu-g_Dt23T/view?usp=drive_link Model sheets and background layouts]

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

Day of the Machines

2026-04-16T19:52:41Z

Shobson20: /* Trivia */ How has everyone else missed this until now?

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=25
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=74
|prev2=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|next2=Scramble City: Mobilization
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=29
|prev3=Attack of the Autobots (episode)
|next3=Enter the Nightbird
|image=Dayofmachinesprimeandtorq.jpg
|caption=Big Brother is watching you!
|title="Day of the Machines"
|season=2
|season ep=9
|production code=#700-24
|airdate=[[October 10]], 1985
|written by=[[David Wise]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG5GwNKW1RE
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''Megatron's latest scheme involves using the most powerful computer on Earth to control machinery remotely.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Dayofmachinesmegsinacase.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"Megatron! What are you doing in my [[Laserbeak (Animated)|cousin's]] house?!"]]
[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (the former disguised in a guitar case!) not-so-silently infiltrate [[Quantum Laboratories]], a top-secret facility where the world’s most powerful computer, [[TORQ III]], is housed. Megatron reprograms the computer with his own personality and gives it the power to control, from remote distances, dangerous machines of all types through the use of "[[Remote Control Circuit Linker]] cards."

At the same time, scientist Dr. [[Paul Gates]] of Quantum Labs muses with a colleague about the dangers of machine sentience and that, in the wrong hands, TORQ III might be too powerful. Since Fate is both cruel and timely, the very scenario they were discussing comes true when TORQ III locks them in their office and announces that he’s taking over.

Megatron is using TORQ and the circuit linker cards to remotely control fleets of [[oil tanker]]s. This alerts [[Teletraan I]], who notifies [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]. Prime then receives Dr. Gates’ distress signal; Gates fills him in on TORQ III’s rebellion and asks to be rescued.

[[File:Dayofmachinesautossurround.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|The Autobots play "Monkey in the Middle" with a bunch of Brawls.]]
[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] are assigned to investigate the tankers, and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] tags along. Prime leads a group to Quantum Labs, where they immediately come under attack by machines controlled by TORQ. Overwhelmed, Prime orders in the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] (minus [[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]) to come help, and they smash, chomp and melt down all of the machines. [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] makes his usual pompous comment about having to save Prime’s bacon when things get rough. Afterward, Prime rescues Dr. Gates and they advance toward the buildings, meeting lots of resistance from TORQ’s machines.

Meanwhile, Hound, Spike and Skyfire sneak aboard an oil tanker and infiltrate the [[Decepticon]]s' [[oil rig|oil platform]]. Their attack falls short when Spike is captured and they are forced to surrender.

After smashing more remote-controlled machines at Quantum, Prime decides to explore inside TORQ’s maze-like complex alone. As Optimus moves in closer, one of the machines places a circuit linker card on him, making him Torq’s slave, and he is brought into the computer’s domain. But—surprise, surprise—Prime rips the card off his body, saying it was a dead circuit linker he placed in the robot’s claw, and he disables TORQ with a well-placed punch to the control panel. At the [[oil rig|oil platform]], Soundwave senses TORQ's demise; Megatron takes over control of the tankers with a gargantuan remote control device.

[[File:DayOfMachines Megatron remote control.jpg|left|upright=1.4|thumb|"So this is what a human Cell Phone looks like."]]
Dr. Gates lends the Autobots a high-speed hydrofoil to reach the Decepticons. Back at the [[oil]] platform, Spike has hatched an idea to use an electromagnet (which happened to be in their cell) to immobilize [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] and [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]]. Skyfire easily smashes through the cell door and Hound disables the force dome that was protecting the platform. The rest of the Autobots arrive and a battle ensues. Prime faces down Megatron and manages to wrest a remote control device from his hands, then tosses it back to him. Megatron lands on it, crushing it, and comes back up spitting mad. He retaliates by activating the self-destruct mechanism on the platform.

The [[Autobot]]s escape, but Prime stays behind to find Hound, Skyfire and Spike. He rips apart the platform deck, revealing the missing team members, and Skyfire flies them out of danger.

Finally, Prime says goodbye to Dr. Gates, who makes a parting comment about machines being unreliable, and then quickly retracts the statement when he realizes his gaffe. The Autobots laugh at the ungrateful human's hubris.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Teletraan I]] (10)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (11)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (12)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (13)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (15)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (16)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (17)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (18)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (19)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (20)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (21)
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]] (22)
|c2=
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (3)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (4)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (8)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (9)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (25)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]]?
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (26?)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (27?)
|c3=
*Security guard (1)
*[[Carl Andrews]] (6)
*[[Paul Gates]] (7)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (14)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (23)
*Oil tanker captain (24)
|c4=
*[[TORQ III]] (5)
}}

==Quotes==
"Illegal access! Illegal access!" 
"It certainly is."
:—'''TORQ III''' is reprogrammed by '''Megatron'''

"We help! ...Hmm. Always get Autobots out of messes they get into."
:—'''Grimlock''' laments at yet another Autobot bungle he is called upon to resolve. Forcefully.

"It's a safe bet those doors are locked." 
"Fortunately, I have a delicate lock-picking technique."
:—'''Dr. Gates''' and '''Optimus Prime''', right before Prime "delicately" blasts his way into TORQ's building.

"What do you say, guys? Can you bash it down?" 
"With a smile on our lip components!"
:—'''Spike''' and '''Hound''' discuss the finer points of Cybertronian facial structure.

[[File:DayofMachines PaulGates.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|I have the vapors!]]
"You took the word right out of my mouth. It was in there with my foot."
:—'''Dr. Paul Gates''' after he tells the ''Autobots'' that all machines are unreliable.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script: 29 November 1984
* Script revised by [[Ron Friedman]]: 6 December 1984

===Continuity notes===
[[File:Skyfire Gerwalk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|You did this on purpose Hasbro!]]
[[File:Dotm ironhide pull my finger.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Hey, pull my finger......Okay you can let go now.]]
*Grimlock starts to show some annoyance about having to save the Autobots all the time, a sentiment also noted in "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]" It'll finally come to a head in "[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1|Desertion of the Dinobots]]".
*Gadgets and powers:
**Megatron's gun mode actually shrinks to a human adequate scale, the only time we see him do this.
**Megatron apparently can now reprogram things using an [[R2-D2]] style antenna implanted in his forehead.
**He never gets a chance to fire it, but during the first act of the episode, Ironhide wields a hand-held gun based on his toy's missile launcher.
**Skyfire [[A Plague of Insecticons|once again]] uses his jet-with-legs half-transformation.
***Hound and Spike are forced to exit out of his ''crotch'' in this mode however.
**Ironhide destroys one of TORQ's machines by ''walking right through the blast'' it's emitting and sticking his finger in its hose. He is old because he is '''hard'''!
**Hound fires his shoulder missile for the first and only time ever.
**Prowl fires one of his [[acid pellet]]s.
*This is one of Optimus Prime's shining episodes. He defeats TORQ III almost singlehandedly; he destroys Megatron's remote control device and foils the tanker stealing plan; and he saves Spike, Skyfire and Hound from sinking with the [[oil]] platform. No wonder he's in charge!
*Barring a shot of his vehicle mode in "[[Dark Awakening (episode)|Dark Awakening]]" (which may be an animation error), this is Skyfire's last appearance in the original cartoon, and certainly his last speaking role.

===Real-world references===
[[File:G1 TORQ III.JPG|thumb|upright=1.1|Pay no attention to that 'bot behind the curtain!]]
*Pre-Megatron TORQ III bears some passing resemblance to Oz, the Great and Powerful, though probably owes more to HAL from ''2001: A Space Odyssey''.
*It's probably no coincidence that the computer scientist Paul Gates' name is a mashup of {{w|Paul Allen}} and {{w|Bill Gates}}, co-founders of {{w|Microsoft}} who were beginning to get a lot of [http://content.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,19840416,00.html media coverage at the time.]

===Animation and technical errors===
*As the security guard closes the Lost and Found cage's gate, his hand phases through the cage door.
*Coloring errors:
**Soundwave's cassette door is blue instead of white before he releases Laserbeak.
**Prowl's face changes from gray to white as he turns to look at Wheeljack after the first commercial break.
**Snarl's tail is white instead of gold as he smashes the tank.
**Is that supposed to be Hook lowering the cargo pipe onto the tanker? 'Cause he's colored yellow instead of green, and has an inexplicably radioed-in voice, and isn't quite on-model, and he never actually transforms, and... maybe it's not supposed to be Hook. Hound does however refer to him by name.
**Prime's whole face is the same blue color as his helmet as he offers the humans a lift down from their window.
**Prime's eyes are red instead of blue as the tentacle machine drags him toward its spinny things and throws it to a nearby building.
**Skyfire's chest cockpit is white instead of blue as he drops his gun.
**Sideswipe's head is colored red instead of black as he flees from a Torq-controlled machine.
**Soundwave's optics are white when he notifies Megatron that the force field is down.
*The access hatch in Megatron's head simply appears out of nowhere on his forehead, and likewise vanishes after closing.
*There's no evidence of the bizarre war machines in the Hall of TORQ when Megatron and Soundwave arrive. They suddenly appear once they're needed for the plot.
*After Megatron attaches the first Circuit Linker card, TORQ appears with his original neutral face rather than his reprogrammed "evil" face.
*The sign on the front of Dr. Gates' building reads "Research and Develop'''e'''ment".
*Teletraan I has the radio-transmission muffle on its voice as it reports the [[oil tanker]] movements to Optimus Prime.
*Prime comments that the tankers are converging near [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]], but the graphics show them in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Decepticon HQ is somewhere near the Pacific coast.
*After he transforms, Prime's cab wheels are somehow in ''front'' of his trailer. (Sure is a pretty sequence otherwise, though!)
*Peter Cullen gives Optimus Prime his Ironhide accent when he orders the Autobots to shoot out the vehicles' tires.
*Slag sure does spend a long time staring at the machines, growling and very pointedly moving his mouth. His missing dialogue:
**"You relatives of Slag, maybe? Say Hello, "Cousin"? No "Hello"? O.K., this gonna be fun!"
*Sludge does nearly the same thing before Prime uses him as a ladder:
**"Uh, Sludge be elevator!"
*"Personnel" is spelled with only one "n" on the TORQ Project's building sign.
*Laserbeak's feet aren't fully drawn as he carries Spike past the camera.
*Laserbeak is shown outside the force field as he flies over Hound. He should be inside.
*The claws holding Sideswipe's wrists just kind of randomly let him go for no reason.
*Soundwave reports that "ORQ" {{sic}} is no longer functional.
*The Decepticons sure take their time getting yanked back by the electromagnet, whose effect should be instantaneous. It also doesn't seem to bother the Autobots, who run right through the spot where the Decepticons were standing when the magnet grabbed them.
*Hound's missile, supposedly removed by the Decepticons, is suddenly back in place as they run out of the cell. (In a nice bit of continuity, his launcher does remain empty after he destroys the force field generator.)
*Sparkplug is suddenly standing, unsheltered, in the middle of the Autobots, who were in a raging firefight just seconds before.
*Skyfire's chest is missing his Autobot symbol as he and Hound react to the platform's explosions. The same error repeats in the episode's closing scene.
*The bottom of Prime's waist is about twice its normal size as he and the other Autobots react to Dr. Gates' "unreliable" comment.
*In the final shot, Skyfire and Prowl are pretty much the same height.

===Continuity errors===
*Dr. Gates' friend walks around with a remote that can open a single filing cabinet. In Dr. Gates' office, no less!
*The scientists should probably have debated the ethics of creating a computer capable of controlling the whole world ''before'' creating a computer capable of controlling the whole world.
*Considering how easily they move around the complex, blowing holes in stuff, it's not at all clear why the Decepticons needed to go through the trouble of sneaking into the place in their [[alternate mode]]s.
*How do the remote linker cards grant control of machines just by being hooked to random parts of them, not their computer circuits?
*Since when do oil tankers travel in enormous fleets? Is this World War II?
*Sparkplug is not with the Autobots in the beginning or during the battle when they arrive at Quantum Labs. He shows up out of nowhere to tell Gates about the circuit linkers, and then disappears from the episode.
*Megatron's subtle approach at the complex also vanishes when it comes to taking over the tankers. Teletraan is alerted to the sudden worldwide redirection of tankers en masse, which could have been avoided had Megatron diverted one or two at a time.
*The Dinobots disappear from the story after their one battle, despite the fact that the Autobots meet more resistance before they reach TORQ III. Also curious is Swoop's total absence.
**In an extended scene in the shooting script,<ref>[http://boltax.blogspot.com/2016/10/transformers-scripts.html Transformers Scripts - Disciples of Boltax]</ref> once Optimus Prime rescues the two scientists with Sludge's boost, Grimlock asks if the Autobots need any more help, Optimus Prime indicates they have everything under control, and Grimlock orders the Dinobots away "till next time Autobots get in nickel-plated pickle!", enjoying his own joke.
*Hound and Skyfire's cell has a bunch of scrap metal and a usable magnet in it...for some reason.
*Hound and Skyfire suddenly have their weapons back after busting out of the "cell."
*Prime claims that he inserted a dead circuit linker into the claw of TORQ's "friend". However, the animation basically allows no opportunity for this to happen. Furthermore, the circuit linker that he took from Sparkplug earlier sure didn't appear to be "dead"!
*Superhuman Spike: Spike picks up a metal electro-magnet which is nearly as big as he is.
*Considering Megatron had a device that could control the tankers after TORQ was shut down, taking over TORQ doesn't appear to have even been necessary in the first place.

===Trivia===
*The original name for this episode was "The Machine Rebellion". {{fact}}
*Like a handful of other Season 2 episodes ("[[Autobot Spike]]", "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"), this one begins with a short narrative voiceover from [[Victor Caroli]]. Unlike the others, this one actually conveys some information that isn't immediately conveyed by the animation (namely, what Quantum Laboratories does.)
*Script writer David Wise had previously used the concept of a computer able to remote-control machinery being taken over by a villain in the ''He-Man and the Masters of the Universe'' episode also named "Day of the Machines". Elements from that ''He-Man'' episode would be further [[David Wise#Recycle-o-matic|cannibalized]] by Wise for the ''Transformers'' episodes "[[Microbots]]" and "[[Kremzeek!]]". Later, the Wise-written ''Defenders of the Earth'' episode "Audie and Tweak" reused elements of this story, namely a TORQ III lookalike (an evil supercomputer personified by a giant ugly face on a screen) that remotely influences other machines and dares the heroes to enter its lair. Wise's ''New Adventures of Speed Racer'' episode "B.O.S.S." recycled these ideas once more, depicting a cybernetic villain installing remote command devices on other machines to control them. The '87 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episode "Casey Jones - Outlaw Hero" (also written by David Wise) has similarities having little bugs that control machines. And lastly(?), his ''Mighty Ducks'' episode "The Return of Dr. Droid" recycled story elements yet again, with an evil computer that takes control of various machines and makes them attack the heroes.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title (European French broadcast):'' "'''La rébellion de la machine'''" ("The Rebellion of the Machine")
:*''Title (Canadian French broadcast):'' "'''Le jour des machines'''" ("Day of the Machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*Two new funny name-dodging situations happen in this episode, [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3#Foreign localization|again with Optimus]]. He tells Skyfire "'''YOU!''' Take Hound there.", then later he says to Wheeljack "Hey, the tall one! Take those lasers out!".
::*The dialogue between Sideswipe and Optimus before entering the doorway is absent from the dub.
::*Hound's phrase "With a smile on our lip components!" is translated by "If we could smile from all our teeth, we wouldn't hesitate!". That's a joke with the idiomatic French expression "sourire de toutes ses dents" (smile from all your teeth).
::*Optimus Prime's phrase "And if I can get it (the remote), it could be the perfect tool to nail this mission down!" is translated as "And if I can get it, I could send Megatron back to his dear studies!".

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (''dub 1''):'' "'''Il giorno delle macchine'''" ("Day of the machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The first time Dinobots are named, they're called by their English name instead of the Italian one.
::*When Hound is inside Skyfire, he calls the latter by Trailbreaker's name.

:*''Title (''dub 2''):'' "'''Il giorno delle macchine'''" ("Day of the machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Computer no Hanran'''" (コンピュータの反乱, "The Rebellion of the Computer")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[1990]] (released straight to video)
::*This is one of two episodes (the other being "[[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|Attack of the Autobots]]") not initially aired in Japan during the run of ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]''. The episode was eventually dubbed in 1990 and released on [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer]]'s {{w|LaserDisc}} set of the series. As such, it was retroactively added to the series official episode list as episode 74, a numbering reflected in ''[[Transformers Generations (guidebook)|Transformers Generations]]''.
::*Having been dubbed several years after ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' had ended, not all the original cast members were able to return. [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (originally voiced by [[Ken Shiroyama]]), [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (originally voiced by [[Kōki Kataoka]]) and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (originally voiced by [[Osamu Saka]]) were replaced by [[Katsumi Suzuki]].
::*Due to having been released straight-to-video, this is one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' not to have been edited for time in Japan. As such, Japanese DVD and laserdisc releases include an optional English audio track for the episode.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jīqìrén Shídài '''" (机器人时代, "The Era of Robot")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''O Dia das Máquinas'''" ("The Day of the Machines")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1995]] — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1999]] — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[2001]] — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2002]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2003]] — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2004]] — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2006]] — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] [[2007]] — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] [[2008]] — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2009]] — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2011]] — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2014]] — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1t1jWkUUek45xXCAqMJExYMn2s9safmPe Digital restoration of first draft script, originally submitted 29th November 1984]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1jQ9MxVmcZ39mhPJDGbSb20DiQ5Gia0vD Full episode script, as revised by Ron Friedman 6th December 1984]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/16axZDlFmN6-HUkI4zhBftCUu-g_Dt23T/view?usp=drive_link Model sheets and background layouts]

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

Luisa

2026-04-16T19:12:00Z

Shobson20:

:''Luisa is a [[human]] from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon portion]] of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:Luisa.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|So, what are those? Pancakes?]]
'''Luisa''' is a teenage girl living in a [[Peru]]vian mining town near an ancient [[Inca]]n temple that housed the legendary [[Crystal of Power]]. She helped the [[Autobot]]s defeat the [[Decepticon]]s when they attempted to use the Crystal for nefarious reasons.

==Fiction==
===''The Transformers'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Mona Marshall]] (English), [[Masumi Gotō]] (Japanese)|[[Zhang Anna]] (Chinese), [[Marisa Leal]] (Brazilian Portuguese)}}

When the Decepticons uncovered the Crystal of Power in the temple near her village, Luisa recognized what it was. Her grandmother feared it was the ancient god coming back to punish the villagers. Ha ha, stupid old foreign people! When the Decepticons raided the town, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] rescued her. She led them to the temple, where the Autobots were able to stop the Decepticons. When Bumblebee drove her back to the village, Luisa hoped to introduce Bumblebee to Juanita, the convertible owned by her brother. {{storylink|Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain}}

===''Legends'' comic===
Luisa was one of the many women brought to the [[Legends World]] by [[Tigatron (Legends)|Tigatron]] using the [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] in an attempt to get women who liked him better than [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. It did not work out, as all of the women brought over eventually swooned over Springer. {{storylink|LG19 Springer}}

==Notes==
*Luisa is not named onscreen, but is identified in the episode's script. Her name is noted in the "[[The Transformers Sticker Book (1986)|The Transformers Sticker Book]]".
*Luisa is the first female character in the cartoon to have a major role, but not the first one to speak as her grandmother speaks slightly before she does.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Luisa''' (ルイザ ''Ruiza'')
*''French:'' '''Louise'''<ref>[[The Transformers Sticker Book (1986)|The Transformers Sticker Book]]</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Cartoon-only characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon humans]]
[[Category:Legends humans]]

Fire on the Mountain (episode)

2026-04-16T19:09:13Z

Shobson20: /* Continuity notes */

{{disambig3|Fire on the Mountain}}

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=9
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=63
|prev2=Fire in the Sky
|next2=A Plague of Insecticons
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=49
|prev3=Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2
|next3=Countdown to Extinction (episode)
|image=Fire on the mountain.jpg
|caption="I don't understand it, baby. This has never happened to me before, honest."
|title="Fire on the Mountain"
|season=1
|season ep=9
|production code=#700-06
|airdate=[[December 22]], [[1984]]
|written by=[[Douglas Booth]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzq3C4hkfNE
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Decepticons uncover the Crystal of Power in Peru, and the Autobots resurrect Skyfire to stop them.'''

==Synopsis==
While patrolling a refinery, [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] and [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] spot [[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] stealing steel. The [[Decepticon]]s get away with the loot by collapsing the refinery behind them. The Autobots report back to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], who is puzzled about the Decepticons' motives. The [[Autobot]]s launch a [[Sky Spy]] to home in on any Decepticon activity, and the satellite picks up strange energy readings in the [[Peru]]vian [[Andes Mountains|Andes]].

[[File:Crystalofpower.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Almost ablaze, still you don't feel the heat]]
There, the Decepticons have followed an [[Inca]]n legend to an ancient temple that rests on a shaft leading deep into the [[Earth's core]], capped by the [[Crystal of Power]]. With the metal acquired by Starscream, the Decepticons have fashioned a weapon frame to accommodate the crystal. [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] spots the Sky Spy, and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] tests the weapon by blowing the satellite out of the sky. The metal, however, proves inadequate and melts with exposure to the raw energy unleashed from the Earth's core. Starscream tries to shift blame to Thundercracker for the faulty metal, but Megatron blames them both and has them stay behind at the temple while he soars to a nearby mining town to find replacement metal.

The nearby Peruvian mining town is abuzz with the sudden show of power from the ancient temple. A reactionary elder proclaims that long-forgotten gods have come back to punish them, but her more level-headed granddaughter, [[Luisa]], realizes that someone must have uncovered the fabled Crystal of Power.

[[File:G1 FireontheMountain Sideswipe piledriving.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Freud would have had a field day with this.]]
In the [[Arctic]], [[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] are jackhammering through the ice to resurrect the fallen warrior [[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]]. The massive jet emerges from the ice and transforms into [[robot mode]]. Wheeljack immediately assigns him to fly back to Autobot headquarters to pick up Brawn and [[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] before heading down to the Andes Mountains.

In short order, Skyfire is in the Andes, closing in on the Decepticons. Windcharger and Brawn skydive from the jet, tangling with [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] while Skyfire goes to investigate the strange energy readings from the Incan temple. While the smaller Autobots are able to hold their own against Megatron's lieutenants, the Decepticon leader proves too powerful for them and they scatter. Windcharger desperately calls for Skyfire to return while Brawn bites off more than he can chew in the form of an angered Megatron.

[[File:FireontheMountain SoundwaveMegsgun.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Men were shot down for the sake of fun 
Or just to hear the noise of their .44 guns]]
Skyfire zooms in to the rescue and gracefully airlifts Brawn and Windcharger from the thick of Decepticon danger. Skyfire quickly returns to the Ark to pick up some reinforcements and streaks back to Peru. He deposits the Autobots near the mining town to take care of Megatron while he goes to investigate the Incan temple.

The Autobots stop Megatron, Reflector and Soundwave mid-raid, with Brawn having the ball-bearings enough to swipe Megatron's [[Fusion cannon|arm cannon]] and blast the Decepticon leader with his own weapon! Laserbeak steals back the weapon and Megatron swears vengeance. He has gathered a metal strong enough for the Crystal, and requests that [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] come to retrieve it, adding further insult to Thundercracker and Starscream who are left guarding the temple.

[[File:Brawnfusioncannon.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Good grief, it's a running gag.]]
A stray blast during the battle nearly drops an electrical tower on top of Luisa, but she is saved by [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and Bumblebee. Luisa quickly explains that these "evil creatures" have stolen the Crystal of Power. She leads Bumblebee and Spike to a secret entrance in the temple. Soundwave detects their presence, and dispatches Ravage to follow them.

Meanwhile, Thundercracker spots Skyfire skulking about the temple. The Decepticon warrior is torn; if he blasts Skyfire, Starscream is likely to take all the credit. Conversely, if he lets Skyfire destroy the Crystal-based weapon, perhaps Starscream can take the blame. Starscream overhears Thundercracker plotting, and blasts Skyfire. He then blackmails Thundercracker to do his bidding, lest Starscream reveal to their leader just how uncertain Thundercracker's loyalties can be.

The Decepticons load up their stolen steel with Skywarp's help and depart. To cover their exit, Megatron blasts a nearby mountain, creating a deadly rockfall that threatens the mining town.

The Autobots use their firepower to reduce the falling boulders to pebbles, saving the village. Meanwhile, Megatron returns to the temple, where he successfully tests a new weapon frame that can handle the power of the crystal. Bumblebee, Spike and Luisa surreptitiously arrive in the temple, spotting the inert form of Skyfire. Spike starts repairing the fallen warrior, just as Ravage pounces. Bumblebee tries holding off the Decepticon jaguar while Spike works as fast as he can.

[[File:G1 FireontheMountain Spike Luisa BB.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|There are [[Bumblebee (Movie)|some]] out there who understand what Bumblebee's about to go through.]]
The rest of the Autobots arrive at the temple, but Megatron pins them down with devastating firepower from his weapon frame cannon. The Autobots are able to outflank Megatron, and the tide of battle is turned by Skyfire, freshly repaired by Spike. Skyfire strafes the weapons frame, destroying it and unleashing the power of the mountain. The Decepticons retreat, and Thundercracker takes fleeting pleasure in seeing Megatron and Starscream fail.

That night, Wheeljack caps the fire stream with a new invention that can contain the power that the crystal formerly held in check. The Autobots celebrate their victory while Bumblebee and Spike drive Luisa back to the mining town, where she promises to introduce Bumblebee to her brother's convertible, Juanita.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (3)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (4)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (5)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (12)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (15)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (16)
*[[Jetfire (G1)|Skyfire]] (17)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (19)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (20)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (22)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (24)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (25)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (27)
}}
|c2=
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (9)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (10)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (11)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (13)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (23)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (26)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
*[[Luisa]] (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Looks more like stealing to me… and I'm talking steel!"
:—'''Brawn''' confronts the Decepticons with fists and horrible puns.

"Awww, hexagonal nuts!"
:—'''Trailbreaker''', after he and Brawn totally fail to stop the Decepticons.

"It's cold enough to freeze the ailerons off a [[titanium moose-bot]]!"
:—'''Sideswipe'''

'''Soundwave:''' "The Autobot jet is afraid to fight!" 
'''Brawn:''' "Wrong again, you dipstick tapedeck!" 
'''Windcharger:''' "We just didn't want him to spoil ''our'' fun!"

"Have fun playing crystal nurse, Screamer! Byyyye!"
:—'''Skywarp''', being a jerk.

"Fate, schmate. It isn’t over yet, Megabum!"
:—'''Trailbreaker''', after Megatron prematurely gloats of imminent victory.

"Optimus ol' buddy, this is what separates the Autobots from the robot chickens!" 
"Ain’t no one calling me a robot chicken!"
:—'''Ironhide''' and '''Brawn''' don't know what Adult Swim has planned for their kind in 20 years.

"What’s the matter, fearless leader? You and Starscream look real geeky!"
:—'''Thundercracker''', being a jerk.

==Notes==
===Production information===
* Revised script submitted by Douglas Booth: 2nd July 1984
* Initial, toy-based "Jetfire" model completed: 3rd July 1984, approved on July 11th (for this episode). Final Skyfire model completed in late August and shipped to Toei in [[Heavy Metal War]] model pack.
* Script revised by [[Ron Friedman]]: 9th July 1984
* Dialogue recorded: 19th July 1984
* First draft storyboards completed: 20th July 1984 (Artists: Kim Dae-Jung, [[Peter Chung]], [[David Russell]]
* Storyboards slugged: 2nd August 1984
* Final storyboard revision: 3rd August 1984
* Returned to the US for telecine: 10th December 1984

===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 FireontheMountain SS chestmissiles.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Starscream's dreaded boob bombs.]]
* This episode references "[[Fire in the Sky]]", the previous (and first) episode that Skyfire appeared in.
* This is the first episode with ANY female speaking roles, as well as the only season 1 episode with female speaking roles.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Starscream has a dozen rockets in hidden chest compartments. This ability will appear again in "[[Full Throttle Scramble Power!]]". The feature was later immortalized in toy form for Starscream's ''[[Robotmasters (franchise)|Robotmasters]]'' incarnation through clip-on accessories, and again as part of his ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' figure, this time actually incorporated into the figure.
** Soundwave conceals a tricorder-like scanning device in his left wrist, which was later incorporated into ''his'' Masterpiece toy as a clip-on part. Presumably the Masterpiece toy-designers really like this episode.
** The latest device to come out of Laserbeak's head is the microphone-like thing. It's not clear what purpose it serves, as Laserbeak then broadcasts his findings to Megatron via pulsewaves that come out of his ''eyes'', of all things.
** Brawn has a retractable claw that can extend in his car mode.

[[File:Megatron&crystalofpower.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Seriously, in the cartoon world, crystals are the [[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|most]] [[The God Gambit|powerful]] [[A Prime Problem|things]] [[Fire in the Sky|ever]].]]
* While the concept makes no sense in real-world terms, this is the second time in almost as many episodes that a greenish crystal has been linked to the Earth's core.

* Skywarp refers to Starscream by the nickname "Screamer" in this episode, a nickname used again by Streetwise in the late Season 2 episode "[[B.O.T. (episode)|B.O.T.]]".

* Fans have long cited this episode when discussing the improbability of Brawn's death in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', observing that Brawn had previously survived direct hits from Megatron's gun mode in this episode... but it simply ain't so. Brawn ''dodges'' every shot that comes from Megatron. It's actually ''Soundwave'', using his own standard weapon, who shoots Brawn in the head to no effect. Not that we're questioning the indestructibility of the all-powerful Brawn, of course.

* This is the only episode to play on Thundercracker's uncertain loyalties, a trait called out in his original [[bio]]. However, the official [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] synopsis for the episode indicates that it was originally going to take the idea even further:

::"The Autobots arrive to stop [the Decepticons], and Jetfire tries to convince a beleaguered Thundercracker to switch loyalties and join the Autobots. He is caught and wounded by Starscream. Spike, with the help of a local native girl, goes to his rescue, and Jetfire--with a little assist from Thundercracker--turns away the Decepticons and destroys the "Crystal of Power."<ref>http://tfarchive.com/cartoons/bible/#069</ref>

[[File:Fireonthemountain soundwave vs brawn round1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Better get used to this, Soundwave.]]

*Had the audio gaffe mentioned below not taken place, this episode would mark the only instance of Thundercracker using his sonic boom powers in the entire cartoon, as the Decepticons retreat at the end of the episode. The power will ''actually'' be used by Megatron in "[[Heavy Metal War]]".

* This episode begins a mini-tradition of Bluestreak [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2|shooting]] [[Brainstorm!|down]] Laserbeak.

* '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''', Round 1: Brawn flies Soundwave into a mountainside! Brawn 1, Soundwave 0 [[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|>>]]

===Real-world references===
* The title of this episode may be a reference to the Grateful Dead song of the same name.
* The Transformers visit Peru, an ancient Incan temple, and a <s>steel manufacturing</s> mining village where everyone speaks heavily accented English.
* ''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
** Laserbeak pursues Windcharger with a [[TIE Fighter]] engine roar, and fires on him with the sound of the [[Death Star]] super laser firing. After the commercial break, he gets more TIE sounds along with some ''[[Millennium Falcon]]'' engines, during several different shots.
** Megatron launches to attack Brawn with another ''Falcon'' engine burst. The roar continues into the next shot as the sound of Skyfire's jets.
** ''Falcon'' engine whine as Laserbeak dives to retrieve Megatron's fusion cannon from Brawn, and again as Bluestreak and Windcharger jump out of the way, and again as Laserbeak starts chasing Bumblebee.
** More TIE engine as Laserbeak continues harassing Bumblebee, along with Death Star superlaser/Alderaan exploding.
** ''Falcon'' engine burst as Skywarp leaves the temple, and ''Falcon'' engine whine as he arrives at the battle site.
** ''Falcon'' whine as Laserbeak perches on Megatron's shoulder.

===Animation or technical errors===
* Coloring errors:
[[File:Fire on the Mountain red Trailbreaker.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Oh no! Trailbreaker has been infected with the [[Hate Plague]]!]]
** When Brawn tells Trailbreaker the jets are Decepticons, Trailbreaker is fully red.
**One of Thundercracker's intakes are blue.
**Only one of Starscream's "boobs" is colored its proper gray as he reminds Thundercracker of who is in charge.
** The back of Brawn's backpack is yellow after he transforms to [[robot mode]].
** The blue color of Trailbreaker's eyeband kind of drips down onto his face while the steel plant is collapsing around him.
** Brawn's helmet is light gray as he watches Teletraan's screen.
** Soundwave has a white leg as he follows Megatron down the pyramid's staircase.
** Starscream's eyes are blue as he drags the weapon frame over to Megatron. His Decepticon wing emblems are also red.
** Starscream has extra yellow bits above and below his canopy as Megatron helps him to his feet.
** The lower "cheeks" of Megatron's Decepticon symbol aren't colored in just before he transforms to fire on Brawn.
** Megatron's gun mode is entirely white as Soundwave grasps him two-handed, right before the first commercial break.
** Ironhide is colored gray in the aerial shot of the Autobots approaching the <s>steel mill</s> mining town.
** As Starscream rebukes Thundercracker, his air intake is the same dark gray as his helmet, instead of red.
** Rumble's eyeband isn't colored in as the Decepticons fly out of the <s>steel mill</s> mining town.
** Bumblebee's nose is yellow as he tells Spike he can't hold Ravage off much longer.
** In the shot where Megatron's cannon shots are going wild, Starscream's leg is colored Brawn-green.
** In the wide shot of the temple top, Ironhide's head is gray instead of red; the colorists might have gotten him mixed up with Windcharger.
** Megatron's fusion cannon is light gray instead of black as Prime hoists and throws him.
* As Brawn confronts Starscream and Thundercracker, the Decepticons switch places between shots.
* After the Sky Spy explodes, we can still see a picture of the pyramid on Teletraan I's screen.
* As Wheeljack encourages Sideswipe, the glow of his right ear isn't quite aligned with the ear itself.
* As he first bursts to the surface encased in ice, Skyfire's (vaguely drawn) profile looks a lot more like his toy than his animation model, with separate booster jets and a rounded cockpit.
* When Sideswipe says "It's Skyfire", he speaks in a raspy voice that is vaguely similar to Scrapper's voice, even though Scrapper won't appear for another seven episodes.
* The parts of Skyfire's tail end that light up as he activates his jets don't actually correspond to his jet thrusters.

[[File:FireOnTheMountain Windcharger vehiclemode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|The legs on the animator's Windcharger toy would never stay folded up. Your wiki editors can sympathize.]]
* Someone must have been drawing Windcharger's car mode straight off his toy. As he flees from Laserbeak, his rear section, which is his folded-up feet, is not aligned with the rest of his car body... a problem very commonly found on his toy.
* Soundwave fires on Brawn with his own gun, but with Megatron's cannon sound effect.
* Skyfire's engines don't glow throughout the whole sequence of him rescuing Brawn and Windcharger.
* Ironhide and Ratchet have crazy huge side windows as they drive alongside Prime. The same error (and animation?) pops up again in "[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|Countdown to Extinction]]".
* When Optimus Prime rams Megatron through the wall, the inside of the wall momentarily becomes bright white for some reason, while the view through the newly created hole shows apparent nighttime outside.
* Flying Autobots:
** Bluestreak and Windcharger get an engine-burst noise as they leap out from beneath the collapsing transmission tower.
** Brawn gets a flight sound as he leaps the final distance between him and Starscream.
** Ironhide gets the same treatment as he leaps to attack Megatron.
** And then Prime also gets the same sound effect as he tackles Megatron.
* Bluestreak's mouth isn't moving as he delivers his "watch the birdie" line.
* Soundwave's eject button is on the wrong side (his right shoulder) as he ejects Ravage.
* Thundercracker's weapon barrel has almost no interior as he threatens Skyfire.
* When Megatron follows Starscream and Thundercracker out of the pyramid, his Decepticon emblem disappears for a moment.
* As Trailbreaker says his "isn't over yet" line, his leg is red instead of black. Then Wheeljack pops out of the rubble from the spot where Sunstreaker was buried a moment ago.
* One gun, many lasers:
** No fewer than five laser beams are shown flying at Windcharger when Laserbeak isn't on-screen. Even if you count his eye beams, Laserbeak only has four guns.
** As the battle gets fully underway, four laser beams are shown coming from Megatron's crystal weapon.
** Starscream only has two guns to fire at Brawn, but three lasers are shown streaking past him as he runs up the stairs.
* After Skyfire revives, he doesn't have the exterior damage to his chest. Spike was barely able to get Skyfire's interior damage fixed before Ravage batted Bumblebee away and tried to attack the humans. As he transforms to [[alternate mode|jet mode]], Skyfire also has an odd blue panel on his undercarriage which is not normally present.
* When Starscream lands on the temple and starts firing at Brawn and Windcharger, his lasers are Autobot orange instead of Decepticon pink. The next shot shows the usual pink lasers hitting Windcharger.
* As Reflector and Soundwave fire from the cover of the ruins, Reflector is using a tiny gun mode Shockwave as his weapon!
* In the wide shot a second later, ''all'' the lasers are colored Decepticon pink, even though some are supposed to be Autobot shots.
*When Skyfire swoops over Soundwave and Reflector and destroys their stone bunkers, both the lasers hitting their targets and the explosions are missing, so it appears the walls just fall apart.
* The crystal cannon's barrel isn't hollow as Megatron aims it at Prime and Ironhide.
* Starscream's dialogue as he whines about Thundercracker making that "awful thunder noise" as the Decepticons retreat indicates that Thundercracker was supposed to be using his sonic boom powers in the scene (see "continuity notes", above). In practice, only the standard Decepticon jet engine sound effect is heard, no louder than normal.
* The Autobots get a ridiculously loud sound effect for the act of turning on their headlights.
* Bumblebee has no interior when he opens his door to offer Spike and Luisa a lift.

===Continuity errors===
* Skyfire's resurrection is one of the cartoon's most infamously problematic bits of continuity:
** Skyfire was left for dead and mourned as such in his previous, debut appearance in "[[Fire in the Sky]]". Now, suddenly, it just takes Sideswipe's pistons to dig him up out of the ice, and Wheeljack isn't the slightest bit surprised to find him alive and well. Why didn't they just dig him up right after he crashed? They only dug him up when they needed a ride?
** As no mention is made of how they get to the North Pole, on the face of it, the episode makes it appear that Wheeljack and Sideswipe have ''driven'' there, calling into question why, if they can make such a large journey this way, the Autobots can't simply drive to South America instead of requiring Skyfire to fly them. Notably, however, per their [[bio]]s, both Wheeljack and Sideswipe are two of the very small number of Autobots capable of independent flight (Sideswipe via his [[jet pack|rocket pack]], Wheeljack via jets in his arms), so it seems logical that the scriptwriter selected them for this scene as they could have flown themselves to the Arctic. Of course, nothing explicitly indicates this in the episode itself.
** Presumably as a result of some kind of miscommunication in production, Sideswipe is seen using an actual hand-held jackhammer to unearth Skyfire, rather than his customary built-in arm-mounted jackhammers.
**Sideswipe and Wheeljack weren't present in the episode where Skyfire met the Autobots, but he knows both of them (referring to Wheeljack by name), then Wheeljack tells him to go pick up Brawn and Windcharger, who Skyfire also shouldn't know.
* The Decepticons leave the temple to attack the mining town. En route, they're attacked by Brawn and Windcharger and drive them off. Skyfire then flies all the way back to Autobot Headquarters, picks up the rest of the Autobots, flies all the way back to Peru... and the Decepticons have apparently just reached the mining town like five minutes earlier.
* Rumble leaves with Megatron, Soundwave and a Reflector to acquire new/better metal, but is nowhere to be seen during the battle with Brawn and Windcharger.
* Soundwave was last seen at the <s>steel mill</s> mining town battle, but suddenly pops up outside the temple to send Ravage after Bumblebee and the humans.
* The energy that threatens to blow up the entire mountain is erupting from the plinth on which the crystal was installed, ''inside'' the temple. Why, then, do the Autobots install a cap on the ''roof'' of the temple, instead of in the same spot where the crystal was previously installed?

===Rhino DVD release===
[[File:Fitm dvd broadcast.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|You call this restoration?]]
The Rhino DVD version of this episode uses a number of erroneous takes as the basis of its remastered animation. As a result, the DVD introduces several animation errors that were not present in the broadcast version:
* Trailbreaker, Brawn, and Starscream are colored red, brown, and purple (respectively) in their introductory shots. In addition, the shadows underneath Trailbreaker and Brawn are missing.
* Several laser effects were redone for the broadcast version.
* The Crystal of Power is missing its shine effects when Megatron first encounters it.
* Laserbeak's eyes are missing their glow in one shot.
* In one shot of Megatron showing off his invention to Thundercracker and Starscream, Rhino applies a mask over the scene to isolate Megatron from a heavily cleaned-up background. This change was done poorly, though, as the mask is seen wobbling around Megatron as he talks.
* The shot of Windcharger and Brawn jumping out of Skyfire is choppier in Rhino's version.
* When Prime bashes Megatron into the wall, the background inexplicably disappears.
* In one shot of Spike and Luisa inside of Bumblebee, the sky background behind them is moving in the Rhino version when it shouldn't be.
* When Skywarp mocks Starscream for having to guard the Crystal, he is colored like Thundercracker.
* Skywarp and Starscream are missing from the shot where they blast Skyfire off of the temple.
* When Starscream and Thundercracker carry Skyfire's inert form, Skyfire has Skywarp's colors.
* "Skyfire is an excellent catch!" In the first shot, Megatron steps up to stand next to Thundercracker (who has a white-instead-of-blue wingtip); in the second shot, Thundercracker has been replaced by Starscream. This is one of a handful of Rhino errors not corrected by the later [[Shout! Factory]] DVD release.
* The sky is blue instead of orange when the Autobots approach the temple.
* When Skyfire is about to destroy the cannon, it already appears to be melted to slag.
* When Skyfire strafes the crystal-powered weapon, he momentarily has Skywarp's colors.
* In addition, several scenes in the episode appear to have been taken straight from the broadcast master, judging by their poor quality. This may have been done to cover up scenes that were entirely missing from the workprints that Rhino was using.

The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD include: Opening / Stolen Steel / It's Skyfire / To The Mining Town / Visiting Decepticon / Invention Works

===Trivia===
[[File:FireontheMountain Optimus pats Skyfire.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Just good friends.]]
* Luisa's name is never spoken in the episode.
* A hissing sound effect (like the sound of air escaping from a canister) is heavily used in this episode, especially when a character is jumping or taking off into the air. It's never used in such a manner again. {{fact}}
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (video games)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|console game]], and the three on the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PSP)|PSP game]], though it is in ''astonishingly'' low quality.
* When the Hub re-aired season 1 and 2, this episode was left out the first time
* After Skyfire flies the Autobots to Peru, Optimus Prime pats him on the nosecone affectionately. It seems he doesn't recall that section is Skyfire's robot mode crotch.
* During the original recording of the episode, Skyfire was referred to by his original name of Jetfire, but due to his [[Jetfire (G1)#Why "Skyfire"?|name change]], several lines had to be re-recorded prior to airing. Clips of these original recordings later surfaced in early 2017.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4jM2nittQk Transformers Fire On The Mountain Extended and Deleted Scene Audio - YouTube]</ref>

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Le feu dans la montagne'''" ("The fire in the mountain")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*About the European French dub:
:::*Starscream calls Thundercracker "Thunder". Later in the episode, Megatron uses his full name "Thundercracker".
:::*When Spike wishes good luck to Skyfire, there is a radio effect on his voice for some reason.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il segreto degli Incas'''" ("Secret of the Incas")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Megatron's laugh when preparing to attack the Autobots with the weapon was not dubbed, so you can see him moving his mouth without saying anything.

:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''Fuoco sulla montagna'''" ("Fire on the mountain")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Inca no Hihō'''" (インカの秘宝, "Incaic Jewel")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 3]], [[1986]]
::*The Japanese ordering of this episode places it toward the end of the series. This was done as it featured Skyfire prominently and with his toy being of [[Bandai]] design (and not sold in Japan as a Transformer), that caused some legal concerns amongst Takara (many of Skyfire's smaller scenes in other episodes were cut entirely). Though the episodes featuring him as a main characters were eventually shown, the scripts were not reworked to adjust to the new chronological placement, simply being more or less direct translations of the original English versions.
::*'''Cuts:'''
:::* After Brawn declares, "It's fightin' time", the following overhead shot of Starscream and Skywarp fleeing the room is cut. The sequence resumes at the close-up of Starscream saying "Correction, Autobot...".
:::* After Starscream and Thundercracker take-off with the materials, the following scene of Brawn and Trailbreaker crawling out of the rubble, lamenting that they lost the steel and rolling out for headquarters have been cut.
:::* The close-up of Spike's head and his line, "Uh oh, it's picking up a weird energy reading from those ruins", and the monitor shot displaying the ruins, have been cut. The sequence picks up at Laserbeak flying through the air.
:::* When Megatron and the Decepticons take off for the mining town in Peru, the following scene of them flying through the air and Megatron's line, "Any who stand in our way will be demolished", have been cut.
:::* After Skyfire tells everyone to buckle-up and blasts off for Peru, the following scene of him flying over the Peruvian mountains has been cut.
:::* The scene panning over the mountain road leading to the metal forging facility has been cut.
:::* During the attack on the Decepticons at the metal forging facility, the scene of Megatron slowly marching forward as laser beams bounce off him has been cut. The sequence resumes at his lines, "Skywarp, I have created a steel alloy...".
:::* The scene of Starscream and Thundercracker carrying Skyfire's unconscious body has been cut. The sequence resumes at the close-up of Skyfire's head as he's being dropped.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Shāndǐng zhī Huǒ '''" (山顶之火, "Fire on the Top of the Mountain")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fogo na Montanha'''" ("Fire on the Mountain")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Skhvatka na vershine'''" (Схватка на вершине, "The Engagement at the Very Top")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 30]], [[1995]]

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Vatrena planeta'''" (Ватрена планета, "Fiery Planet")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 8: "Fire on the Mountain" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1997 — ''The Transformers'' — War of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1995 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Megatron Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers'' — Decepticon Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume One ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Déclic Images]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part Two (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 02: Stagione Uno Parte Seconda ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P86g8dN2qmeXl36XLe-MootrJof7g95w/view?usp=drive_link Full episode script, revised by Doug Booth, with memos and insert pages]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FzYHjnRjuKTVesZj7ZiNFLePZf37iE9t Full episode script as revised by Ron Friedman 9th July 1984]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cQj-QHd7sbWQLXAPr7UdyT5mNsOHg6de/view?usp=drive_link Model sheets and background layouts]

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

Autobot Spike

2026-04-16T16:46:49Z

Shobson20: /* Real-world references */ The scene perpetuates many common misunderstandings of the classic Frankenstein movies created by pop culture mishmashes, I think readers who haven't seen the films should know the truth.

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=17
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=11
|prev2=Heavy Metal War
|next2=Changing Gears
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=37
|prev3=The Search for Alpha Trion
|next3=The Girl Who Loved Powerglide
|image=AutobotSpike Autobotx concealed weapon.jpg
|caption=''I'm a teenage Frankenstein! The local freak with the twisted mind!''
|title="Autobot Spike"
|season=2
|season ep=1
|production code=#700-16
|airdate=[[September 23]], [[1985]]
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Nakamura Production]], [[Kaname Production]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1C1W-jy0P4
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''A wounded Spike is turned into an Autobot Frankenstein's monster to save his life.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:AutobotSpike-AutobotXTabled.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"Elevate me." "...now? Right here?"]]
The Autobots gather around [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s worktable in [[Ark (G1)|Autobot Headquarters]] for a demonstration. Using spare parts and human ingenuity, Sparkplug has cobbled together a large robot he has dubbed [[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]], and with a flip of a switch sets him loose. He immediately runs amok—groaning, growling and smashing everything in sight. It takes [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]], [[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] and [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] to bring him down. Sparkplug apologizes to [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] for the mess and recommends Autobot X be put in storage.

Before this can be done, the party is interrupted by an alarm. Decepticons are attacking the new Air Force rocket base. The Autobots roll out to the base and engage the Decepticons. During the battle, the rockets and their fuel are inadvertently destroyed, and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] orders a retreat.

To cover their escape, Megatron creates a diversion for the Autobots; he blasts [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] while [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] is riding in him. The attack leaves Bumblebee damaged and Spike comatose. Spike is taken to Metro Hospital, where the doctors suggest that if Spike's mind could be transferred somewhere else, they would be able to operate on his fragile body.

[[File:BotX.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"Abby.... Normal."]]
[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] and Sparkplug transfer Spike's mind into Autobot X's body. However, as a side effect of the transferral process, Spike's mind is in an extremely unstable state. Angry and confused about his new body, Autobot Spike rampages, destroying several computers and machines in Wheeljack's shop.

Optimus Prime is able to subdue Autobot Spike without damaging his mind. To keep Spike calm, Wheeljack tunes [[Teletraan I]] to a television station, where cruel Fate just happens to have scheduled an airing of a movie featuring [[Frankenstein|Doctor Frankenstein]]'s unholy attempt to create life. Spike is roused to anger, convinced that he, like [[Frankenstein's monster|the Doctor's creation]], is a "monster." He again rampages throughout the Ark, then escapes.

[[File:AutobotSpike-Moping.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Quiet dignity and grace.]]
Alone in the wilderness, Spike suffers from the conflict between his own mind and what there is of Autobot X. Will he use his new body and powers to help the world like Optimus Prime, or conquer all Humanity?

[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] informs Megatron of Spike's new Autobot body and unstable mind, and Megatron forms a plan to trick Autobot Spike into destroying the Autobots. Megatron soon finds Spike with [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]]'s help. Autobot Spike attacks, but Megatron has other plans. Spike's unstable mind makes it hard for him to think, and he is easily twisted by Megatron to side with him against the Autobots.

Bumblebee brings the Autobots to Spike's location, but they are unable to fight against the vengeful being for fear of destroying Spike's mind. Only after Autobot Spike shoots his father off the edge of a cliff does he realize what he has done. At once, he saves his father and turns on the [[Decepticon]]s.

Finally, Spike's mind is returned to his [[human]] body after the surgical operation is successfully completed.

Spike will never be placed in a robot's body again. [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Never?]]
{{--}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (1)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (3)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (5)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (6)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (7)
*[[Autobot X (G1)|Autobot X]] (8)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (9)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (10)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (11)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (12)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (20)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (21)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (25)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (26)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (27)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (28)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (14)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (15)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]] (22)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (23)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (24)
|c3=
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (2)
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (4)
*Air Force General (13)
*Spike's doctor (19)
|c4=
'''On TV'''
*[[Frankenstein]]
*[[Frankenstein's assistant]]
*[[Frankenstein's monster]]
}}

==Quotes==
"Another Autobot? Even if it works, who needs it?"
:—'''Ratchet''' is a [[GEEWUN|1984 purist]].

"It's not supposed to do that!"
:—'''Sparkplug''' referring to Autobot X destroying Autobot headquarters

"So you Decepticreeps like to fly, eh? Well, take off!"
:—'''Brawn''' after kicking Soundwave

"Hmmm...if only there were a way of separating Spike's mind from his body while we work..."
:—'''Spike's doctor''' clumsily moves the narrative along within earshot of Autobot X's creator.

"He wants a battle—let's give him one!"
:—'''Starscream''', referring to the now-mechanized Spike

"I must say, you've improved your appearance since our last encounter, Spike!"
:—'''Megatron''', upon meeting Spike in Autobot form

[[File:Autobotspike spike and bee.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Yes, yes! Say it! He was MY BOYFRIEND!]]
'''General''': Aren't they a gorgeous sight? 
'''Optimus Prime''': Impressive. ''[To Ironhide]'' For primitive rocket technology.
:—Only Optimus Prime could both praise and diss humanity at the same time.

[''Crazed laughter'']"Man, I've got powers I haven't even discovered yet!"
:—A mentally-deteriorated '''Spike''' as he fires on the Autobots.

"Hmmm, I wonder—I wonder what it would be like for a robot mind to be transferred to a human?"
:—'''Bumblebee''', being [[Only Human|eerily prophetic]]

==Notes==

===Continuity notes===
[[File:AutobotSpike Prime firing from shoulder height.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Stand back, for the love of God! He's got a rotten brain!]]
*The three Reflector components, while speaking in unison, refer to themselves as "I".
*It's also the last time Reflector has a speaking part in an episode. The rest of his appearances are silent cameos.
*Autobot X/Spike demonstrates a few abilities that his component parts have never shown. None of the 1984 Autobots shoot lasers from their fingertips; Trailbreaker's gun arm has never been shown to be an extendable grappling hook; Bluestreak has never fired lasers from the headlights on his chest.
*When Optimus Prime tries to subdue Autobot X/Spike, he fires his ion blaster from his shoulder, like an RPG launcher.
*[[Furmanism]] alert: The phrase "What's that?" is said not once ... not twice ... but ''three times'' in this episode alone - First by the rocket general, then by Bumblebee hanging from cliff, and then by Ironhide at the rocket base.
*It's not the [[The Human Factor|last time]] a human mind is placed in a robot's body.
[[File:AutobotSpike Brawn's almighty foot.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Walk ''this'' way.]]
*[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3|<<]] '''Brawn vs. Soundwave''', Round 3: Brawn gives Soundwave a good proper kick to the tail! Brawn 3, Soundwave 0 [[Attack of the Autobots (episode)|>>]]

===Real-world references===
[[File:Autobot spike - dr frankenstein.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Two nasty-looking switches over there, but I'm not going to be the first.]]
*So obviously, this episode has the whole Frankenstein thing goin' on. That this script came from the pen of Don Glut is no coincidence, as he has written many novels, articles, short stories and non-fiction books about Frankenstein.
**Given Glut's knowledge, it's no surprise then that when talking about Autobot X, Spike correctly makes the reference to "Frankenstein's monster", instead of making the common mistake that usually sees the monster referred to simply as "Frankenstein".
**Glut refrains from directly copying the dialogue of any existing film version of the Frankenstein story, scripting his own scene from whole cloth. It portrays the "Igor" character as someone who warns Dr. Frankenstein against creating a "monster" which is very different from his film portrayals:
***"Ygor" (note the spelling) was actually an original character created by Universal for their film series and wasn't in the original Mary Shelley story.
***Ygor did not appear in the original 1931 Universal movie (which also invented the "flat top and neck bolts" appearance of the creature created my Universal makeup artist Jack Pierce) where Dr. Frankenstein created the monster, his assistant was named Fritz. Ygor actually first appeared in Son of Frankenstein from 1939 where he helps Dr. Henry Frankenstein's son Wolf Frankenstein bring the monster back to life.
***Far from the character denounces the creature as a "monster," Ygor is actually a villain with his own agenda who plots to use the monster to accomplish it: he wants to get revenge on a jury that sentenced him to death by hanging. The hanging failed, but it left him with a hunchback.
*The 1967 Hammer Film ''Frankenstein Created Woman'' has a plot element that asserts the human soul can be transferred from one body to another. Baron Frankenstein (Peter Cushing) even states that the transfer of souls from one body to another would be of great use to "medical science". Could be just a coincidence, but if Don Glut is a Frankenstein fan, he was probably familiar with the Hammer series while scripting this episode.

===Animation and technical errors===
All in all, remarkably few errors:
*There are many shots when the eyes of the robots get sparkly, making them look very anime-like. This can create jarring instances where one robot will have the standard solid eyes while another has the added in shines.
*The beginning of Sparkplug's line "It's not working" is cut off, as if the sound dropped out for a split second.
*''Technically'' it's not an error, but Ratchet maintains his "who needs it?" arm gesture for a ''very'' long time after he finishes speaking.
*Coloring errors:
**After Autobot X fires on Ironhide, Trailbreaker and Prowl, Ironhide's face is colored red.
**Skywarp has an all-yellow chest as the Decepticons prepare to retreat from the rocket base. Only his cockpit canopy should be yellow.
**Optimus's bumper is completely yellow when the Autobots pull up to the rocket base.
**Rumble's visor is blue when Megatron addresses Autobot X.
**Immediately after that when Autobot X says, "The way I see it, I've become a monster... like you!", the white portion of his upper body changes to black as he turns to his side.
**As he flies out of Spike's hand, [[Throwback Blaster|Megatron's gun-mode]] handle is colored gray instead of black.
**Just before Megatron orders a retreat, Soundwave has Skywarp's colors, and Skywarp is firing a laser beam that somehow passes in front of Starscream's air intake, even though Starscream is in the foreground.
*Autobot X's demise in the Ark is animated without the accompanying in between frames. When the animations play later on after the Seekers down him (now with Spike's mind inside), it has them.
*When commenting on Spike's need for medical attention, Optimus Prime's mouthplate is briefly missing at the beginning of the shot.
*Spike's hospital room is hilarious. Not only is it completely devoid of any medical equipment whatsoever (not even so much as an IV drip), but Spike's ancient-looking dormitory-style bed is placed ''directly in the middle of the room''. Despite this, the ticking of a heart monitor can be heard.
*Sideswipe's voice is off as he and Sunstreaker rush to contain Autobot X. The delivery's a bit off, too: he sounds like he's discussing the weather, not rushing into battle.
*The docking tower for [[Decepticon Headquarters (G1 Earth)|Decepticon Headquarters]] is right off of a rocky coast. Usually it's in open water.
*Spike's second round of fire on the Decepticons hits ''[[generic|three]]'' Thundercrackers.
*Okay, it's a cartoon and all, but... when Spike blasts him off the cliff, Sparkplug falls for an ''incredibly'' long time.
*Several scenes in the Rhino DVD release appear to be taken from a lower-quality broadcast copy of the episode, possibly to hide incomplete animation. Spike's rampage aboard the Ark and his fight against the Decepticons are particularly muddy.

===Continuity errors===
*Throughout the episode, Spike struggles with unpredictable destructive urges and freaks out at the slightest provocation. Sparkplug and the rest repeatedly assume that this is a side-effect of the mental transfer process, rather than the fault of the body they put it in. Did they forget that the body itself goes on similar rampages even ''without'' Spike's mind in it? Spike even says himself that it feels like "something" is telling him to do "bad things."
*A body's dead if a body's dead, right? How does it help the medical process if he isn't in his body?

===Trivia===
*The episode begins with a narrative voice-over from [[Victor Caroli]]. Most such narratives recap events from previous episodes; however, this one is solely to introduce the episode's opening events. After a couple more tries ("[[Day of the Machines]]", "[[Atlantis, Arise!]]"), this convention would be dropped entirely.
*Ratchet is standing behind Wheeljack when Wheeljack "volunteers" him to help improve Autobot X. Ratchet has a comical surprised reaction to the news. Wheeljack later looks visibly depressed that his mind transfer device has burned itself out.
*This episode features a curiously large amount of extreme close ups with the camera constantly going straight into characters' faces for no reason.
*The episode finally addresses that it's incredibly unsafe to bring a teenager to a battle between two factions of giant robot killing machines. Except that Spike continues to tag along in the future...
*Thirty years later, the device which accomplished the consciousness transfer was given a name in the pages of [[Ask Vector Prime]]... the [[Cortexitron]].

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Frankenstein chez les Autobots'''" ("Frankenstein among the Autobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*This episode is one of those that has never been released on DVD in French.
::*[[Albert Augier]], [[Jacques Ferrière]] and [[Georges Atlas]] are all absent from this episode, depriving the usual dub of many characters. Some of them are taken over by the other regular members of the cast, like the narrator, Sideswipe and Ratchet, while a yet unidentified actor comes to the rescue to voice Sparkplug, Soundwave, Reflector and Starscream.
::*When Optimus Prime names all the Autobots to transform, he skips Windcharger.

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''Il mostro Frankenstein'''" ("The Frankenstein Monster")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Prowl is misnamed as Ratchet at the beginning.

:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''L'Autobot Spike'''" ("The Autobot Spike")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Frankenstein Spike'''" (フランケンシュタイン・スパイク)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 14]], [[1985]]
:**This episode was actually broadcast in Japan ''before'' it aired in the United States; one of the few episodes of ''The Transformers'' to do so.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Qìchērén Spike'''" (汽车人斯派克, "Autobot Spike")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Autobot Spike'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1994]] — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[1998]] — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] [[2001]] — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2002]] — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2003]] — ''Transformers'' — Season 2 Part 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2004]] — ''Transformers'' — Bumper Collection Special (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 2: Series 2.1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2006]] — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] [[2007]] — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] [[2008]] — ''Transformers'' — Volume 03: Stagione Due Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] [[2009]] — ''Transformers'' — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2011]] — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] [[2014]] — ''The Transformers'' — Season Two, Volume One: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=15mn7Wvxrb0qc5vTZKRVjPyAXX-M6jQmC Episode dialogue script]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lApsdDAjzfKFCpvUlUmvHuAemxmiQYT6/view?usp=drive_link Model sheets and background layouts]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-16-autobot_5.html Gallery of storyboards for Act II of this episode]

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