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The Stunti-Con Job

2021-01-22T05:39:51Z

Slc56: /* Transformers references */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Transformers Timelines]]'' #6
|prev=Generation 2: Redux
|next=Invasion (issue)
|seriesissue2=''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]''
|prev2=Moving Violations
|next2=The Return of Blurr
|seriesissue3=''[[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|Transformers Timelines]]'' script reading
|prev3=Bee in the City
|next3=Shadowzone (episode)
|title="The Stunti-Con Job"
|image=TFA-comic Stunticon Cover.jpg|caption="It's a very difficult job and the only way to get through it is we all work together as a team. And that means you do everything I say."
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|date=[[BotCon 2011]], [[June 2]], [[2011]] [[BotCon 2011]], [[June 3]], [[2011]] (script reading version) [[November 16]], [[2011]] (retail edition)
|story=[[Marty Isenberg]], [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] & [[Matt Youngberg]]
|writer=Marty Isenberg
|pencils=[[Marcelo Matere]]
|inks=[[Marcelo Matere]]
|colors=[[Thomas Deer]] and [[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|letters=Jesse Wittenrich
|editor=[[Pete Sinclair]]
|price=
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]
}}
'''Two cop-bots on the trail of stolen weapons and body mods stumble upon a far more sinister plot.'''

==Synopsis==
{{note|Italics indicate events from the [[BotCon 2011]] live script reading version of the story.}}

[[Sideswipe (Animated)|Sideswipe]] reflects on the reaction of the Cybertronian public to [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]'s successful capture of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. He recalls [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Magnus]]'s sense of irony in commissioning the conversion of the derelict [[Decepticon]] fortress of [[Trypticon Prison|Trypticon]] into a new prison to house its former masters, right in the heart of [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. Indeed, general public sentiment is extremely optimistic, with talk even of the dawning of a new golden age in Cybertronian history. Sideswipe, however, is unimpressed, as he has more important things to see to. The veteran cop is nearing retirement, with just one case he'd like to solve before he's done: a rash of thefts of modifications and weaponry. Unfortunately for him, he's been partnered with [[Cheetor (Animated)|Cheetor]], a recently transferred rookie with a severe disregard for his or anyone else's safety.

[[File:StuntiConJob-nowheretorun.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"You wouldn't hit a man with no trousers on, would you?" "All right, pull 'em on!"]]

The trail leads to "legitimate business bot" [[Rattletrap]], who has been attempting to sell the "authentic" energy axe that took down Megatron. Cheetor, in his enthusiasm, tackles the criminal, and starts to browbeat him. Sideswipe reminds the rookie that if they're going to play good cop/bad cop, they can't both be bad cops. Resuming the interrogation with Sideswipe taking the lead this time, Rattletrap is questioned about the axe. Forced to admit it is a fake when brought before Optimus Prime himself, he reveals that it is a prop he had stolen from a local performing troupe: [[The Motor Master|Motor Master]]'s [[Team Stunticon|Stunt Convoy]]. Pressed for more information, Rattletrap also claims that he saw a large stockpile of stolen modifications backstage at the show. ''Sideswipe apologizes for bothering Optimus, but as Prime thanks him, Sentinel Magnus, decked out in his new Magnus decor and pompous as ever, butts in. Sentinel dismisses Rattletrap's claims, and tells Optimus to come with him to the rehearsal...''

Cheetor, seeming to have watched too many police drama holovids, charges into the show's rehearsal with guns blazing. Thankfully, he only manages to hit [[Breakdown (Animated)|Breakdown]], and is shortly thereafter yelled off the set by [[Wildrider (Animated)|Wildrider]]. The rehearsal continues while Sentinel Magnus and Optimus Prime look on. The plot, apparently heavily influenced by Sentinel, involves [[Drag Strip (Animated)|Drag Strip]] being chased by the other actors until she is rescued by [[Toxitron (Animated)|Toxitron]]. The Stunticons then turn tail and flee when confronted by a giant hologram of Sentinel Magnus. Optimus asks if this might well be a bit over the top, but Sentinel replies that he intends it to be visible from Megatron's cell. The rehearsal is again interrupted, this time by the director when Toxitron brandishes his "axe thingy" which is in reality a rather large plunger. Asked where his replica axe went, Toxitron is dumbfounded until Sideswipe and Cheetor show that they are in possession of it. Pressing the advantage of surprise, they ask to look backstage. However, all they find is the various supplies for the stage effects. Sentinel Magnus orders the [[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]]s to escort them out. ''Meanwhile, another pair of bots, [[Minerva (Animated)|Minerva]] and [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]], have come to the stadium on their own little quest. Minerva, an excited young medic, wants to meet [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], whom she considers the greatest field medic on Cybertron, and Warpath, knowing Sentinel and through him able to meet Optimus and his crew, has offered to help. Arriving as Sentinel has the [[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]]s kick out Sideswipe and Cheetor, Warpath goes up to Sentinel and tries to tell him that Minerva wants to meet someone. Sentinel assumes that she wants to meet ''him'', however, and gives her his autograph, not even bothering to get her name right. Minerva's anger is short-lived when she spies who she assumes to be Optimus Prime; Warpath is reluctant to give chase, but Minerva reminds she was the one who re-attached his leg, and she can do that operation in reverse.''
[[File:StuntiConJob-Ironfistlab.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|"Does he really need all this equipment?" "He ''says'' he does..."]]

Upon returning to the precinct, Sideswipe and Cheetor discover an odd detail. None of the Stunt Convoy actors have any records on file, which means they can't perform a background check. However, they have little time to ponder the implications of this, as an Autotrooper informs them there's been a break-in at [[Ironfist (Animated)|Ironfist]]'s workshop. Hurrying over, they find the place ransacked, many of the Autobot engineer's weapons projects already stolen, and Ironfist himself lying wounded on the floor. Still online, he is questioned by Sideswipe, but only manages to sputter out the name of Optimus Prime. Looking up, the duo see a silhouette that does indeed resemble the Autobot hero, but Cheetor recalls their time at The Motor Master's show. He fires at the window to reveal the oozing form of Toxitron! Cheetor opens fire, heedless of Ironfist's warnings about the manifold munitions surrounding them. Miraculously, he manages to not blow everyone to [[Nebulos]], and Toxitron is apprehended. Sideswipe is less than impressed with Cheetor's methods, as they continue to endanger his ability to live to retirement. Cheetor retorts by reminding Sideswipe of the rumors of his youth, wondering why he can't be more like he once was. Sideswipe grumbles that he found something to live for. ''Suddenly, Minerva and Warpath arrive on the scene, having mistaken Toxitron for Optimus Prime. Minerva attends to the injured Ironfist as Sideswipe and Cheetor take Toxitron when Optimus Prime arrives on the scene, looking for his duplicate as well. Prime greets Ironfist, an old friend of his, and he asks both him and Minerva for a favor...'''

[[File:StuntiConJob-interrogation.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Last night, Mr. Governor, my toilet was broken into!]]

Under the hot lights, Toxitron proves a tough nut to crack. Part of this is due to the fact that the addled doppelgänger doesn't really understand plea bargaining, continually demanding a longer sentence. With such an unreliable interrogation suspect, the security bots find it difficult to make the charges stick, and ultimately have to release Toxitron. This leaves them with the unenviable task of filling out the [[datatrax]] regarding the stolen modifications. While doing so, they begin to notice a disturbing pattern: while some of the stolen goods actually are modifications, the vast majority is excavation equipment and explosives. This connects in with the fact that the Stunt Convoy show is right next door to the prison, perfect for staging a jailbreak of Megatron himself! Meanwhile, deep in the tunnel they'd dug, Wildrider reports to General [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] that not only will the plan to blow open Trypticon go off without a hitch, none of the [[Autobot]]s attending the show will survive its finale.

[[File:TFA-comic Stunticon TeamChaar.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|...hold on lads. I've got a great idea...]]

The defense bots barely arrive at the show in time to stop it. Realizing they've been discovered, the Stunticons go on the attack, revealing that the stolen modifications had been installed directly into them. With the possible exception of Breakdown's abominable luck, the Stunticons have Cheetor and Sideswipe on the ropes until an unlikely savior barges in. Toxitron plows through his troupe-mates, only to reveal himself as Optimus Prime in disguise. He had convinced Ironfist to equip him with an electronic paintjob, ''had Minerva use her medi-kit to mimic Toxitron's leaking fluids'', and used his heroic reputation to talk the Autotroopers into making the switch. Playing a recording of the Stunticons from his infiltration, he reveals their plan to the whole stadium. Desperate, The Motor Master takes Sideswipe hostage, threatening to blow his head off and detonate the explosives unless the Decepticons in Trypticon are released immediately. Sideswipe acts on instinct, grabbing a nearby energy axe and firing its rocket engine, knocking The Motor Master back and enabling the defense bot to grab the detonator. In a turnabout, Cheetor asks Sideswipe if he was trying to get them all scrapped. Sideswipe tells Cheetor that there was no chance he was going to let Motor Master ruin his retirement.

Later, the Stunticons are imprisoned in Trypticon, along with the very Decepticons they were trying to break out. ''Sentinel Magnus gives Cheetor and Sideswipe commendations for saving Cybertron, a smile forced onto his face. Optimus, meanwhile, had his popularity swell even further, with many wanting for him to be the next Magnus.'' Sideswipe begins his retirement on a placid [[energon farm]], looking up at what he believes to be a meteor shower. Soon though, he realizes that these are no meteors, but the descending forms of [[Team Chaar]]!

===Musical interlude===
During the intermission, entertainment is provided by a music number, brought to you by donations from [[Sumdac Systems]], [[Iacon Arts & Culture]], and viewers like you: [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] and [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] perform "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)"! The two Dinobots butt heads throughout the song, each professing to be the best Grimlock, before eventually getting confused and forgetting what they were doing.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (1)
* [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (7)
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (9)
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (10)
* [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]]'s coffin (11)
* [[Hubcap (Animated)|Hubcap]] (12)
* [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Magnus]] (13)
* [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]] (14)
* [[High Wire (Animated)|High Wire]] (15)
* [[Leader-1 (Animated)|Leader-1]] (16)
* [[DUCK-E]] (17)
* [[Reachout (Animated)|Reachout]] (18)
* [[Grindor (Animated)|Grindor]] (19)
* [[Sureshock (Animated)|Sureshock]] (20)
* [[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]] (21)
* [[Sideswipe (Animated)|Sideswipe]] (22)
* [[Beachcomber (Animated)|Beachcomber]] (file photo) (23)
* [[Scrounge (Animated)|Scrounge]] (file photo) (24)
* [[Jackpot (Animated)|Jackpot]] (file photo) (25)
* [[Rattletrap]] (26)
* [[Mudflap (Animated)|Mudflap]] (file photo) (27)
* [[Cheetor (Animated)|Cheetor]] (28)
* [[Ironfist (Animated)|Ironfist]] (35)
* [[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (37)
* [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] (38)
* [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] (cube) (39)
* [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] (40)
* [[Botanica (Animated)|Botanica]] (41)
* [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] (42)
* [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]] (43)
* [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] (44)
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
* [[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]] (45)
* [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (46)
* [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] (47)
* [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] (48)
* [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]] (49)
* [[Bumper (Animated)|Bumper]] (50)
* [[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]] (51)
* [[Grandus (Animated)|Grandus]] (52)
* [[Mirage (Animated)|Mirage]] (53)
* [[Powerglide (Animated)|Powerglide]] (54)
* [[Longrack (Animated)|Longrack]] (55)
* [[Rosanna (Animated)|Rosanna]] (56)
* [[Pipes (Animated)|Pipes]] (57)
* [[Huffer (Animated)|Huffer]] (58)
* [[Minerva (Animated)|Minerva]] (59)
* [[Cosmos (Animated)|Cosmos]] (60)
* [[Tracks (Animated)|Tracks]] (61)
* [[Tap-Out (Animated)|Tap-Out]] (62)
* [[Flareup (Animated)|Flareup]] (63)
* [[Lickety-Split]] (64)
* [[Wheelie (Animated)|Wheelie]] (65)
* [[Chase (Animated)|Chase]] (66)
* [[Searchlight (Animated)|Searchlight]] (67)
* [[Freeway (Animated)|Freeway]] (68)
* [[Lightbright (Animated)|Lightbright]] (69)
* [[Erector (Animated)|Erector]] (70)
{{!}}}

|c2=
* [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] (2)
* [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] (3)
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (4)
* [[Wildrider (Animated)|Wildrider]] (29)
* [[The Motor Master]] (30)
* [[Drag Strip (Animated)|Drag Strip]] (31)
* [[Dead End (Animated)|Dead End]] (32)
* [[Breakdown (Animated)|Breakdown]] (33)
* [[Toxitron (Animated)|Toxitron]] (34)
* [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] (36)
* [[Blot (Animated)|Blot]] (71)
* [[Sky-Byte (Animated)|Sky-Byte]] (72)
* [[Mindwipe (Animated)|Mindwipe]] (73)
* [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] (74)
* [[Scalpel (Animated)|Scalpel]] (75)
|c3=
* [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (6)
}}
Musical interlude characters:
{{featuredcharacters|c1=
*''Generation 1'' [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] (1)
*''Animated'' [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] (2)
}}

==Quotes==
"We already got you on trespassing, breaking-and-entering and possession of stolen goods. You're looking at ten thousand stellar cycles in the stockade minimum." 
"No deal. Toxitron am take ''twenty'' thousand stellar cycles." 
"You do realize you're supposed to plea bargain your sentence ''down'', right?" 
"Okay. Thirty thousand and not one nanoklik less." 
:— '''Sideswipe''' finds '''Toxitron''' a tough nut to crack

"General Strika, Ma'am! The Motor Master is pleased to report The Motor Master's prison break mission is proceeding exactly as The Motor Master planned!"
:— Guess who.

==Notes==
* Characters mentioned in the musical interlude include: [[Unicron]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|"Spider-Bot"]].
===Continuity notes===
* The opening page is a recreation of the final scene in ''Animated's'' finale, "[[Endgame, Part II]]"
* Trypticon Prison had previously been mentioned in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'', and was intended to appear in the fourth season, where Megatron would escape from Cybertron by teleporting it to Earth. Here, it's explained that it was a former Decepticon stronghold, turned into a prison by the Autobots after the Great War.
* Aside from Rattletrap, others who appear in Sideswipe's files include: Beachcomber (whose bio in ''The AllSpark Almanac II'' indicated he was addicted to various Cybertronian drugs), Scrounge (bit of an odd one out, here, as nothing in his history or that of his ''Generation 1'' counterpart depicts him as a criminal), Jackpot (who was seen at the TransTech Division's station in "[[Moving Violations]]"), and Mudflap (who was seen on a wanted poster at the station in "Moving Violations").
* Cheetor was transferred from the TransTech Division in "Moving Violations", a two page prequel comic on the Club's website.
* Cliffjumper has a crushed-up cube with him at the opening night; this is Blurr, who was compacted by Shockwave in "[[TransWarped]]", and given to Cliffjumper for smelting. Evidently, once Shockwave's gig was up, the Autobots found out the truth and retrieved Blurr.
* Botanica, Mirage, Wheelie, and Scalpel previously only appeared in ''The AllSpark Almanac II''.
* Team Chaar was last seen in "TransWarped"; their membership has changed since then, with Strika and Oil Slick being the only two remaining from the original team.
* Additional continuity notes from the script reading include:
** An Autotrooper at the beginning notifies Sideswipe that Patrol 16 had found a perp on [[Avalon Boulevard]], previously seen in ''The AllSpark Almanac II'' and named for the ''Energon'' [[Avalon (Energon)|character]].
** Warpath mentions having arrested one of Optimus Prime's crew; he arrested Prowl back during the Great War for avoiding the draft, as seen in "[[Five Servos of Doom]]".
** Animated Grimlock mentions "Spider-Bot", a.k.a. Blackarachnia, who used her feminine charm to woo the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]].

===Transformers references===
* The cover has a blurb from a "review" by [[Rook (Universe)|Rook]] at [[ABN]]; Rook was a news reporter who was sold at [[BotCon Europe 2002]], while ABN showed up in various universe in the Club's ''Around Cybertron'' comic strip.
* Trypticon Prison, like the ''Animated'' incarnations of [[Metroplex (Animated)|Metroplex]] and [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]] before it, is a non-sentient building based on the ''Generation 1'' [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]'s city mode.
* Several new characters appear, including:
** High Wire, Leader-1, Reachout, Grindor, Sureshock, and DUCK-E, the Mini-Con guards at Trypticon Prison. The first five are based on the ''Armada'' Mini-Cons [[High Wire (Armada)|High Wire]], [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]], [[Longarm (Armada)|Longarm]], [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]], and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]]; Reachout has to be renamed since Shockwave used the name "Longarm" as part of his Autobot disguise. DUCK-E is the odd one out, being based on the titular character from 2008 Disney/Pixar film ''{{w|WALL-E}}'' but with duck features, inspired by ''Beast Wars'' [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s [[Rubber Ducky]]. They were intended to appear in season 4 in the same role as seen here.
** Longrack, based on the ''Cybertron'' [[Longrack (Cybertron)|character]]. A different character named [[Longrack Major]] appeared in ''The AllSpark Almanac II'', based on the ''Beast Wars Neo'' version of the [[Longrack (BWN)|character]]; Longrack's tech specs indicate he was named for Longrack Major.
** Erector, based on the ''Generation 1'' [[Erector (G1)|character]]. Erector was designed as part of a faux "History of Erector" video, having managed to be nominated for the [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] for...''immature'' reasons.
** Blot, Sky-Byte, and Mindwipe of Team Chaar. Blot is based on the ''Generation 1'' [[Blot (G1)|Terrorcon]]'s creature alt-mode, with kibble such as tank treads indicating that it serves as his robot mode. Mindwipe is based on the ''Generation 1'' [[Mindwipe (G1)|Headmaster]]; his head had previously appeared in ''The AllSpark Almanac II''. Sky-Byte is based on the ''Robots in Disguise'' [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Predacon]]; he also appeared in ''The AllSpark Almanac II'', albeit with a much more monstrous design.
* Sideswipe's mug has an image of [[Kremzeek]], the little electrical imp from ''The Transformers'' episode of the same [[Kremzeek!|name]].
* Cheetor uses the euphemisms "jumpin' gyros" and "ultra gear" when meeting Optimus Prime, much like his ''Beast Wars'' counterpart would do.
* Speaking of ''Beast Wars'', Cheetor snarks claims that he would work with Rattletrap in another lifetime; his ''Beast Wars'' counterpart was part of the same group of Maxmimal's as [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]], Rattletrap's counterpart.
* The "jumbotron" screen on page 6 shows the box art for the [[BotCon 2011]] convention toy set.
* Sentinel's new "Magnus" duds include a larger helmet and shoulder pads reminiscent of [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'s from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', based on early concept art for season 4.
* Sideswipe prepares "to be blown clear to [[Nebulos]]", the home of the various "Master" partners from the latter years of the original ''The Transformers'' toyline.
* References exclusive to the script reading include:
** Sideswipe disparagingly calls Rattletrap a [[glitch mouse]], a type of Cybertronian animal mentioned in ''The Transformers'' episode "[[S.O.S. Dinobots]]".
** Sentinel calls Minerva "Minelba"; Minelba was the English mis-romanization used on ''Masterforce'' [[Minerva (Masterforce human)|Minerva's]] packaging.
** ''Generation 1'' Grimlock mentions the time he kicked Unicron's butt, as seen in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. He also mentions wearing a gold crown (as Grimlock did during his first tenure as leader of the Autobots in the Marvel ''The Transformers'' comic) and that he was the first [[Action Master]] (as seen in Marvel's ''The Transformers'' issue [[Still Life!|#76]]).

===Real-world references===
* The comic's cover is based on the movie poster for the classic 1969 British caper film ''{{w|The Italian Job}}''.
** The note on the poster ("This is the Mayhem Masquerade Society") is a reference to the song "This is the Self-Preservation Society" part of the soundtrack for ''The Italian Job''.
* The Motor Master's mannerisms are based on those of professional wrestler "Macho Man" {{w|Randy Savage}}.
* Toxitron's depiction is based on DC Comics supervillain {{w|Bizarro}}, a failed clone of Superman.
* References exclusive to the script reading include:
** Sideswipe calls Rattletrap "Cheesy Rider", after the 1969 drama film, ''{{w|Easy Rider}}''. [[Ramulus]] called his Rattrap by the same nickname in "[[Wreckers: Finale Part II]]".
** Wildrider's speech patterns are based on American actor {{w|Jonathan Harris}}.
** Morgan Lofting claims the musical number is possible because of, besides others, "viewers like you," riffing on the {{w|PBS}} slogan.
** "{{w|Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)}}", as noted in the script reading, is a musical number from the 1946 musical ''{{w|Annie Get Your Gun (musical)|Annie Get Your Gun}}''.

===Art and technical errors===
{{note|The italicized errors were fixed for the Diamond Edition.}}
* Drag Strip and Toxitron play the role of Autobots in Motor Master's Stunt Convoy, yet have Decepticon symbols.
* On page 5, One of Rattletrap's stripes is colored blue, like the handle of Prime's axe.
* ''On page 9, Sideswipe is colored as Breakdown as he watches Breakdown, Dead End and The Motor Master menace Drag Strip in the distance.''
* ''On page 17:''
** ''The radar-thingy on Grandus's shoulder is colored as part of Pipes's hand.''
** ''Hubcap's open mouth is colored light gray like the rest of his faceplate.''
** ''Bulkhead's fingers are the same color as his arm.''
**'' Pipes and Huffer's colors are switched.''
*'' On page 18, the black borders under Alpha Trion's eyes are colored like the rest of his face.''

===Continuity errors===
* The first shot of Trypticon prison shows a rainstorm taking place on Cybertron, yet Sentinel remarked in "[[Where Is Thy Sting?]]" that Earth was weird for having liquid fall from the sky.

===Other trivia===
* This story takes place shortly after the events of "[[Endgame, Part II]]".
* While [[Marty Isenberg]] is credited with the final script, [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] and [[Matt Youngberg]] collaborated with him on the main story direction and how to work it in with their (yet unrealized) plans for season 4.
* Upon entering the arena, Cheetor has two chainsaw-weapons, though his toy only has one. Good luck replicating that scene!
* The ''Animated'' versions of Wheelie and Mirage, previously seen only in ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'', make their first fictional appearances here.
* This comic story was adapted into a script reading performed live at [[BotCon 2011]] on Friday, [[June 3]], with some additional scenes added into the story by [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]]. The following cast members performed the following roles:
**[[Neil Ross]]: [[Sideswipe (Animated)|Sideswipe]], [[Wildrider (Animated)|Wildrider]]
**[[Gregg Berger]]: [[Cheetor (Animated)|Cheetor]], [[The Motor Master]]
**<s>[[Jack Angel]]</s> [[Chris Ho]]:<ref>Jack Angel was to appear at [[BotCon 2011]], but fell ill before he could attend. Chris Ho, who was also in attendance, took his place in the script reading.</ref> [[Breakdown (Animated)|Breakdown]], [[Rattletrap]], [[Ironfist (Animated)|Ironfist]], [[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]]s
**[[Morgan Lofting]]: [[Drag Strip (Animated)|Drag Strip]], [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]
**[[David Kaye]]: [[Dead End (Animated)|Dead End]], [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], [[Toxitron (Animated)|Toxitron]], [[Warpath (Animated)|Warpath]]
**[[Marty Isenberg]]: [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Magnus]]
**[[Abby Collins]]: [[Minerva (Animated)|Minerva]]
* Obviously, several characters had to have substituted actors, as their normal ones weren't guests at the convention. These include Strika (normally voiced by [[Tara Strong]]), Rattletrap (normally voiced by Tom Kenny), and Sentinel Magnus (normally voiced by [[Townsend Coleman]]). Marty Isenberg's voice for Sentinel Prime sounds rather like {{w|David Cross}}.

===Covers===
* '''BotCon Edition:''' Image based on the movie poster for ''{{w|The Italian Job}}''. Pencils & inks by [[Alex Milne]], colors by [[Josh Perez]].
* '''Diamond Edition:''' [[Sideswipe (Animated)|Sideswipe]] and [[Team Stunticon]], by Thomas Deer.
<gallery>
File:TFA-comic Stunticon Cover.jpg
File:TFA-comic Stunticon DiamondCover.jpg
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External link==
*[https://soundcloud.com/thestunticonjob Audio recording of "The Stunti-Con Job" script reading on SoundCloud]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stunti-Con Job}}
[[Category:Animated issues]]
[[Category:Timelines issues]]
[[Category:Script reading]]

Toy scalping

2021-01-21T08:02:14Z

Slc56: /* Scalping in other countries */

[[File:Jazzscalper.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm just trying to help out a few fellow fans!"]]
'''Scalping''', in the context of toy collecting, refers to the practice of deliberately buying multiples of the same (usually "rare" or "popular", oftentimes both) toy with the intention of creating an artificial scarcity. Subsequently, the ''scalper'' will sell the toys again (usually on [[eBay]]), for a price much higher than the original store price, knowing that the high demand, coupled with the rarity of the toy (which is at least in part due to the scalping), will result in buyers being desperate enough to pay the prices the scalper asks for. In essence, scalpers are scum.

== Origin of the term ==
The term "scalping" in its original sense refers to the practice of removing the scalp of a human being, usually a defeated enemy, to claim it as a trophy. Later, the term would also be adopted to refer to a {{w|Scalping (trading)|practice of market manipulation}} in the context of trading in securities and commodities, not completely unlike what ''toy'' scalpers do. "Scalping" is also sometimes used to describe the practice of {{w|ticket resale|ticket reselling}}, which is very much like toy scalping.

== How scalpers work ==
Being a scalper means having a good advance feeling for which toys will become popular and ship in [[Shortpacking|low enough numbers]] to make scalping actually a profitable business. Nothing is more annoying for a scalper than buying several dozen ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Alternators|Sunstreaker]] toys and then finding out that Hasbro just sent another huge shipment of the same toy to stores. Obviously, it's hard to sell a toy for $50 on eBay when the same toy is [[Shelfwarmer|warming shelves]] at [[Walmart]] stores that offer it for $20.

Many scalpers actually arrange their daily time schedules around their scalping activities. They know when a truck will arrive bringing in new stuff, and then take all the "hot" toys straight out of the case. As a result, many of those toys never even end up on the store shelf (or the peg) to begin with, hence making it outright impossible for normal customers to "compete" with the scalpers (e.g. purchasing the desired toys at the store). Some scalpers are actually store employees themselves, which helps their cause even more.

== Scalping in other countries ==
Scalping toys is not limited to North America, apparently. Reports from Far Eastern Asia, where toy collecting is also a popular hobby in many countries, seem to suggest that the problem might actually be even ''worse'' there than it is in the USA. On the other hand, there is no substantial evidence that indicates that systematic scalping is a common practice in Europe beyond a few individuals. Some countries' legal restrictions for "private" selling of unopened goods in large quantities might be responsible to some degree.

Some particularly tech-savvy scalpers employ bots (programs run often in large numbers for the purpose of doing one specific action over and over again) to buy up online supplies of popular toys before actual people have a chance to get to them.

== External links ==
*[http://www.alteredstatesmag.com/mar2000/columns/dvd_scalping.shtml Essay about the problems of toy scalping at Altered Stages Magazine]
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20100110094743/http://www.articulateddiscussion.com/post/Scalped!-Interview-with-the-Enemy.aspx Interview with two toy scalpers at Articulated Discussion]
*[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=89528 First hand account of an encounter with highly organized scalpers]

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

The Re-Burn of Blurr

2021-01-04T04:43:45Z

Slc56: /* Transformers references */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''[[SD SG]]'' issue #7
|prev=SD SG issue 6
|next=
|title="The Re-Burn of Blurr"
|image=
|caption=
|publisher=[[Fun Publications]]
|published in=[[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 71|''Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club'' #71]]
|date=October/November [[2016]]
|script=[[Derrick J. Wyatt]]
|art= [[Josh Perez]]
|letters= [[Jesse Wittenrich]]
|continuity=''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (fiction)|Shattered Glass]]''
}}

'''Nobody cares about Kremzeek's story.'''

==Synopsis==
On Cybertron, the imperious sergeant [[Arcee (SG Animated)|Arcee]] leads her motley crew of Autobots through the street: the anti-social [[Sari Sumdac (SG Animated)|Sari Sumdac]], the quiet [[Siren (SG Animated)|Siren]], the hotheaded [[Hosehead (SG Animated)|Hosehead]], and the quirky [[Nightbeat (SG Animated)|Nightbeat]]. Arcee orders them to stop while she does some "waste disposal," ordering them not to learn anything. However, the group are soon approached by the miserable [[Kremzeek]], who carries the cube that was once [[Blurr (SG Animated)|Blurr]], who offers to tell them his "tale of woe." Sari immediately shoots down his offer, and Nightbeat crushes the cube even further with her hammer. Kremzeek tries to explain that the cube was once their comrade, but Hosehead burns the cube to a crisp. Shocked, Kremzeek tries to explain how Blurr reached this fate: he was crushed by the "daring" [[Shockwave (SG Animated)|Shockwave]] when Shockwave sat on some "comfy buttons," but Sari interrupts him, punting the cube that was once Blurr into the distance. Arcee returns and leads the four onward, leaving Kremzeek to wallow in self-pity.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Decepticon]]s
|c1=
* [[Shockwave (SG Animated)|Shockwave]] (8)

|h2=[[Autobot]]s
|c2=
{{collist|2|
* [[Sari Sumdac (SG Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (1)
* [[Siren (SG Animated)|Siren]] (2)
* [[Hosehead (SG Animated)|Hosehead]] (3)
* [[Nightbeat (SG Animated)|Nightbeat]] (4)
* [[Arcee (SG Animated)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Blurr (SG Animated)|Blurr]] (7)
}}
|h3=Others
|c3=
* [[Kremzeek]] (6)
}}

==Notes==
===Transformers references===
* The whole strip is, evidently enough, a mirror-universe inversion of the [[BotCon 2015]] script reading, "[[The Return of Blurr]]", with the mirror-version of Blurr ending up much worse than his positive-universe counterpart.
* New characters introduced in this story include:
** Arcee, based on the design of her positive-universe [[Arcee (Animated)|counterpart]], with the colors of ''Generation 1'' [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Additionally, she has two red energy swords, and the "wings", forehead gun, and beard of Scourge. Hrn. Unlike her positive-universe counterpart, she's a gruff drill sergeant, who doesn't want her students to learn anything.
** The Headmaster Jrs. are all based on their positive universe counterparts, but with the colors of the 1988 Decepticon [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s, sold the same year as their ''Generation 1'' counterparts. Siren has [[Fangry (G1)|Fangry]]'s colors, Hosehead has [[Horri-Bull]]'s, and Nightbeat has [[Squeezeplay (G1)|Squeezeplay's]].
** The sniveling Kremzeek, identical in appearance to his positive-universe counterpart, but pinkish-purple with blue eyes and mouth.
** Blurr, based on his positive-universe [[Blurr (Animated)|counterpart]], but in the colors of the ''Generation 1'' [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticons]].
** Shockwave, based on his positive-universe [[Shockwave (Animated)|counterpart]], but in Autobot red rather than Decepticon purple. His optic "iris" is a horizontal rectangle rather than a vertical slit, and one of his horns hangs upside down; as opposed to his cold, logical counterpart, he seems very laid back and somewhat dim.
* In the positive universe, Shockwave crushed Blurr into a cube in the ''Animated'' episode "[[TransWarped]]".
* Arcee claims she has to find a [[Hydrantacon]] so she can "drain the [[Dinobot (disambiguation)|Dinobot]]." Hrnnnnnnnnn.
* The Japanese characters on Nightbeat's hammer reads "Head Off!", inverting the phrase used by the Headmasters of Japanese fiction to bond with their [[Transtector]]s.

===Real-world references===
* Nightbeat's personality is based on that of DC Comics villain {{w|Harley Quinn}}, as opposed to her positve-universe [[Nightbeat (Animated)|counterpart]]'s {{w|Batgirl}}-inspired personality. Her design reflects this, with her antennae tips pointing outwards in emulation of Harley's jester's hat, along with her weapon of choice (a massive hammer) and her speech patterns (dropping the "g" in "pudding," for instance).
* The purple and white skull on Sari's juicebox is unmistakably based on the logo for Z0NE, a well-known online animator of various...''adult'' cartoon parodies. ''Sigh.''
* Hosehead shouts "kill it with fire!" as he burns the Blurr cube, [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/kill-it-with-fire a popular expression on the internet].

===Other trivia===
* In case it wasn't immediately obvious, Arcee's beard, along with her line about having to "drain the Dinobot" (parelleling "drain the weasel," a euphamism for penile urination) is, for all intents and purposes, indicating that mirror universe Arcee is not a "real woman,” resulting in a “joke” that comes across as being transphobic.
* Siren's barely readable dialogue says: "Derrick J. Wyatt sees me in his dreams" and "Josh Perez thinks I taste like Mint Chocolate."
* When Sari punts the Blurr cube, it "tings" off the panel flashing back to Shockwave accidentally crushing Blurr.

[[Category:Shattered Glass issues]]

Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)

2020-11-16T20:43:51Z

Slc56: /* Production */

{{disambigr|Battle for the Spark|the online game in the [[Live-action film series|live action film]] continuity|Battle for the Allspark}}

{{nav-bm}}

'''''Beast Machines: Transformers''''' is a 26-episode cartoon that aired in the US from 1999 to 2000, in support of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|toyline]] of the same name. It is a direct follow-up to ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', set in the same G1 continuity and featuring many of the same characters. Like ''Beast Wars'', its [[computer-generated imagery|computer animation]] was created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]].

==Overview==
[[File:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|upright=1.67|thumb|The Maximals, in a rare moment of Not Running Away.]]
The show follows the adventures of the core ''Beast Wars'' cast upon their return home to Cybertron; there, Optimus Primal and his crew find that the whole planet is abandoned, and the streets are patrolled by mindless [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] serving [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who somehow escaped his captivity.

Worse still, they learn that they are infected with a deadly [[Transformation virus|virus]] that will kill them in a matter of hours. Salvation comes from the mysterious supercomputer known as the Oracle, who sees them fit to complete its mission of a planetwide "reformatting", and turns them into [[technorganic]] warriors, a perfect blend of organic and technological matter.

As the show progresses, Primal and his fellow Maximals learn to balance their technological side with their newly introduced organic aspects, mastery coming in slow stages. Unlike the previous [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|conflict]], where sides had been roughly equal, the four original Maximals were quite outnumbered by their Vehicon enemies, and the battles took on a "guerilla warfare" feel, with the Maximals using sewers and underground levels to their advantage and avoiding surface levels unless for combat purposes. As the show progresses, two brand-new Maximals and a returning face boost their numbers.

Initially, Optimus is driven by a crusade to restore the organic above the technological and to right his failure to stop Megatron. Over time, it becomes increasingly clear that he's becoming obsessed and overzealous. At the midpoint, after Cybertron is almost destroyed, he realises that the point should be to create a ''balance'' of organic and technological, not a supremacy. Under this new, saner cause, the Maximals eventually turn Cybertron into an [[technorganic]] paradise, though at the cost of their [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|leader]]'s life.

{{--}}

===Production===

{{bigquote|I am more proud of [''Beast Machines''] than anything else I've ever had produced, because I got to do a twenty-six episode novel for television. It almost f**kin' ''killed me'', but I did it!|Bob Skir<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref>}}

[[File:OptimusPrimalBMconcept.jpg|right|upright=1.20|thumb|"Help me! My arms won't stop growing!"]]

Writer [[Steve Gerber]] had once pitched a "wildly original take on ''Transformers''" ([[Dan DiDio]]'s words) as part of the development of ''Beast Machines''.<ref>May 2008 "DC Nation" editorial appearing in {{w|DC Comics}} publications, following Steve Gerber's death</ref> Mainframe instead went with a different outline by Marv Wolfman: the Maximals returning to Cybertron and finding Megatron had conquered it. (The Vehicons may be his idea as well.)<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir in 2015], 42:00 to 42:30 and [http://web.archive.org/web/20080614012630/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999]</ref> Back in these early days, the show was to be called "''Beast Hunters''".<ref name="FKPR">[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/msg/946225010fc740fb "Fox Kids Fall Press Release" from alt.toys.transformers on February 10, 1999]. In 1999, Bob seems to say other BM writers came up with Vehicons but in 2015 he says that's Wolfman</ref> [[Bob Skir]] and [[Marty Isenberg]] were invited into a discussion, despite not knowing much about ''Transformers'', because of their good working relationship with [[Fox Kids]] (who they'd worked on shows like ''[[Godzilla]]: The Series'' for). Skir didn't think he had a shot but it'd be good to network with Mainframe for the future.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 39:13 to 41:57</ref> In the end, Fox said they wanted the duo script editing a show based on Wolfman's outline.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 42:00 to 42:57</ref> (Bob felt a bit bad about that and made sure to hire Wolfman to write episodes.)<ref>49:50 to 50:00</ref>

[[File:Oracle (The Reformatting).jpg|left|upright=1.34|thumb|]]

[[Bob Skir]] says that other writers came up with the Vehicon Generals and "all the mystical stuff came from Marty [Isenberg] and I, based on Hasbro's request that we add a 'spiritual dimension' to the show". (The phrase "I am transformed" came from Hasbro.) The overall arc of the series also came from Skir and Isenberg "based on many conversations with Hasbro, [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]], [[Fox Kids|Fox]], and us".<ref name="Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080614012630/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999]</ref> Hasbro was quite keen on the spiritual tone out of a desire to try something new with the franchise, while Skir felt nature versus technology was an obvious theme but he felt that was a lazy cliché and the show should be about a balance between the two. (The technorganic characters helped him argue this.)<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 43:20 to 46:00</ref> He merrily went all-out with the spiritual aspect, expecting Hasbro to change their mind but he found they liked it and asked for more!<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 46:50 to 47:29</ref> It was Hasbro itself who said "hey, what if someone turned into a ''plant''?" as part of their drive to stretch the franchise to its limits.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 1:36:40 to 1:36:49</ref>

One odd brief was that both Mainframe boss [[Dan DiDio]] and Hasbro didn't want Skir and Isenberg to watch old episodes, as they wanted a fresh take and DiDio felt ''Beast Wars'' was too continuity heavy. (He'd even told Wolfman that ''Beast Wars'' had no ties to the original series and to do as he pleased with [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity]] when doing his outline.)<ref>''Beast Machines'' DVD supplementary materials</ref> Again: ''Beast Machines'' was a sequel to a sequel. As it turned out, ''Beast Machines'' ended up being more continuity heavy and one reason was because Hasbro told them about things like [[Vector Sigma]] and the [[Hate Plague]] and encouraged them to be used.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 1:13:30 to 1:16:04</ref>

Isenberg did most of the work on the first season of ''Beast Machines'' due to Skir's workload and a bereavement, while Skir did most of the second season due to Isenberg running ''Action Man''.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 1:11:36 to 1:12:46</ref>

Skir originally wanted the character of Nightscream to be a young female Transformer, patterned after the girl, Newt, from the movie ''{{w|Aliens (film)|Aliens}}''. When that was nixed, Nightscream ended up becoming {{w|John Connor}} in ''{{w|Terminator 2: Judgment Day}}'' instead.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071202095033/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Fri_03_Dec_1999.html Bob Skir Q&A 3 December 1999] (archive copy)</ref>

Fox Kids' press release in 1999 not only still used the ''Beast Hunters'' name, it said the enemies would be Predacons.<ref name="FKPR">[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/msg/946225010fc740fb "Fox Kids Fall Press Release" from alt.toys.transformers on February 10, 1999]</ref> Shortly after the press release, the production toyed with various titles before finalizing "''Beast Machines''". The use of the term Predacons in the press release may be an error or a deliberate "well nobody's heard of Vehicons yet" decision, as no other source has talked about Predacons being in it.

===Reception===
{{bigquote|It's been ''thirteen years!'' ... If there was one particular [Transformers] show you didn't like, I'm really sorry but, y'know, there were other ones too!|Bob Skir<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref>}}

[[File:Endgame1 Nightscream sonic attack.jpg|right|upright=1.34|thumb|'''I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I - HATE - ''YOU''!''']]

Controversial even by the standards of other ''Transformers'' reinventions, ''Beast Machines'' is remembered by some as a series which tried to tackle heavy philosophical concepts, discussing such issues like what it meant to live in an increasingly technological society, the dichotomy between the desires of the individual and the needs of the whole, the inevitability of conflict and inequality in a free society, the ugly consequences of fanaticism, and the paradox of a living technological world. Story editor [[Bob Skir]] describes the series as a "religious epic novel for television".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAkRF4QBKew Bob Skir interview at youtube.com]</ref> Most of the Transformers [[franchise]] lore about [[spark]]s, their abilities, and the mechanism of their life cycle, was introduced or developed in this series.

The series amassed many detractors early on, who complained that core cast portrayals were inconsistent with how these personalities had been established over the years of the preceding ''Beast Wars'' series. Examples include Megatron being a far grimmer villain with a completely different agenda from before; Rattrap appearing to be too cowardly; Rhinox apparently ''choosing'' to become a villain (though it sounded like he was no longer in his right mind);<ref>[http://www.bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Fri_03_Dec_1999.html Bob Skir Q&A]</ref> and, later on, Silverbolt being a grim, vengeance-driven soldier with none of his former goofy-noble personality. Critics also alleged a "hippie" agenda behind ''Beast Machines'', with Optimus Primal becoming an anti-technology guru (it was actually intentional that Primal was going too far and he'd moderate his views in Season 2), and criticized Bob Skir's decision that the Maximals would not use guns (though big swords and highly destructive laser blasts were okay).

The show's "epic novel" storytelling structure meant that at times it was forced to tread water, relying on repetitive chase scenes and expository speeches. The plot and tone, with the heroes outnumbered and outgunned and on the run, also meant many episodes would have them running or under stress, without the humorous, occasionally zany approach of ''Beast Wars'' to balance it out: this was intentional but often a frustrating viewing experience. It was also, at that point in time, by far the most serialized American ''Transformers'' cartoon, making it difficult for new viewers to join at some random episode and be hooked in. It didn't help that the series began "in medias res" and with the characters suffering amnesia, with many foundational issues deliberately left vague until at last resolution was established in flashbacks in episodes 7-9. By then, [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] executive [[Asaph Fipke]] had become somewhat notorious for repeatedly assuring fans that "all will be revealed". ''Why'' the series opened with the Maximals having amnesia and being in their Season 1 organic bodies is not obvious, as (aside from explaining why they're not immediately looking for Rhinox and Silverbolt) it wouldn't have affected the plot either way.

The show is one of the darker ''Transformers'' animated series and the most thought-provoking. It is also the final animated entry into the Generation 1 story canon, bringing the events in that continuity family to a rather conclusive ending (which ''also'' didn't win it many popularity points). If nothing else, the creators had ambitions to do more than [[to sell toys|sell toys]].

Despite all the criticisms, the show continued and improved on the high production values of ''Beast Wars'', with solid scripting and excellent voice acting. The CGI varied from competent to gorgeous. Mainframe's animators showed their considerable talents in giving highly emotive expression to such alien characters as the [[Vehicon general]]s and even the [[Diagnostic Drone]], who ''didn't have a face''. As with ''Beast Wars'', [[Robert Buckley]] provided the series background music, this time creating a stylized electronic music in keeping with the mechanical environment of Cybertron.

Hasbro was happy enough with how the show was doing that they asked Skir if there could be a third season. Believing that the show was strongest with 26 episodes and that (after the fandom controversy) Hasbro would want a rethink soon, Skir turned this down.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 52:39 to 54:57</ref> A [[Transtech|followup line]] was planned instead but after that aforementioned rethink, it was subsequently scrapped. Hasbro's next foray into animation would be to bring over a [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|year-old Japanese show]] for consumption in the United States, till a [[Unicron Trilogy|new story]] could be concocted.

In light of multiple cartoons (some with their own unfavorable reception) that have aired since then and the passage of time, ''Beast Machines'' has been reevaluated more favorably, although this is not universal.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Machines episodes}}
===Season 1===
[[File:Tankor flames.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Tankor, YOU'RE FIRED!]]
Season 1 largely centers on the Maximals' efforts to find out what has happened to them, as they arrive on Cybertron with no memories. In addition to Megatron and the core Maximal cast, three new Vehicon generals are introduced, as well as the new Maximal Nightscream. By the end of the season, Optimus Primal has been driven down a road of extremism, and an apocalyptic confrontation marks the season finale...

{{collist|2|
#[[The Reformatting]]
#[[Master of the House]]
#[[Fires of the Past]]
#[[Mercenary Pursuits]]
#[[Forbidden Fruit]]
#[[The Weak Component]]
#[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]
#[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
#[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]
#[[Survivor]]
#[[The Key]]
#[[The Catalyst]]
#[[End of the Line]]
}}

===Season 2: Battle for the Spark===
[[File:Botanica5.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This freakish, tentacled, multi-limbed creature is one of the kid-friendly good guys!]]
The ultimate face-off at the end of Season 1 is resolved in a most unusual and cerebral manner, setting the tone for Season 2 as Primal realizes his mission is one of balance, not extremism. Silverbolt rejoins the Maximal ranks, a new Maximal arrives from off-world, and two dangerous new generals join Megatron's side as the Maximals search for the lost Sparks of their brethren and battle to regain control of Cybertron.

{{collist|2|
#[[Fallout (episode)|Fallout]]
#[[Savage Noble]]
#[[Prometheus Unbound]]
#[[In Darkest Knight]]
#[[A Wolf in the Fold]]
#[[Home Soil]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]
#[[Spark of Darkness]]
#[[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral]]
#[[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall]]
#[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]
}}

==Characters==
[[File:Rattrap bm robotmode.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|There's a caption under me?!]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of named on-screen characters in ''Beast Machines'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (Most drones are not listed, and neither are incidental flashback characters.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Machines'' characters, having appeared in other media.

{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett|Ian Corlett]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] ([[Alessandro Juliani]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] ([[Kathleen Barr]])
|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] ([[Christopher Gaze]]/[[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] ([[Brian Drummond]])
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] ([[Patricia Drake]])
|h3=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c3=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Oracle (BM)|The Oracle]] ([[Carol Savenkoff]])
*[[Noble (BM)|Savage/Noble]] ([[David Kaye]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

==International Release==
===Japanese release===
[[File:BeastWarsReturnsLogo01.jpg|center|250px|]]

The ''Beast Machines'' franchise was not initially released in Japan. As such, the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon did not reach Japan's shores until late 2004, where it was retitled '''''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズリターンズ, ''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Returns''). The series was initially broadcast on the satellite-only network MobaHO! - TAKARAND from [[November 6]], 2004, to [[January 30]], 2005. In February of 2005, it was reaired on [[Cartoon Network|Cartoon Network Japan]] and, following that, other networks including Gifu Broadcasting. Having been released on a satellite network, the series was not edited for time like other ''Transformers'' cartoons.

The localization was headed up by [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]], the man responsible for the dubbing of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', and thus ''Beast Wars Returns'' was reworked to the same extent as the previous series had been in Japan. The overblown jovial character quirks exclusive to the Japanese version of the series were retained while new quirks were created for the newer characters.

Perhaps most troubling of this satirical and humor-driven dub was [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]'s characterization. Nightscream was turned into a flaming homosexual stereotype, lifting many quirks from the then-popular "Hard Gay" persona of comedian {{w|Masaki Sumitani}} (including ripping off his catchphrase, "Fuu!"). Other homosexual stereotypes attached to Nightscream included a new obsession with fashion and style, highly effeminate petnames for other characters (such as calling Rattrap "Aunty"), and a more lustful infatuation with the character [[Noble (BM)|Noble]]. While effeminate, vaguely homosexual characters are not uncommon in Japanese ''Transformers'' cartoons (many Japanese incarnations of [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]] are ''preeeeetty'' gay), the portrayal of Nightscream in this manner was not particularly respectful. For example, as they were both flyers, Silverbolt often spent more time with Nightscream than he did Blackarachnia. Already feeling jilted due to Silverbolt's new standoffish personality, this regularly incited angry commentary from the jealous fembot, who derisively referred to Nightscream and Silverbolt as the "gay boys" ("homo-tachi").

Other changes included Megatron's various Vehicon drone forces taking on individual chants that they would repeat ad nauseum for every second of screen time. Additionally, one of the series' major plot twists was ignored for the sake of goofy adlibbing, as Thrust and Jetstorm retained not only the voice actors for Waspinator and Silverbolt, but all of the unique vocal and personality quirks belonging to those characters, thus eliminating any ambiguity to their previous identities. And needless to say, with this being a parody dub, all moments in the original version that were intended to be dramatic were reworked for comedy value.

Given the low-key release of the series, a new [[theme song]] was not recorded. Instead, "[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]] was retained. Characters from the series would proceed to talk over the entire length of the [[title sequence]], having "amusing" conversations (likewise, they talked over the ending credits). Only one original piece of music was recorded for the series, "[[Megatron Ondo]]" by [[Yukio Hibariya]] and partly performed by [[Shigeru Chiba]], created exclusively for Volume 7 of the ''Beast Wars Returns'' DVD release.

Also exclusive to the final DVD release of the series was an additional, goofy clip show:

*[[Where Is the Banana? R]]
===Spanish America===
Like the dub for Beast Wars, Beast Machine's dub was produced in Mexico. Unlike Beast Wars, the show was dubbed at Barrero Productions, with an almost completely different cast.

==Home video releases==
===Japan===
[[File:Geneon BWReturns Volume7 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px]]
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 1 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 2 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 3 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 4 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 5 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 6 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 7 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — DVD Box (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[File:Rhino Beast Machines DVD.jpg|thumb|125px]]
{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (2006)
 
{{main|Shout! Factory}}
*''Transformers Beast Machines'': The Complete Series (2014)

===Australia / New Zealand===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume Two (2007)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
[[File:UK Beast Machines Season1 DVD.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|[[Transformers (film)|Their]] tagline. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|His]] head.]]
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One — Reformatting (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two — Revelations (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season Two (2007)

===France===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 1 (2009)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (2009)
{{-}}

===Germany===

{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Die komplette Season 1 (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Die komplette Season 2 (2007)
{{-}}

===Spain===

{{main|20th Century Fox}} {{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Primera temporada completa (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Segunda temporada completa (2007)
{{-}}

===Italy===

{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Prima stagione (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Seconda stagione (2007)
{{-}}

===Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro}}

*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — [[The Reformatting]] & [[Master of the House]] (1999)
*''Beast Machines: Transformers: Battle for the Spark'' — [[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike|Sparkwar Part I: The Strike]] (2000)

==Notes==
*The idea of Cybertron having once been organic was a throwaway idea in [[Marvel Comics]] original treatment!<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>
*Skir had to pass up his dream project, an ''[[Avengers]]'' series featuring "lower-tier characters" such as the Scarlet Witch, the Vision, Wonder Man, and Tigra, which he had developed with Isenberg; the series got greenlit the same day the writing team had just committed to spearheading ''Beast Machines''. (The resulting ''{{w|The Avengers: United They Stand}}'' series was a bomb and quickly vanished from the Fox Kids lineup.)
*The theme tune for the show was Leftfield's "Phat Planet". This was also used for a famous Guinness advert. The latter proved a more popular TV slot.
*This was the first ''Transformers'' fiction where the good guys didn't use any form of guns. This was down to Fox Kids' edict against firearms, as well as Bob Skir preferring to write heroes who didn't rely on guns,<ref name="FKPR"/> and Hasbro wanting to have less gunplay than before (though super-explodey lasers and sharp instruments were fine!).<ref name="Skir">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080222040119/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Sat_06_Nov_1999.html Archived Q&A from Bob Skir's now-defunct website,] where Skir responds to the gun controversy (question 7).</ref> When Skir said this online, [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#Beast Machines|many fans wraxed wroth because they believed he was talking about gun usage in ''all'' adventure fiction and real-life gun users too]] (he wasn't).
*Fox Kids made some edits to their ''Beast Wars'' repeats, but ''Beast Machines'' got no requests to tone down the violence! <ref name="Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999"/>
*Apart from flashbacks, visions, and such, ''Beast Machines'' takes place entirely on (or in orbit of) Cybertron, thus making it the only television series ''not'' to feature any [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|annoying]] [[Kicker Jones|human]] [[Bud Hansen|companions]].
*[[Simon Furman]] thinks Beast Machines was too dark and serious for being a cartoon show for kids.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=705 SIMON FURMAN Transformers Q&A! It's here! at the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> And trust us: the guy who wrote ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' is something of an expert on 'too dark and serious for kids'.
* [[Vector Prime]], in contrast, thinks it was an awesome show.<ref>[[Source:Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime]]</ref>
*This is the only Transformers cartoon that had a complete German dub.
*The show would not receive a French-language dub until 2007. The voice director, [[Frédéric Meaux]], would later supervise the dubbing of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'', which explains why the two series feature nearly identical voice casts.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Returns''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズリターンズ, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Returns")
*''Cantonese'': '''''Maangsau Haap''''' (Hong Kong, 猛兽侠, "Beast Heroes")
*''French:'' '''''Mécanimaux''''' (Canada, "Mechanimals")
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Bǎibiàn Jīngāng: Zhòng Jīxiè Xìliè''''' (Taiwan, 百變金剛：重機械系列, "Morph Vajra: Heavy Machinery Series"), '''''Biànxíng Jīngāng: Shòu Xiè Zhēngbà''''' (China, 变形金刚：兽械争霸, "Transformers: Beasts vs. Machines")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery: Zvero-Roboty''''' (Трансформеры: Зверо-Роботы, "Transformers: Beast Robots")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Transformers: Bestias y Máquinas''''' (America, "Transformers: Beasts and Machines")

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Beast Machines media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)

2020-11-16T20:43:34Z

Slc56: /* Production */

{{disambigr|Battle for the Spark|the online game in the [[Live-action film series|live action film]] continuity|Battle for the Allspark}}

{{nav-bm}}

'''''Beast Machines: Transformers''''' is a 26-episode cartoon that aired in the US from 1999 to 2000, in support of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|toyline]] of the same name. It is a direct follow-up to ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', set in the same G1 continuity and featuring many of the same characters. Like ''Beast Wars'', its [[computer-generated imagery|computer animation]] was created by [[Mainframe Entertainment]].

==Overview==
[[File:Thereformattingmaximalsmaximize.jpg|left|upright=1.67|thumb|The Maximals, in a rare moment of Not Running Away.]]
The show follows the adventures of the core ''Beast Wars'' cast upon their return home to Cybertron; there, Optimus Primal and his crew find that the whole planet is abandoned, and the streets are patrolled by mindless [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicon drones]] serving [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], who somehow escaped his captivity.

Worse still, they learn that they are infected with a deadly [[Transformation virus|virus]] that will kill them in a matter of hours. Salvation comes from the mysterious supercomputer known as the Oracle, who sees them fit to complete its mission of a planetwide "reformatting", and turns them into [[technorganic]] warriors, a perfect blend of organic and technological matter.

As the show progresses, Primal and his fellow Maximals learn to balance their technological side with their newly introduced organic aspects, mastery coming in slow stages. Unlike the previous [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|conflict]], where sides had been roughly equal, the four original Maximals were quite outnumbered by their Vehicon enemies, and the battles took on a "guerilla warfare" feel, with the Maximals using sewers and underground levels to their advantage and avoiding surface levels unless for combat purposes. As the show progresses, two brand-new Maximals and a returning face boost their numbers.

Initially, Optimus is driven by a crusade to restore the organic above the technological and to right his failure to stop Megatron. Over time, it becomes increasingly clear that he's becoming obsessed and overzealous. At the midpoint, after Cybertron is almost destroyed, he realises that the point should be to create a ''balance'' of organic and technological, not a supremacy. Under this new, saner cause, the Maximals eventually turn Cybertron into an [[technorganic]] paradise, though at the cost of their [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|leader]]'s life.

{{--}}

===Production===

{{bigquote|I am more proud of [''Beast Machines''] than anything else I've ever had produced, because I got to do a twenty-six episode novel for television. It almost f**kin' ''killed me'', but I did it!|Bob Skir<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref>}}

[[File:OptimusPrimalBMconcept.jpg|right|upright=1.20|thumb|"Help me! My arms won't stop growing!"]]

Writer [[Steve Gerber]] had once pitched a "wildly original take on ''Transformers''" ([[Dan DiDio]]'s words) as part of the development of ''Beast Machines''.<ref>May 2008 "DC Nation" editorial appearing in {{w|DC Comics}} publications, following Steve Gerber's death</ref> Mainframe instead went with a different outline by Marv Wolfman: the Maximals returning to Cybertron and finding Megatron had conquered it. (The Vehicons may be his idea as well.)<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir in 2015], 42:00 to 42:30 and [http://web.archive.org/web/20080614012630/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999]</ref> Back in these early days, the show was to be called "''Beast Hunters''".<ref name="FKPR">[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/msg/946225010fc740fb "Fox Kids Fall Press Release" from alt.toys.transformers on February 10, 1999]. In 1999, Bob seems to say other BM writers came up with Vehicons but in 2015 he says that's Wolfman</ref> [[Bob Skir]] and [[Marty Isenberg]] were invited into a discussion, despite not knowing much about ''Transformers'', because of their good working relationship with [[Fox Kids]] (who they'd worked on shows like ''[[Godzilla]]: The Series'' for). Skir didn't think he had a shot but it'd be good to network with Mainframe for the future.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 39:13 to 41:57</ref> In the end, Fox said they wanted the duo script editing a show based on Wolfman's outline.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 42:00 to 42:57</ref> (Bob felt a bit bad about that and made sure to hire Wolfman to write episodes.)<ref>49:50 to 50:00</ref>

[[File:Oracle (The Reformatting).jpg|left|upright=1.34|thumb|]]

[[Bob Skir]] says that other writers came up with the Vehicon Generals and "all the mystical stuff came from Marty [Isenberg] and I, based on Hasbro's request that we add a 'spiritual dimension' to the show". (The phrase "I am transformed" came from Hasbro.) The overall arc of the series also came from Skir and Isenberg "based on many conversations with Hasbro, [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]], [[Fox Kids|Fox]], and us".<ref name="Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080614012630/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Tue_12_Oct_1999.html Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999]</ref> Hasbro was quite keen on the spiritual tone out of a desire to try something new with the franchise, while Skir felt nature versus technology was an obvious theme but he felt that was a lazy cliché and the show should be about a balance between the two. (The technorganic characters helped him argue this.)<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 43:20 to 46:00</ref> He merrily went all-out with the spiritual aspect, expecting Hasbro to change their mind but he found they liked it and asked for more!<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 46:50 to 47:29</ref> It was Hasbro itself who said "hey, what if someone turned into a ''plant''?" as part of their drive to stretch the franchise to its limits.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 1:36:40 to 1:36:49</ref>

One odd brief was that both Mainframe boss [[Dan DiDio]] and Hasbro didn't want Skir and Isenberg to watch old episodes, as they wanted a fresh take and DiDio felt ''Beast Wars'' was too continuity heavy. (He'd even told Wolfman that ''Beast Wars'' had no ties to the original series and to do as he pleased with [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity]] when doing his outline.)<ref>''Beast Machines'' DVD supplementary materials</ref> Again: ''Beast Machines'' was a sequel to a sequel. As it turned out, ''Beast Machines'' ended up being more continuity heavy and one reason was because Hasbro told them about things like [[Vector Sigma]] and the[[Hate Plague]] and encouraged them to be used.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 1:13:30 to 1:16:04</ref>

Isenberg did most of the work on the first season of ''Beast Machines'' due to Skir's workload and a bereavement, while Skir did most of the second season due to Isenberg running ''Action Man''.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 1:11:36 to 1:12:46</ref>

Skir originally wanted the character of Nightscream to be a young female Transformer, patterned after the girl, Newt, from the movie ''{{w|Aliens (film)|Aliens}}''. When that was nixed, Nightscream ended up becoming {{w|John Connor}} in ''{{w|Terminator 2: Judgment Day}}'' instead.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20071202095033/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Fri_03_Dec_1999.html Bob Skir Q&A 3 December 1999] (archive copy)</ref>

Fox Kids' press release in 1999 not only still used the ''Beast Hunters'' name, it said the enemies would be Predacons.<ref name="FKPR">[http://groups.google.com/group/rec.toys.transformers.moderated/msg/946225010fc740fb "Fox Kids Fall Press Release" from alt.toys.transformers on February 10, 1999]</ref> Shortly after the press release, the production toyed with various titles before finalizing "''Beast Machines''". The use of the term Predacons in the press release may be an error or a deliberate "well nobody's heard of Vehicons yet" decision, as no other source has talked about Predacons being in it.

===Reception===
{{bigquote|It's been ''thirteen years!'' ... If there was one particular [Transformers] show you didn't like, I'm really sorry but, y'know, there were other ones too!|Bob Skir<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir]</ref>}}

[[File:Endgame1 Nightscream sonic attack.jpg|right|upright=1.34|thumb|'''I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I - HATE - ''YOU''!''']]

Controversial even by the standards of other ''Transformers'' reinventions, ''Beast Machines'' is remembered by some as a series which tried to tackle heavy philosophical concepts, discussing such issues like what it meant to live in an increasingly technological society, the dichotomy between the desires of the individual and the needs of the whole, the inevitability of conflict and inequality in a free society, the ugly consequences of fanaticism, and the paradox of a living technological world. Story editor [[Bob Skir]] describes the series as a "religious epic novel for television".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAkRF4QBKew Bob Skir interview at youtube.com]</ref> Most of the Transformers [[franchise]] lore about [[spark]]s, their abilities, and the mechanism of their life cycle, was introduced or developed in this series.

The series amassed many detractors early on, who complained that core cast portrayals were inconsistent with how these personalities had been established over the years of the preceding ''Beast Wars'' series. Examples include Megatron being a far grimmer villain with a completely different agenda from before; Rattrap appearing to be too cowardly; Rhinox apparently ''choosing'' to become a villain (though it sounded like he was no longer in his right mind);<ref>[http://www.bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Fri_03_Dec_1999.html Bob Skir Q&A]</ref> and, later on, Silverbolt being a grim, vengeance-driven soldier with none of his former goofy-noble personality. Critics also alleged a "hippie" agenda behind ''Beast Machines'', with Optimus Primal becoming an anti-technology guru (it was actually intentional that Primal was going too far and he'd moderate his views in Season 2), and criticized Bob Skir's decision that the Maximals would not use guns (though big swords and highly destructive laser blasts were okay).

The show's "epic novel" storytelling structure meant that at times it was forced to tread water, relying on repetitive chase scenes and expository speeches. The plot and tone, with the heroes outnumbered and outgunned and on the run, also meant many episodes would have them running or under stress, without the humorous, occasionally zany approach of ''Beast Wars'' to balance it out: this was intentional but often a frustrating viewing experience. It was also, at that point in time, by far the most serialized American ''Transformers'' cartoon, making it difficult for new viewers to join at some random episode and be hooked in. It didn't help that the series began "in medias res" and with the characters suffering amnesia, with many foundational issues deliberately left vague until at last resolution was established in flashbacks in episodes 7-9. By then, [[Mainframe Entertainment|Mainframe]] executive [[Asaph Fipke]] had become somewhat notorious for repeatedly assuring fans that "all will be revealed". ''Why'' the series opened with the Maximals having amnesia and being in their Season 1 organic bodies is not obvious, as (aside from explaining why they're not immediately looking for Rhinox and Silverbolt) it wouldn't have affected the plot either way.

The show is one of the darker ''Transformers'' animated series and the most thought-provoking. It is also the final animated entry into the Generation 1 story canon, bringing the events in that continuity family to a rather conclusive ending (which ''also'' didn't win it many popularity points). If nothing else, the creators had ambitions to do more than [[to sell toys|sell toys]].

Despite all the criticisms, the show continued and improved on the high production values of ''Beast Wars'', with solid scripting and excellent voice acting. The CGI varied from competent to gorgeous. Mainframe's animators showed their considerable talents in giving highly emotive expression to such alien characters as the [[Vehicon general]]s and even the [[Diagnostic Drone]], who ''didn't have a face''. As with ''Beast Wars'', [[Robert Buckley]] provided the series background music, this time creating a stylized electronic music in keeping with the mechanical environment of Cybertron.

Hasbro was happy enough with how the show was doing that they asked Skir if there could be a third season. Believing that the show was strongest with 26 episodes and that (after the fandom controversy) Hasbro would want a rethink soon, Skir turned this down.<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DaZTNszyGU Moonbase 2 interview with Bob Skir], 52:39 to 54:57</ref> A [[Transtech|followup line]] was planned instead but after that aforementioned rethink, it was subsequently scrapped. Hasbro's next foray into animation would be to bring over a [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|year-old Japanese show]] for consumption in the United States, till a [[Unicron Trilogy|new story]] could be concocted.

In light of multiple cartoons (some with their own unfavorable reception) that have aired since then and the passage of time, ''Beast Machines'' has been reevaluated more favorably, although this is not universal.
{{-}}

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Beast Machines episodes}}
===Season 1===
[[File:Tankor flames.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Tankor, YOU'RE FIRED!]]
Season 1 largely centers on the Maximals' efforts to find out what has happened to them, as they arrive on Cybertron with no memories. In addition to Megatron and the core Maximal cast, three new Vehicon generals are introduced, as well as the new Maximal Nightscream. By the end of the season, Optimus Primal has been driven down a road of extremism, and an apocalyptic confrontation marks the season finale...

{{collist|2|
#[[The Reformatting]]
#[[Master of the House]]
#[[Fires of the Past]]
#[[Mercenary Pursuits]]
#[[Forbidden Fruit]]
#[[The Weak Component]]
#[[Revelations Part I: Discovery]]
#[[Revelations Part II: Descent]]
#[[Revelations Part III: Apocalypse]]
#[[Survivor]]
#[[The Key]]
#[[The Catalyst]]
#[[End of the Line]]
}}

===Season 2: Battle for the Spark===
[[File:Botanica5.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|This freakish, tentacled, multi-limbed creature is one of the kid-friendly good guys!]]
The ultimate face-off at the end of Season 1 is resolved in a most unusual and cerebral manner, setting the tone for Season 2 as Primal realizes his mission is one of balance, not extremism. Silverbolt rejoins the Maximal ranks, a new Maximal arrives from off-world, and two dangerous new generals join Megatron's side as the Maximals search for the lost Sparks of their brethren and battle to regain control of Cybertron.

{{collist|2|
#[[Fallout (episode)|Fallout]]
#[[Savage Noble]]
#[[Prometheus Unbound]]
#[[In Darkest Knight]]
#[[A Wolf in the Fold]]
#[[Home Soil]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. II: The Search]]
#[[Sparkwar Pt. III: The Siege]]
#[[Spark of Darkness]]
#[[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral]]
#[[Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall]]
#[[Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future]]
}}

==Characters==
[[File:Rattrap bm robotmode.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|There's a caption under me?!]]
Because developing new CGI character models was, at the time, an expensive and time-consuming process, the number of named on-screen characters in ''Beast Machines'' was relatively small compared to most other ''Transformers'' shows. It is thus practical to list all the Transformers who appeared in the cartoon. They are listed in order of appearance. (Most drones are not listed, and neither are incidental flashback characters.) Note that many characters besides these are also full-fledged ''Beast Machines'' characters, having appeared in other media.

{{-}}

{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] ([[Garry Chalk]])
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] ([[Ian James Corlett|Ian Corlett]])
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] ([[Venus Terzo]])
*[[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]] ([[Alessandro Juliani]])
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] ([[Richard Newman]])
*[[Silverbolt (BW)|Silverbolt]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
*[[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] ([[Kathleen Barr]])
|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]|c2=
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] ([[David Kaye]])
*[[Diagnostic Drone]] ([[Christopher Gaze]]/[[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] ([[Brian Drummond]])
*[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] ([[Jim Byrnes]])
*[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] ([[Paul Dobson]])
*[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] ([[Patricia Drake]])
|h3=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]|c3=
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] ([[Scott McNeil]])
|c4=
*[[Oracle (BM)|The Oracle]] ([[Carol Savenkoff]])
*[[Noble (BM)|Savage/Noble]] ([[David Kaye]])
|nonumbering=true
}}

==International Release==
===Japanese release===
[[File:BeastWarsReturnsLogo01.jpg|center|250px|]]

The ''Beast Machines'' franchise was not initially released in Japan. As such, the ''Beast Machines'' cartoon did not reach Japan's shores until late 2004, where it was retitled '''''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズリターンズ, ''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Returns''). The series was initially broadcast on the satellite-only network MobaHO! - TAKARAND from [[November 6]], 2004, to [[January 30]], 2005. In February of 2005, it was reaired on [[Cartoon Network|Cartoon Network Japan]] and, following that, other networks including Gifu Broadcasting. Having been released on a satellite network, the series was not edited for time like other ''Transformers'' cartoons.

The localization was headed up by [[Yoshikazu Iwanami]], the man responsible for the dubbing of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'', and thus ''Beast Wars Returns'' was reworked to the same extent as the previous series had been in Japan. The overblown jovial character quirks exclusive to the Japanese version of the series were retained while new quirks were created for the newer characters.

Perhaps most troubling of this satirical and humor-driven dub was [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]]'s characterization. Nightscream was turned into a flaming homosexual stereotype, lifting many quirks from the then-popular "Hard Gay" persona of comedian {{w|Masaki Sumitani}} (including ripping off his catchphrase, "Fuu!"). Other homosexual stereotypes attached to Nightscream included a new obsession with fashion and style, highly effeminate petnames for other characters (such as calling Rattrap "Aunty"), and a more lustful infatuation with the character [[Noble (BM)|Noble]]. While effeminate, vaguely homosexual characters are not uncommon in Japanese ''Transformers'' cartoons (many Japanese incarnations of [[Starscream (disambiguation)|Starscream]] are ''preeeeetty'' gay), the portrayal of Nightscream in this manner was not particularly respectful. For example, as they were both flyers, Silverbolt often spent more time with Nightscream than he did Blackarachnia. Already feeling jilted due to Silverbolt's new standoffish personality, this regularly incited angry commentary from the jealous fembot, who derisively referred to Nightscream and Silverbolt as the "gay boys" ("homo-tachi").

Other changes included Megatron's various Vehicon drone forces taking on individual chants that they would repeat ad nauseum for every second of screen time. Additionally, one of the series' major plot twists was ignored for the sake of goofy adlibbing, as Thrust and Jetstorm retained not only the voice actors for Waspinator and Silverbolt, but all of the unique vocal and personality quirks belonging to those characters, thus eliminating any ambiguity to their previous identities. And needless to say, with this being a parody dub, all moments in the original version that were intended to be dramatic were reworked for comedy value.

Given the low-key release of the series, a new [[theme song]] was not recorded. Instead, "[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]] was retained. Characters from the series would proceed to talk over the entire length of the [[title sequence]], having "amusing" conversations (likewise, they talked over the ending credits). Only one original piece of music was recorded for the series, "[[Megatron Ondo]]" by [[Yukio Hibariya]] and partly performed by [[Shigeru Chiba]], created exclusively for Volume 7 of the ''Beast Wars Returns'' DVD release.

Also exclusive to the final DVD release of the series was an additional, goofy clip show:

*[[Where Is the Banana? R]]
===Spanish America===
Like the dub for Beast Wars, Beast Machine's dub was produced in Mexico. Unlike Beast Wars, the show was dubbed at Barrero Productions, with an almost completely different cast.

==Home video releases==
===Japan===
[[File:Geneon BWReturns Volume7 DVD.jpg|thumb|100px]]
{{main|Geneon Universal Entertainment}}
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 1 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 2 (2004)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 3 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 4 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 5 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 6 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 7 (2005)
*''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — DVD Box (2005)
{{-}}

===United States===
[[File:Rhino Beast Machines DVD.jpg|thumb|125px]]
{{main|Rhino Entertainment}}
*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (2006)
 
{{main|Shout! Factory}}
*''Transformers Beast Machines'': The Complete Series (2014)

===Australia / New Zealand===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season Two: Volume Two (2007)
{{-}}

===United Kingdom===
[[File:UK Beast Machines Season1 DVD.jpg|upright=0.85|thumb|[[Transformers (film)|Their]] tagline. [[Optimus Primal/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|His]] head.]]
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One — Reformatting (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume Two — Revelations (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season One (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season Two (2007)

===France===
{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 1 (2009)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 2 (2009)
{{-}}

===Germany===

{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Die komplette Season 1 (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Die komplette Season 2 (2007)
{{-}}

===Spain===

{{main|20th Century Fox}} {{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Primera temporada completa (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Segunda temporada completa (2007)
{{-}}

===Italy===

{{main|Sony}}
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Prima stagione (2007)
*''Transformers: Beast Machines'': Seconda stagione (2007)
{{-}}

===Giveaways===
{{main|Hasbro}}

*''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — [[The Reformatting]] & [[Master of the House]] (1999)
*''Beast Machines: Transformers: Battle for the Spark'' — [[Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike|Sparkwar Part I: The Strike]] (2000)

==Notes==
*The idea of Cybertron having once been organic was a throwaway idea in [[Marvel Comics]] original treatment!<ref name="BC10">[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc10/bc10bb.html griffin's 2010 BotCon report]</ref>
*Skir had to pass up his dream project, an ''[[Avengers]]'' series featuring "lower-tier characters" such as the Scarlet Witch, the Vision, Wonder Man, and Tigra, which he had developed with Isenberg; the series got greenlit the same day the writing team had just committed to spearheading ''Beast Machines''. (The resulting ''{{w|The Avengers: United They Stand}}'' series was a bomb and quickly vanished from the Fox Kids lineup.)
*The theme tune for the show was Leftfield's "Phat Planet". This was also used for a famous Guinness advert. The latter proved a more popular TV slot.
*This was the first ''Transformers'' fiction where the good guys didn't use any form of guns. This was down to Fox Kids' edict against firearms, as well as Bob Skir preferring to write heroes who didn't rely on guns,<ref name="FKPR"/> and Hasbro wanting to have less gunplay than before (though super-explodey lasers and sharp instruments were fine!).<ref name="Skir">[http://web.archive.org/web/20080222040119/http://bigbot.com/beast-machines-transformers-bob-skir/Beast-Machines-FAQ/Sat_06_Nov_1999.html Archived Q&A from Bob Skir's now-defunct website,] where Skir responds to the gun controversy (question 7).</ref> When Skir said this online, [[Misconceptions and urban legends about Transformers#Beast Machines|many fans wraxed wroth because they believed he was talking about gun usage in ''all'' adventure fiction and real-life gun users too]] (he wasn't).
*Fox Kids made some edits to their ''Beast Wars'' repeats, but ''Beast Machines'' got no requests to tone down the violence! <ref name="Bob Skir FAQ from 12 October 1999"/>
*Apart from flashbacks, visions, and such, ''Beast Machines'' takes place entirely on (or in orbit of) Cybertron, thus making it the only television series ''not'' to feature any [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|annoying]] [[Kicker Jones|human]] [[Bud Hansen|companions]].
*[[Simon Furman]] thinks Beast Machines was too dark and serious for being a cartoon show for kids.<ref>[http://forum.idwpublishing.com/viewtopic.php?t=705 SIMON FURMAN Transformers Q&A! It's here! at the IDW Publishing Forums]</ref> And trust us: the guy who wrote ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (Marvel)|Generation 2]]'' is something of an expert on 'too dark and serious for kids'.
* [[Vector Prime]], in contrast, thinks it was an awesome show.<ref>[[Source:Ask Vector Prime|Ask Vector Prime]]</ref>
*This is the only Transformers cartoon that had a complete German dub.
*The show would not receive a French-language dub until 2007. The voice director, [[Frédéric Meaux]], would later supervise the dubbing of ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'', which explains why the two series feature nearly identical voice casts.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''''Chō Seimeitai Transformers Beast Wars Returns''''' (超生命体トランスフォーマービーストウォーズリターンズ, "Super Lifeform Transformers Beast Wars Returns")
*''Cantonese'': '''''Maangsau Haap''''' (Hong Kong, 猛兽侠, "Beast Heroes")
*''French:'' '''''Mécanimaux''''' (Canada, "Mechanimals")
*''Mandarin:'' '''''Bǎibiàn Jīngāng: Zhòng Jīxiè Xìliè''''' (Taiwan, 百變金剛：重機械系列, "Morph Vajra: Heavy Machinery Series"), '''''Biànxíng Jīngāng: Shòu Xiè Zhēngbà''''' (China, 变形金刚：兽械争霸, "Transformers: Beasts vs. Machines")
*''Russian:'' '''''Transformery: Zvero-Roboty''''' (Трансформеры: Зверо-Роботы, "Transformers: Beast Robots")
*''Spanish:'' '''''Transformers: Bestias y Máquinas''''' (America, "Transformers: Beasts and Machines")

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:Beast Machines media]]
[[Category:Television series]]

Master of the House

2020-11-16T20:39:02Z

Slc56: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode
|series=BMtoon
|ep=2
|prev=The Reformatting
|title="Master of the House"
|next=Fires of the Past
|image=MasterHouse Megatron.jpg
|caption=''Master of the House, quick to catch the eye, never likes a passerby to pass him by...''
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 25]], [[1999]]
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]] [[Bob Skir]]
|directed by=[[Steve Sacks]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
}}
'''After their reformatting, the amnesiac Maximals come face to face with the source of their troubles.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Master of the House Optimus maximals.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|''Unlace your boots, rest from the road'']]

Under the teachings of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], the [[Maximal]]s are mastering their [[technorganic]] bodies, controlling their "emotional center" vital for [[transformation]]. [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] manage to use their technorganic transformations properly, but [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] is still struggling with his new body. But their time in [[robot mode]] is limited, as a rumbling shakes the chamber and a [[Mole Drone]] attacks the Maximals. The shock forces Cheetor and Blackarachnia back into their [[beast mode]]s, and they take shelter behind Optimus.

Optimus Primal leaps in front of the frightened Maximals and deflects the blasts, all the while explaining that they reverted because they lost their emotional balance. Primal destroys the mindless Vehicon with a blast of energy, but knows it's time to leave, hopefully to find a new base and continue their transformation lessons. Although Cheetor wants to visit [[Cybertropolis]] and search for survivors, Optimus overrules his suggestion, insisting that they need to get a handle on their new transformations before they go out looking for trouble. They split up to search out a new training ground. Blackarachnia and Cheetor are paired together (real smart pairing them up, ya big [[Trukk not munky|munky]]), and Rattrap and Primal go the opposite way.

[[File:Master of the House Infocore.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|''Two percent for looking in the mirror twice!'']]
Cheetor and Blackarachnia (with some goading on Blackarachnia's part) decide to go topside. As soon as they clamber up from the caves, they discover that they are in Cybertropolis, Cybertron's current capital. Cybertropolis ''should'' be home to "ten million Transformers", but the duo find it deserted, with the [[Cybertron InfoCore]] deleted and useless.

[[File:Master of the House Cheetor Blackarachnia fall.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|''Kidney of a horse, liver of a cat, filling up the sausages with this and that'']]
Before the pair can investigate further, they are attacked by [[Aero Drone]]s, and plunge off the side of a building before they can slide to safety. As he runs, Cheetor attempts to transform, but Blackarachnia drags him to safety. Cheetor leads two jets into Blackarachania's web-trap, but the pair are still outnumbered. Fortunately, Optimus also arrives. He quickly transforms into robot mode and takes to the air, but is soon overwhelmed.

Cheetor and Blackarachnia manage to transform, and they quickly dispatch the drones with their new weapons and powers. Optimus scolds Cheetor for disobeying orders, but is admittedly intrigued at their findings. Optimus orders the group to head to the [[Council Citadel]], hoping to find answers. Rattrap moves ahead of the rest of the group, but encounters a platoon of Tank Drones. Optimus orders Cheetor and Blackarachnia to hold off the drones while he investigates inside. When he gets inside, he heads to the chambers of the [[Maximal Elder]]s.

[[File:Master of the House Optimus Megatron.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|''What a cruel trick of nature / Landed me with such a louse / God knows how I've lasted / Living with this bastard in the house'']]
Reaching the council meeting room, Optimus Primal comes face to face with the leader of the drones—[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], now encased in a suit of [[control harness|control armor]]! He greets Primal cordially, and decides to "fill in" the gaps in Primal's memory. Megatron claims that he won the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]], and that after arriving on Cybertron conquered the populace, remodelling Cybertron into his own image. Megatron's Cybertron is one of technological purity, devoid of organic life. Thus, he explains, came the [[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]], [[spark]]less Transformers who will serve Megatron and crush Primal's "mongrel" Maximals.

However, the Maximals manage to survive the Vehicons, their technorganic bodies and spark-powered ingenuity foiling the mindless might of the drones. Frustrated by the Maximals' survival, Primal's goading pushes Megatron to the breaking point. Enraged, Megatron breaks free of his harness and transforms into his dragon form, deactivating the drones in the process. Primal and Megatron fight, but Megatron reconnects to his control harness and summons more Vehicons, mocking Primal all the while. The other three Maximals arrive just in time to drag their grief-stricken leader away to safety.

Safe underground, the Maximals inquire about what happened in the council chamber. Optimus explains that all of this happened because he failed to destroy Megatron. Now, Optimus vows, it's up to him to correct that mistake.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (1)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (2)
*[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (3)
*[[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] (4)

|h2=[[Vehicon (BM)|Vehicons]]
|c2=
*[[Mole Drone]] (5)
*[[Aero Drone]]s (6)
*[[Tank Drone]]s (7)
*[[Cycle Drone]]s (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
'''Rattrap''': "I am transformed, I am sooo transformed I can't even believe it!...ehhh". 
'''Optimus''': "Just let it happen, don't try to make it happen." 
[''Rattrap tries to force himself to transform''] 
'''Optimus''': "Can you feel it?" 
'''Rattrap''': "Oh! I feel a breakthrough coming..."
:—'''Rattrap''' tries to transform but fails (and makes a dirty double entendre at the same time).

"Aww, come on, ever since we got to Cybertron, all we've done is run and hide."
:—'''Cheetor''', who is ''way'' more right than he knows.

"Cybertron is now my domain. You may bow before your new lord and master."
:—'''Megatron''' lets Optimus know who's in charge.

"I am the future. I have forged this entire planet into a single elegant machine. A vision of technological purity and order. And you four mongrels would dare contaminate that vision with your accursed beast modes."
:—'''Megatron''' speechifies.

"What's wrong, Megatron? Your single elegant machine having trouble multitasking?"
:—'''Optimus''' burns Megatron.

"Look at yourself, Megatron. See the thing you despise the most. Cybertron will never be pure so long as the beast exists within you. You've failed."
:—'''Optimus''' while holding Megatron by the beast neck.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* As she walks on the underground tunnel's ceiling, the shadow that Blackarachnia casts on the wall doesn't actually touch her legs, making it look like she's floating.
* The streaks of dust kicked off by the Cycle Drones in the citadel's hallway keep disappearing between shots. In the shot that focuses on the head of one Drone, some dust can be seen forming to its right without anything kicking it off.
* As Primal smashes his way through the Cycle Drones, a bunch of metal pieces keep floating in the air.
* In one shot with Primal running to the door to the [[Maximal Elder|Elders]] Councilroom, one of the Cycle Drones has Thrust's colors, even though Thrust has not yet debuted.
* As the Drone that ramped off one of its companions falls toward the Councilroom door, it remains stuck in the air for a couple of seconds after reaching it.
* After Megatron breaks free from Optimus' grip, there seem to be weird "spikes" coming out of one of his dragon-fingers on both hands. Likely a rigging error in his animation model, which gets fixed in later shots.
* When Megatron transforms from his dragon mode back to his all-controlling-mastermind-mode, the transformation sequence used is the sleeker, non-damaged one of his Transmetal 2 appearance in Beast Wars.
* In the following shot, as Primal watches Megatron, there seems to be a hole on the side of his [[robot mode]] head, behind which a gray color keeps flashing.
* The scar over Megatron's eye switches sides in some shots.
* As they react to Optimus tumbling down into the darkness, Blackarachnia's right arm disappears into Cheetor's chest. Then, as they spin around, their arms clip through each other.

===Continuity errors===
* How does Cheetor follow Blackarachnia up what appears to be a perfectly smooth vertical pipe? Does his new [[beast mode]] come with magnetic paws?
* How does Blackarachnia, who was born on prehistoric Earth, know what the Cybertron Infocore even is?
* Blackarachnia is either a very fast web-spinner or those jet drones took their time!
* It's never been made clear why Megatron- who previously seemed to relish his dragon mode- suddenly had an abrupt change of heart regarding organic [[alternate mode]]s. Presumably something happened to him after arriving on Cybertron, but the exact circumstances have never been explained or explored.
*Megatron still has his Transmetal 2 body, which used to be huge and scarcely the same size as Optimal Optimus, who in turn was massive compared to the other beast warriors. Optimus Primal got an upgrade to his original, smaller Beast form, yet during their face-off Megatron and Optimus are roughly the same size.

===Continuity notes===
* Cheetor welcomes Blackarachnia to Cybertropolis, the latter has never been to Cybertron before, having emerged from a [[stasis pod]] on ancient Earth.
* Megatron claims that the Maximals lost the Beast Wars. Since Optimus is amnesiac and Megatron ''did'' escape to conquer Cybertron (thus pissing on everything the Maximals fought for), this is obviously a taunt and not Bob Skir ignoring the end of "[[Nemesis Part 2]]".
* The Maximal Elders received infrequent mentions throughout ''Beast Wars''. It's not clear how Megatron deposed of them, but as [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] proves, maybe it's not such a bad thing that they've been taken out of the picture...
* Megatron's dragon form looks like a patchwork cyborg rather than the smooth, reddish version it originally was; as we find out in subsequent episodes, this is due to a large number of failed experiments to rid his body of all organic elements. His robot form is altered to make it look more fully mechanical: the dragon wings form a cloak that hides his actual body, and he then plugs into a control harness that provides a larger helmet and arms that look completely mechanical.
* Gadgets and powers:
** Rattrap wields an automated, tail-mounted screwdriver in beast mode.

===Transformers references===

===Real-world references===

===Trivia===
* Megatron is scarred across his right eye. Whatever did that to him between the end of ''Beast Wars'' and the start of ''Beast Machines'' is a mystery, which, to this day, has not been explained.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Maître du Conseil'''" ("Master of the Council")

:*''Title:'' "'''Maître des Lieux'''" (Canada, "Master of Places")

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Cybertropolis'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 3]], [[2000]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yasei no Chōkyō'''" (野性の調教, "Breaking of the Wild")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7]], [[2004]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Mestre da Casa'''" ("Master of the House")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El Amo y Señor'''" ("The Lord and Master")

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Zài Zhēng Bàzhǔ'''" (再争霸主, "The Fight for Hegemony Again")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2004 — ''Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Returns'' — Volume 1 ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Geneon Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2006 — ''Beast Machines: Transformers'' — The Complete Series ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One ([[Sony]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Season One: Volume One — Reformatting (Sony) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Complete Season One (Sony) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2009 — ''Transformers: Beast Machines'' — Intégrale Saison 1 (Sony) — French audio only.

[[Category:Beast Machines episodes]]

Vehicon (BM)

2020-11-16T20:23:29Z

Slc56: /* Beast Machines cartoon */

{{factions|vehicon}}
{{disambig3|Vehicon}}
[[Image:Vehicon symbol.png|right|300px|thumb|Mindless. Obedient. Radioactive.]]

The '''Vehicons''' are [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s personal army, a legion of military Transformers that allowed him to conquer planet [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and protect his one-robot empire from all threats. They pack lots of firepower and travel and attack ''en masse''.

The overwhelming majority of Vehicons are unliving drones with no innate sentience or [[spark]]. Each Vehicon drone is usually controlled either directly by Megatron, or by a single sentient [[Vehicon general]] of the same (or similar) design. After the loss of [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] and [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]], their respective drones are apparently controlled by other generals.

Vehicon drones are generally blindly obedient, with no sense of self-preservation. On rare occasions, various drones have appeared to use emotive body language, [[In Darkest Knight|shaking in apparent fear]] or [[Endgame Pt. I: The Downward Spiral|pleading (wordlessly) not to be shot]]. On one occasion a [[Tank Drone]] was seen to [[The Weak Component|vocalize with Tankor's voice]].

{{quote|If they live, it is a terrible half-life. They make only war and death, and experience none of the pleasures that you or I may. The Children of Primus are a warrior race, the Covenant does not shy away from that, but the Vehicons represent war without conscience. They are not warriors, they are merely weapons.|[[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]|"[[Derailment]]"}}

==Drone types==
*[[Tank Drone]]s, led by [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]]
*[[Cycle Drone]]s, led by [[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]]
*[[Aero Drone]]s, led by [[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]]
*[[Copter Drone]]s, led by [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]]
*[[Artillery Drone]]s, led by [[Strika (BM)|Strika]]
*[[Mole Drone]]s
*"[[Chase-model drone]]s", led by [[Mirage (BM)|Mirage]]
*"[[Stealth drone]]s", led by [[Spy Streak]]
*[[Quake (G1)|Quake]]'s [[Quake's drones|drones]]
*[[Blastcharge (BM)|Blastcharge]]'s [[Blastcharge's drones|drones]]
*[[Scavenger (BM)|Scavenger]] drones
*[[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal drones]], led by [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]]

==Fiction==
===Cartoon continuity===
====''Beast Machines'' cartoon====
[[Image:Vehicons Fires of The Past.JPG|left|200px|thumb|This time, Tron isn't taking any prisoners!]]
The Vehicons first appeared on Cybertron in the wake of the virus that devastated the planet's population. {{storylink|Forbidden Fruit}} Megatron created factories to recycle the discarded body shells of captured Transformers into more Vehicons; {{storylink|Revelations Part I: Discovery}} in this way, his army fed on its own success. Soon the planet was cleared of all Transformers except for Vehicons, who then patrolled its empty streets and skies.

The drones attacked Optimus Primal's crew of Maximals when they crash-landed on the conquered planet, disabling them with gas canisters containing a [[transformation virus]]. {{storylink|Revelations Part II: Descent}} and continued to harass them in the wake of the Maximals' reformatting. {{storylink|The Reformatting}} When this failed to destroy the techorganic Maximals, Megatron commissioned his first three Vehicon generals to oppose his old foes. {{storylink|Fires of the Past}}

Even the three generals would ultimately prove ineffective against the Maximals. Tankor eventually betrayed Megatron and was destroyed. {{storylink|End of the Line}} Jetstorm was reformatted by the Maximals, and reverted to his original Silverbolt persona. {{storylink|In Darkest Knight}} Thrust, by contrast, remained loyal to the end.

With his initial plan having met with failure, Megatron summoned up two more generals, and two new drone types as well. {{storylink|Sparkwar Pt. I: The Strike}} They did well, but Cheetor didn't like them so he shot 'em into space. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. II: When Legends Fall}}

It is not known what became of the Vehicon drones after the war against Megatron ended; however, it is not unreasonable to guess that they were reformatted into technorganic forms along with the planet Cybertron itself, providing bodies for the newly liberated sparks of Cybertron's population. {{storylink|Endgame Pt. III: Seeds of the Future}}

====3H comics====
[[File:Cryotekcyclonusseries.jpg|upright=2.8|thumb]]

Centuries after the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] was caught up in the Predacon [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]]'s attack on all Cybertron. Despite Megatron's attempts to implant his spark within a Vehicon body, Cyclonus retained his own mind and managed to escape with the desire to restore the glorious Decepticon empire. Cyclonus had already been seduced by [[Cryotek (Universe)|Cryotek]]'s ambitions when he joined the [[Wrecker]]s in an attack where a horde of Vehicon drones, led by three all-new Generals, were unable to stop them from stealing an Autobot shuttle and blowing up the spaceport. {{storylink|Departure}}

[[Mirage (BM)|Mirage]] attacked [[Primal Prime]]'s newly arrived team of Maximals. He plunged [[Apelinq (BM)|Apelinq]] into the same transwarp portal that the team had come through. He was destroyed in transit. {{storylink|Apelinq's War Journals}}

====Waspscream continuity====
In [[Primax 208.06 Zeta]], [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] and [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] were captured by [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspscream]]'s forces and brought back to Cybertron aboard a stolen shuttle from the ''Ark''. By the time that they reached Cybertron, however, they realized that Megatron had broken free and already taken over the planet. Megatron offered his two former lackeys a chance to serve him again, and Inferno, overjoyed at the prospect of aiding his queen, accepted. With a new Vehicon body, he became a [[Vehicon general]] in command of [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]]s. This upgrade removed most of his madness, but not his loyalty to his beloved queen. After [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] killed Megatron and seized control of Cybertron, Inferno swore revenge and defected, joining up with Waspscream's [[technorganic]] Predacons. Along with Obisidan and their universe's incarnation of [[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]], Inferno was abducted by [[Unicron]]. Try as Unicron might, Inferno couldn't be broken, seeking only to destroy the two traitors to his colony, and was thus imprisoned in the [[Cauldron]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/16}} After he was liberated by [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]], he joined the [[Child of Primus|Children of Primus]] in the [[Universe War]], and wound up fighting alongside a similarly redeemed [[Inferno (Universe)|alternate-universe incarnation of himself]]. {{storylink|Inferno (BW)#Universe (2003)|BotCon 2006 Inferno toy bio}}

===2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon===
After [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] took the credit for capturing [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]], [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]] exclaimed "What are we? Vehicon drones?" {{storylink|Sideburn's Obsession}}

===Ask Vector Prime===
Just like in many [[Primax]] realities, a Spark War ensued in the future of [[Viron 102.0 Beta]], caused by a quantum duplicate [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] from [[Primax 496.22 Alpha]] and his army of Vehicons. [[Mirage (RID)|Mirage]] was one of the victims of this war. However, he used the [[Genetronic Translink System]] to control a Vehicon body even while his spark was in enemy hands. After the defeat of Megatron, Mirage traveled back in time to guide the [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Protector]] against [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/30}} It's unknown if these are the same Vehicons Slapper was referring to.

===''Beast Wars: Uprising''===
[[File:Derailment SupremeCommanderLioConvoy.jpg|300px|thumb|Violent terrorist Lio Convoy, seen here clearly resisting lawful arrest by enforcement droids.]]

The Vehicons were the end result of [[Galva Convoy]]'s – or more accurately [[Lord Imperious Delirious]]'s – plan to corrupt the energon matrix within the new-formed Maximal to create "Anti-Sparks", as a means of creating an army to wipe Cybertron absolutely clean of conflict by removing the sparks, free will and life of everyone on the planet.

The first three Vehicons were a jet, a tank, and a motorbike, who quickly displayed the ability to infect other Cybertronians with the means to make them into more Vehicons. The [[Builder Assembly]], driven to desperation by being on the losing end of the [[Grand Uprising]], thought the Vehicons were on their side, a weapon that would end the war on their terms. With a suggestion from Eject, a select group of Micromasters were injected with a slow-acting version of the Vehicon's nanites, disguised as a "combat upgrade", then left to be captured by the Resistance. Once inside, the virus turned them into more Vehicons, kicking off the [[Vehicon Apocalypse]]. {{storylink|Safe Spaces}} {{storylink|Derailment}}

The Vehicons quickly spread beyond their initial insertion points and assimilated a massive chunk of Cybertron's population as they went, before the Resistance marched on Iacon to stop them. Summoned to Iacon, Galva Convoy had his offspring assimilate the Builders, creating new drones (helicopter, artillery vehicles and in the case of Assemblybot Ratbat, a [[Diagnostic Drone]]). The Resistance leader, Lio Convoy, led a strike to the [[Grand Mal]], where Galva Convoy resided to try and end the nightmare. Galva Convoy was killed, but this only allowed Delirious to take direct control of the entire army... until he was destroyed by [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] with a K-Bomb, which sent the Vehicons feral, and made them easy pickings. {{storylink|Derailment}}

[[File:InexorableMarch Vehicons.jpg|thumb|left|300px]]

In the chaos, however, the reborn Galvatron had managed to acquire three drones, and, after a deca-cycle of work refitting them, brought three new [[Vehicon general]]s to life using the sparks of his cyberdroid assistants. {{storylink|The Inexorable March}} History records would later mention a ''Second'' Vehicon Apocalypse. {{storylink|Lio Convoy: Unity Through Tyranny}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===''Beast Machines''===
[[Image:BM Blastcharge-toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Blastcharge]]
[[Image:BM ultra Jetstorm toy.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Ultra Jetstorm]]
[[Image:BM-toy Scavenger.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Scavenger]]
* '''Vehicons''' (1999-2000)
**[[Blastcharge (BM)|Blastcharge]] - Deluxe
**[[Jetstorm (BM)|Jetstorm]] - Deluxe and Ultra
***[[Aero Drone|Sonic Attack Jet]] - Deluxe
**[[Mirage (BM)|Mirage]] - Basic
**[[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] - Basic
**[[Scavenger (BM)|Scavenger]] - Basic
**[[Spy Streak]] - Basic
**[[Strika (BM)|Strika]] - Deluxe
**[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] - Mega
***[[Tank Drone]] - Basic
**[[Thrust (BM)|Thrust]] - Deluxe
***[[Cycle Drone#Toys|Motorcycle Drone]] - Basic

:The Vehicons made up fully one half of the [[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Machines'' toyline]]. They were the first new fully-vehicular Transformer toys since the end of ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' in 1995, and the first to explore a Cybertronian aesthetic since Generation 1. Their vehicle forms are futuristic and military-themed. Most have a vehicle mode "head" analogue, allowing their vehicle form to look around. As robots, they sport unusually alien stylings and proportions. Some also sport unusual forms of locomotion, including legless hover modes and unicycle wheel bases. Most have a [[spark crystal]] located somewhere on their body.

{{bigquote|These guys hover, walk, roll, crawl... the Vehicons are all about big guns, big firepower.|Hasbro rep at [[BotCon 1999]], on the upcoming Vehicon toys}}

===''Expanded Universe''===
[[File:ExpandedUniversetoy-Cyclonus.jpg|150px|thumb]]
*'''Cyclonus''' (Ultra, 2002)
**''Accessories:'' 2 missiles, 2 drone-missiles

: ''[[Transformers: Expanded Universe|Expanded Universe]]'' Cyclonus is a redeco of ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Jetstorm (BM)#Toys|Ultra Jetstorm]], replacing blue with lavender, purple and gray, and the yellows with red. His [[spark]] crystal was [[tampograph]]ed with a Decepticon sigil. He transforms into a Cybertronic fighter jet. His jet mode cockpit/neck is geared up with the pop-up gun turret on his back so that both turn in the same direction when moved. This turret has a light-up feature plus two spring-loaded missiles. Cyclonus has both a "normal" bipedal robot mode and a "flight robot mode" with pop-out thruster engines.

: Cyclonus was available exclusively at [[BotCon 2002]].

===''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)===
* '''Nightcruz / Mirage GT / Scavenger''' (Mega-level 3-pack, 2002)
[[File:RID-toy MirageGT.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
: A [[redeco]] of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' Vehicon [[Mirage (BM)|Mirage]], Mirage GT transforms into a Cybertronic dragster similar in shape to an F-1 racer. In both modes he has pair of pressure-launch tailpipe-missiles; in car mode they attach to his spoiler, while in robot mode one as affixed to each arm. The small blaster-weapon attached to his head can also be removed and used as a hand-held weapon. He was available only in a 3-pack with [[Nightcruz (RID)|Nightcruz]] and [[Scavenger (RID)|Scavenger]].

: This set was released in Japan as a [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]] [[exclusive]] "[[USA Edition]]" set on [[July 31]], 2002.

: This mold was planned for use as a convention-[[exclusive]] version of [[Devcon (G1)|Devcon]], which was ultimately never made.

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:Universe2003toy-TankorObsidian.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
* '''Decepticons''' (2003-2005)
**[[Strika (BM)|Nemesis Strika]] - Deluxe
**[[Blastcharge (BM)|Blastcharge]] - Deluxe
**[[Tankor (BM)|Tankor]] & [[Obsidian (BM)|Obsidian]] two-pack

:A few ''Beast Machines'' Vehicon molds were repainted for the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' line. However, they were labeled as [[Decepticon]]s instead of Vehicons.

{{anchor|BC06}}
[[File:Universe2003toy-InfernoBotCon.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Inferno, Burninate!"]]
*'''Inferno''' (Scout-class, 2006)
**''Accessories'': Blade, key

:This [[redeco]] of [[Scrapmetal (race)|Scrapmetal]] was only available in the customization class at [[BotCon 2006]], along with [[Rumble (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Rumble]]. Parts were provided, but the individuals taking the class had to assemble and paint the toy themselves. For those who wish to reproduce Inferno at home, the following Testors paint colors were used: Gin Green, Bright Blue, Camouflage Gray, Flat White, Cobalt Blue, Deep Pearlescent Purple, Medium Gray, Armored Steel, and Flat Black.

: Inferno transforms into a four-legged "spider tank" with top-mounted cannon. Inserting a [[Cyber Key]] into the back end of the cannon swings a removable clear-plastic sawblade-sword from the main chamber of the cannon. In robot mode, the fists can be covered with the tank mode spikes, or a "pile driver".

: This mold was also used to make the [[Cobybot]].

===Generations===
[[File:Generationstoy-Tankor.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Tankor, smashing!"]]
*'''Tankor''' (Deluxe, 2014)
**''Series / Number'': '''02 / #015'''
**''Accessories:'' Missile

:Part of the ninth wave of 2012-onwards ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Deluxe Class toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Tankor is a brand-new mold that is accurate to his cartoon appearance in robot mode. In both robot mode and tank mode, he has a firing missile that is launched when the cannon barrel is pulled back. Some versions of this figure have two left elbows, preventing him from transforming into [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]. So much for [[quality control]].

:He comes with a copy of "[[No Exit: Dark Cybertron Chapter 6]]," which places its pages massively out of order.

:Perhaps due to the numerous flaws with the toy and included comic, Tankor was one of the most common [[Shelfwarmer|pegwarmers]] of the ''Thrilling 30'' line, remaining on store shelves for years after its release.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Vehicon/Tankor/tankor.htm More information on ''Generations'' Tankor at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Legends===
[[File:Legends-toy Tankor.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
*'''Tankor''' (Deluxe, 2014-[[November 29|11-29]])
**''ID number:'' '''LG03'''
:''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' Tankor is a redeco of ''Generations'' Tankor with some slight changes in hues and more silver paint. He comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs, and [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 3|Bonus Edition Vol. 3]] of the [[Transformers Legends (comic)|''Legends'' manga]]. It was unknown if this release had two left elbows plagued from the Hasbro release.

:This figure doubles as the [[Tank Drone|Tankor Drone]]s.
{{--}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:BotCon2015-GalvaConvoy.jpg|right|thumb|300px]]
*'''Galva Convoy''' (Deluxe, [[2015]])
**''Accessories:'' Photon blaster, axe, [[Covenant of Primus]]
:A [[redeco]] of ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Lio Convoy#Timelines|Lio Convoy]] (itself a [[retool]] of ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Deluxe|Orion Pax]]), Galva Convoy was the customization class exclusive for [[BotCon 2015]]. He transforms from robot to Cybertronian truck mode, and includes an axe and blaster which can peg into his hands or vehicle sides via [[5 mm post|5mm post]]s.

:For those who completed their assembly of Galva Convoy in the class, an additional Covenant of Primus accessory was given to them, based on the tome's appearance in the [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]], and an additional [[Matrix of Conquest]] accessory was raffled during the custom classes (seven winners on Wednesday, nine on Friday). These two items were both handcrafted by Japanese fan Myu, and the included written materials clarified that neither were endorsed by Hasbro. Pre-assembled Galva Convoys were also available for purchase, which did not include the figure's sticker sheet or additional accessories.

:This mold was also used to make [[Optimus Prime (SG)#NovaPrime|Nova Prime]].

==Notes==
* According to [[Marty Isenberg]], it was [[Bob Skir]] who came up with the idea of Vehicons as drones. Due to the expense of creating character designs, the first season of Beast Machines could feature only five Maximals and four Vehicons. This raised concerns that the heroes outnumbered the villains, undercutting the threat. Bob's simple but elegant solution was to reuse the design of the three Vehicon minions ad infinitum. Art by accident!<ref>Marty Isenberg at TFNation 2019</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{--}}

[[Category:Beast Machines Vehicons| ]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising factions]]
[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising Vehicons| ]]
[[Category:Drones]]
[[Category:Factions]]
[[Category:Mass-produced Transformers]]
[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001) subgroups]]

TransWarped

2020-11-12T15:34:28Z

Slc56: /* Part I */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|image=TFA TransWarped Sari hands.jpg
|caption="WhY mY hAnDs HuRt?"
|prev=A Bridge Too Close, Part II
|next=Three's a Crowd
|ep=30, 31 and 32
|ep2=27, 28 and 29
|prev2=A Bridge Too Close, Part II
|next2=Three's a Crowd
|title="TransWarped"
|airdate=[[March 14]], 2009
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]] [[Michael Ryan]] [[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]] [[Yoshio Frank Chatani]] [[Tetsurō Moronuki]] [[Yutaka Kagawa]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''In the aftermath of the battle at the mine, Sari and her father's relationship takes a strange turn; the Autobots have their work cut out for them trying to contact Cybertron; and Megatron and Starscream find a new opportunity.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part I===
[[File:TransWarpedRodimusCosmicRust.jpg|thumb|left|No fair, I just got here!]]

Somewhere along the outer rim of the galaxy, the [[Autobot]] group, [[Team Athenia]], led by [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]], defends [[space bridge 687-030]] against the [[Decepticon]]s' "[[Team Chaar]]," led by [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]. She, [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]], and [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] strafe [[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]], and [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]], badly injuring Hot Shot's leg and forcing team medic [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] to perform an amputation. Before she can do so, however, she is swallowed up by [[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]], who explosively vomits her back at her team. Rodimus contacts the [[Elite Guard]] for backup, but the Autobot forces are spread much too thin, defending space bridges from Decepticon attacks all across the galaxy. Oil Slick and Cyclonus proceed to take down Brawn and Ironhide, leaving Rodimus on his own, at which point Blackout arrives and all but finishes the fight with a huge electromagnetic pulse. Rodimus still has some fight left in him, but it drains away when Oil Slick seemingly offlines him with a vial of [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. (Later episodes would confirm his survival) Strika contacts [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], who informs her that nobody is to TransWarp to the planet until [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] himself arrives. But Megatron was supposed to be there megacycles ago...

[[File:TransWarpedStarscreamsScream.jpg|thumb|right|I'mma firin' mah lazhar!]]

Off in the depths of space, the disembodied head of [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] attempts to remove Megatron's stasis cuffs with his teeth as the Decepticon leader berates him all the while. As Starscream begins bellowing back at Megatron, the [[AllSpark#Animated continuity family|AllSpark]] fragment in his forehead begins to glow, and he undergoes a surprising transformation: His mouth converts into a sonic blaster that shoots the cuffs clean off Megatron's wrists. There is no time for the two villains to celebrate, however, as the giant form of [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] materializes above them. But after a moment, Megatron realizes that the colossus is offline...

[[File:TransWarpedProtoform.jpg|thumb|left|Hush little baby, don't say a word. Sumdac's gonna build you a mockingbird.]]

On [[Earth]], as the Autobots return to [[Detroit]], [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] explains [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari's]] origins to her as best he can, revealing that he discovered her in his laboratory years ago, in the form of a small, liquid metal robot. Sari finds the story hard to believe, and her strained patience reaches its end when the group returns to [[Sumdac Tower]] and confronts [[Porter C. Powell]] and [[Headmaster (Animated)|Henry Masterson]]. Powell tries to smooth things over with Isaac, but Masterson's belligerent attitude dispels any attempts at peace, which is further ruined when he demands the Autobots return his Headmaster, or "heads will roll." Having entered the lab from the elevator behind them, Optimus picks up Masterson and asks for clarification on his threat. Isaac immediately fires both Powell and Masterson, but Masterson refuses to vacate the premises, and Powell takes another shot at Sari's disputed parentage.

[[File:TransWarped Pt1 Sari Freakout.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Emperor Palpatine|POWER!!! UNLIMITED POWER!!!]]]]

In a moment of anger, Sari's hands transform into energy projectors that hurl the two men into the building's elevator. This newest revelation pushes Sari over the edge, and she walks out on the man she can no longer even think of as her father, returning to the [[Autobot Earth Base|Autobots' base]] with her "fellow machines." While [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] examines Sari—deducing that she's basically human, but partially Cybertronian—Prowl departs to carry out some research of his own. With Ratchet lost in his memories of [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] head back to the Decepticons' destroyed mine base to salvage some equipment that will let them contact Cybertron and inform the Autobots there of the traitor in their midst.

On a small planetoid somewhere in space, [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] is still trapped in a cement blob with Starscream's [[Thundercracker (Animated)|egomaniacal]] and [[Skywarp (Animated)|cowardly]] clones. Blurr proposes using sonic pulses to dissolve the glue, and the egomaniac takes the idea for his own and successfully frees them. Blurr immediately speeds off, launching into space and literally running across the galaxy, ricocheting off everything in his path (including the egomaniac) to get back to Cybertron and inform the Elite Guard of Megatron's invasion plan.

Megatron and Starscream force their way into Omega Supreme's body, but this action brings the giant Autobot back online, and his internal systems immediately seize the Decepticons. Megatron exploits Omega's simple processor and convinces the titan to take him back to Cybertron "to face justice." Omega transforms back into ship mode and TransWarps off toward Cybertron.

Back on Earth, Bumblebee and Bulkhead are searching through the ruins of the mine when Bumblebee discovers a [[plasma dynamic thruster]] space bridge component that abruptly TransWarps him away. While Bulkhead is wondering where his buddy went, he is suddenly attacked by Henry Masterson, who recovered his Headmaster unit and Starscream's headless body from the mine the night before.

At Sumdac Tower, Prowl shadows Sumdac into his laboratory, quickly accesses his computers, and scans the scientist in an attempt to learn more about Sari's origins. Ratchet is having distinctly less luck back at the Autobot base, where Sari refuses to let him perform an exploratory surgery. The whole unpleasant affair reminds Ratchet of his past on Cybertron, when he performed open-processor surgery on Arcee and discovered she was carrying the codes that were key to the creation of Omega Supreme. Prime snaps Ratchet out of his flashback with the news that he cannot contact Bumblebee and Bulkhead, and Ratchet heads out to the mine to investigate.

[[File:TFA TransWarped Headmaster Starscream power up.jpg|thumb|right|[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|Here we go again...]]]]
With the other Autobots busy, Optimus Prime tries to patch up the Sumdac family feud by surreptitiously opening a comm channel to Professor Sumdac's laboratory and explaining loudly and at length to Sari that he is going to take her to [[Burger Bot]]. Sumdac catches on and heads out to meet them there, but Sari is furious at being set up and refuses to talk to him. Unfortunately, the Headmaster soon arrives, having picked up Prime's phone call through bugs left in Sumdac Tower, and threatens to unleash t0t47 0wN4ge!

===Part II===
[[File:TFAni TransWarped Headmaster PWN3D.jpg|left|thumb|Heads out.]]
Optimus Prime engages the Headmaster, binding him with his grapplers and dragging him around the Burger Bot parking lot before taking a moment to usher the Sumdacs to safety behind a dumpster. The fight carries the two combatants to an overhead roadway and back, with the Headmaster eventually downing Prime with a slab of concrete. Sumdac is forced to take action, and he hides Sari within the dumpster so that he can draw the Headmaster's attention and keep her safe. Touched by this, Sari unleashes her energy projectors on the Headmaster in defence of her father, though they do little to the villain other than draw his attention. Prime rejoins the battle just in time, ramming the villain in truck mode and goading the Headmaster into trying to transform Starscream's body as well. Infuriated by Prime's claim that a n00b such as he would find it difficult, the Headmaster tries to meet the challenge... only to find his Headmaster unit squeezed clean off Starscream's body by the transformation process. As Starscream's lifeless carcass spirals off into the river, the Headmaster is apprehended by Prime and handed over to [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]].

Back at Sumdac tower, Prowl reveals his findings to Prime, Sari and Sumdac: He believes that the body Sumdac found in his lab was, in fact, a Cybertronian [[protoform]] that scanned Professor Sumdac's genetic data. Sari takes the revelation in stride, although everyone else remains mystified as to how a protoform wound up on Earth in the first place. There is no time to dwell on the subject, however, as Ratchet radios Prime to inform him of Bulkhead's injuries and Bumblebee's disappearance.

Out in space, Omega Supreme re-emerges from TransWarp, and his systems all power down, having been sapped of energy by the effort of the teleport. Megatron attempts to escape from the confines of the giant Autobot's body, but without his weapons, he is unable. Starscream's new sonic blaster is similarly ineffective, and Megatron instead schemes to take control of Omega's very body.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Blurr Crushed.jpg|right|thumb|"We... are going... to die!"]]
On Cybertron, Shockwave (in the form of Longarm Prime) is informed by [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] that the space bridge network has been shut down to prevent a Decepticon invasion of the planet. Suppressing his frustration, Shockwave is promptly presented with an outlet for his anger when Blurr comes streaking out of the sky and crashes at his feet. Blurr informs him of the double-agent on Cybertron, whom he plans to identify by cross-referencing his voice-print with the Cybertron intelligence database, and Shockwave immediately attacks the speedster, intent on silencing him before his cover can be blown. Blurr streaks off into a series of nearby corridors, but his speed fails to carry him beyond Shockwave's reach: Using a control console, Shockwave seals off the tunnels, and Blurr is crushed between two walls.

Back on Earth, Ratchet's treatment of Bulkhead is interrupted by Sari, who volunteers use of her Key to fix the larger Autobot's wounds. Ratchet is indignant, insisting that just because something is new, it doesn't make it better, but Bulkhead requests the Key. While Sari goes to work on Bulkhead's injuries, the sullen medic is overtaken by his memories; he recalls the creation of Omega Supreme and how he was partnered with the newborn titan to serve as his mentor, teacher and friend. Ratchet is roused from his unpleasant trip down memory lane when discussion turns to the whereabouts of Bumblebee, and before long, Bulkhead figures out that the plasma dynamic thruster has TransWarped Bumblebee off across the galaxy. Bulkhead suggests using a [[retrieval beacon generator]] recovered from the mine ruins to pinpoint Bumblebee's location, and Sari uses her Key to fix it before Ratchet can even begin examining it.

Aboard Omega Supreme, Megatron uses his stasis cuffs to "hotwire" Omega's body and bring it back online. However, when the light from Omega's "headlights" falls upon a nearby asteroid, Megatron and Starscream are shocked to see the rock react to the light, transforming into a humanoid monster that immediately attacks the ship! As more asteroids transform around him, Omega transwarps away to safety...only for Bumblebee, cruising on the tail end of Omega's TransWarp field, to materialize in his place, right in the midst of the [[Rock Lord]]s! The largest creature swallows the tiny Autobot with a single gulp.

Simultaneously, on Earth, Bulkhead locks in on Bumblebee's position and teleports him back, but the Rock Lord he is inside comes with him and is immediately driven to a rampage by the blinding light of the [[Sun]]. Optimus Prime detects Bumblebee's signature within the creature, and the Autobots prepare to give chase as the alien stomps off through the city. Prowl is rather taken aback to see Ratchet wearing his EMP generator on his arm once more, while Prime has to deal with Sari's demands that she be allowed to join them in the fight now that she has powers. Prime refuses, and the Autobots zoom off after the rock monster, but Sari won't take no for an answer and is struck with inspiration: Give herself an upgrade! Sari concentrates, and a port opens in her chest, into which she inserts her Key...and in an explosion of energy, Sari's whole body transforms into a taller, older form, suited in combat armor!

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Screamer Hotwire OmegaSupreme.jpg|left|thumb|Name: Starscream Function: Jumper Cable]]
Meanwhile, Megatron has discovered that Omega Supreme has again expended all his power, and his stasis cuffs do not have the energy left to rectify the situation. He grabs Starscream's head and jams it into the circuits, where the traitor's AllSpark fragment energizes Omega's systems once more.

[[File:TransWarpedBumblebeeSari.jpg|thumb|right|So, kids, don't play with too many knives!]]
Back in Detroit, the Autobots are attempting to figure out how to stop the Rock Lord without hurting Bumblebee, when the upgraded Sari comes streaking onto the scene on jet skates. As the Autobots look on in shock, Sari begins attacking the alien with arm-blades and an energy-hammer that morph out of her arms. A single strike of the hammer reduces the alien to boulders, freeing Bumblebee, who is immediately struck by Sari's new look, but then shouts a warning: The smaller boulders surrounding the pair have transformed into small creatures. But the creatures pose no threat to Sari, and she pounds them into pebbles. As Sari basks in her triumph, Ratchet realizes with horror that she has used the Key on herself. The elderly Autobot's concern is soon proven valid, as the Key overloads Sari's systems, and she loses control of her body. With Sari attacking everything and everyone around her, the Autobots attempt to stop her with a variety of non-lethal strategies, but Sari counters everything they throw at her, including Prowl's processor-over-matter technique. Even as Prime and Sari tell Bumblebee to keep back, the young Autobot races to his friend's side...only for the out-of-control Sari to stab him through the chest! Frozen for a horrific moment, Bumblebee is then hurled back by an energy discharge, and the light dims from his optics...

===Part III===
Ratchet leaps to Bumblebee's aid, but without Sari's Key, Bulkhead fears his little buddy is done for. Ratchet denies that he requires the key to do his job, but his memories of when he was forced to place the dying Omega Supreme in stasis haunt him as he begins to operate on Bumblebee.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Ratchet Repairs Bumblebee.jpg|left|thumb|'''D:''']]
Sari, meanwhile, is storming through the city streets, causing objects to explode when she comes into contact with them, and the Autobots head after her, seeking to remove the Key in hopes of bringing her back under control. They corral her with a wall of steel girders, affording Prowl the chance to get the drop on her and rip the Key from her chest, but Sari continues to rampage. With Bumblebee fading, Ratchet goes back on his previous claim and requests the Key be brought to him, but when Prowl complies, he discovers that the energy of the Key has been completely drained. Prowl assures Ratchet that he can accomplish the task without the Key, and the old medic gravely takes up the challenge and manages to bring Bumblebee back online.

Back with Sari, Prime and Bulkhead, Sari's energies are growing increasingly more out of control, as the street beneath her explodes with every step she takes. Bulkhead suggests just trying to "hold it in," but when Sari tries, things get even worse, as she begins to glow with so much energy that she is on the verge of exploding. Optimus summons Ratchet so that he can use his EMP generator to take Sari down, and while Ratchet is hesitant to do so, Sari begs him to stop her. Ratchet fires, and Sari collapses, her energy fading.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped LongArm Cliffjumper Cube.jpg|right|thumb|Kid's meal premiums aren't what they used to be.]]
On Cybertron, Longarm Prime has Cliffjumper dispose of the crushed remains of Blurr and is then contacted by Megatron. Learning that the space bridge network is down and that the Earth-based Autobots are poised to blow Shockwave's cover, Megatron orders the Decepticons to cease their attacks on the space bridges so that he can solve both problems his own way. Team Chaar receive the transmission and fall back, much to the Elite Guard's surprise.

In the Autobots' base, Ratchet completes a rewiring of Sari's systems, bypassing the circuits that caused her to run out of control. Professor Sumdac soon arrives, having been informed of the location of the base by Optimus Prime. The Autobots are a little upset by this, but Prime makes it clear that there are to be no more secrets in this "family". The Autobots step outside the plant to give the Sumdacs some time together, and are in the middle of catching Bumblebee up on recent events when the small Autobot suddenly begins to glow with TransWarp energies once more. Bulkhead quickly deactivates the plasma dynamic thruster, but the source of the TransWarp wave the thruster was picking up soon becomes apparent, as Omega Supreme materializes in the sky overhead. Much to the Autobots' surprise, the titan fires upon them before transforming to robot mode, revealing a projected image of Megatron's face upon his visor! The Decepticon leader is in complete control of Omega's body and begins attacking the Autobots, forcing Optimus Prime to consider unleashing an uncontrollable Sari on the giant. Before resorting to this desperate last resort, the Autobots attempt to lure Megatron away from the city. Ratchet even upgrades Bumblebee's stingers to a more powerful battle grade for the mission.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Prowl Megs OSFight.jpg|left|thumb|I'm going to have to put you on the game grid.]]
Taking refuge in the nearby river, the Autobots attack Omega's legs, forcing open an access hatch through which Prime and Prowl enter Omega's body. Battling Omega's internal defences, Prowl taps into Omega's processor in order to help him fight off Megatron's control, and they succeed in forcing Megatron out of the system. Prime engages Megatron in order to keep Prowl safe, but as their battle rages, Starscream seizes control of Omega's mind and forcibly disconnects Prowl from Omega's processor. Prime and Prowl are unceremoniously ejected from Omega Supreme's body, but Starscream is not finished there; he uses Omega's internal defences to seize Megatron, and resumes attacking the Autobots all around him. Megatron manages to talk Starscream into an alliance, suggesting they forget Earth and conquer Cybertron together. Starscream struggles to activate Omega's TransWarp system, and while his attention is occupied with this task, Omega's consciousness fights its way to the surface and begs Ratchet to shut him down again. Ratchet regretfully unleashes his EMP generator upon Omega, but it has no effect, and Starscream transforms Omega into starship mode in order to begin the TransWarp. Bulkhead and Bumblebee hit upon the idea to plant the plasma dynamic thruster on Omega Supreme, and they hand it off to Prime to complete the task. Prime plants the thruster at the last second before Omega disappears into TransWarp, and Ratchet catches Prime with his magnets as he falls out of the sky.

Back at the Autobot base a little later, Sari comes to and admits to Ratchet that he was right about taking it slow. Sumdac apologizes for holding back the truth from Sari for so long, and Bumblebee thanks Ratchet for saving his tailpipe. Unfortunately, Bulkhead brings the mood down by reminding everyone that they still have to find a way to contact Cybertron.

[[File:TFA TransWarped lost in space.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ripped Up Space]]]]
On Cybertron, [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] holds an Autobot council and announces that all the evidence points to a double agent on Cybertron. Longarm Prime implicates escaped convict [[Wasp]], and Ultra Magnus instructs [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] to put together a unit to hunt the fugitive down. Magnus also notes that he has to make contact with Optimus's crew on Earth, and Longarm hastily demands that all contact with them be filtered through him, responding to the council's wary looks by adding that it will be purely for security reasons.

In the sky above Cybertron, Omega Supreme materializes, and Starscream howls with glee...only for the Autobot spaceship to TransWarp away immediately to another random point in space...and another...and another...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]] (2)
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (3)
*[[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]] (4)
*[[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] (7)
*[[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (10)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (12)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (17)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (21)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (22)
*[[Mainframe (Animated)|Mainframe]] (27)
*[[Highbrow (Animated)|Highbrow]] (28)
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] (29)
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] (31)
*[[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]] (33)
*[[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] (34)
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] (36)
*[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (37)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] (1)
*[[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] (5)
*[[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] (6)
*[[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]] (8)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime / Shockwave]] (13)
*[[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]] (14)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] (30)
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] (32)
|c3=
*[[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (24)
*[[Headmaster (Animated)|The Headmaster]] (25)
*[[Porter C. Powell]] (26)
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (35)
|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (23)
*[[Rock Lord]]s (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"'Bulkhead' and 'genius' in the same sentence? I'll never get used to that."
:—'''Bumblebee''' shows his high opinion of his best friend.

"I'll warn them even if I have to run halfway across the galaxy to Cybertron to do it!" 
:—'''Blurr''', who apparently does just that.

"Sari, I don't pretend to fully understand humans, but from what I've seen, being a father is far more than a simple organic bond. It has much more to do with the spark. With the heart."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' muses on the nature of family. Sadly, the [[fandom]] desires more [[Relatives|concrete answers]].

"Prepare for T-O-T! Total Ownage Time!"
:—'''Headmaster''' to Optimus Prime and the Sumdacs.

"You taught me to protect like an Autobot, but all I did was destroy like a Decepticon." 
"We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn't make sense." 
:—'''Omega Supreme''' and '''Ratchet''', before the former is put into modified stasis

'''Ratchet''': Omega, what are you doing?! Don't you recognize your old friend?! 
'''Megatron''': The question should be, "Don't you recognize your old enemy?" 
'''Optimus Prime''': Megatron?! 
'''Megatron''': Ah, then you ''do'' remember my name. Pity I can't remember yours.
:—The Autobots learn that Megatron has taken control of Omega Supreme

"It appears you and I are destined to battle aboard this ship once more, Autobot." 
"Bring it on, Decepticon."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Starscream too powerful. Please, shut me down! I want to sleep again." 
"I already had to use this thing once today when I didn't want to. Don't make me use it again." 
"We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn't make sense."
:—'''Omega Supreme''' tries to convince '''Ratchet''' to use his EMP Generator

"Someday I really have to learn how to fly."
:—Someday will come [[Endgame, Part I|soon]], '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Technical or animation errors===
* When Megatron is first seen in space, parts of his helmet are miscolored red.
* Just before Omega Supreme is activated, Ultra Magnus accompanies Highbrow and Ratchet on a lift. In this shot, part of the Magnus Hammer's handle is missing.
* When Sari removes her key in order to place it in the homing beacon generator, the string doesn't actually go over her head... it just phases through her neck. Somehow.
* The damage to Starscream's body disappears during the commercial break.
* When Bumblebee tells Sari to watch out, her back kibble disappears for a moment. It reappears in the next shot.
* Once the key has been removed from Sari, the vaporized string attached to it mysteriously reappears.
* When Ratchet is talking to Bumblebee about Sari's condition, the side of his head is miscolored white.
* When Blackout attacks Rodimus, his chest is miscolored gray.
* After Bumblebee is slashed, there's a red spot on Bulkhead with an Autobot symbol inside it.

===Continuity errors===
* Megatron finds both of his rotors/swords after being freed from the stasis cuffs, despite leaving ''at least'' one behind when he was sucked into the space bridge in "A Bridge Too Close".
* If Sumdac was wearing gloves at the time he touched the protoform, how did it get his DNA? For that matter, how did Sari end up female?
** Given that protoforms in ''Beast Wars'' scanned animals that were nowhere near their pods, Sari may have not actually required physical contact to scan Sumdac. Also, the protoform may have already been female before being activated.
* It is revealed that the streak of white in Isaac's hair came from the shock he received when he approached the protoform that would become Sari. Pay no attention to the streak in the hair of his younger self appearing in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", please...
* Sari's protruding robotic elbow disappears without explanation while she's sitting on Ratchet's repair table.
* When Bumblebee gets blown away in "Part II" after being stabbed by Sari, he lands on his back. When we cut back to him in "Part III", he appears on his side.
* Bumblebee's rocket boosters seemingly appear out of nowhere.
** The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|AllSpark Almanac II]] reveals that Ratchet installed the turbo boosters while he was repairing Bumblebee just in case he needed them.
** With Ratchet's upgrading of his stingers and now this, it seems that <s>Hasbro</s> the Autobots have gotten over their "upgrades are bad, m'kay" phase. Spending two seasons out-gunned will probably do that to you.

===Continuity notes===
*As Sari dismisses Isaac Sumdac's story of her origin, she suggests that he should have told her how he found her "in a cabbage patch", or how "the stork" brought her. Similar ideas were suggested by Professors Bumblebee and Bulkhead in "[[The Return of the Headmaster]]". In that episode, the professors also suggested that Sari was really a robot, that she came to Earth in an egg, or that she could have fallen through a portal, ''all'' of which seem to have some nugget of truth to them: She ''is'' part-robot, she was contained in a strange pod, and she appeared in Sumdac's lab out of thin air. ''Foreshadowing!''
*After Sari mentions those theories, Optimus Prime recalls how Sari told him of human manufacturing, which occurred in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]".
*Starscream says Omega Supreme is "more powerful than I imagined...well, not AllSpark-powerful...", in reference to his use of the same phrase to describe the AllSpark way back in "Transform and Roll Out!"

===Transformers references===
[[File:TransWarped Pt1 Blurr Runs Rings.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Bar Oil Slick, every member of the new squads harkens back to a previous series. Rodimus, Ironhide, Brawn and Cyclonus are heavily based off their Generation One counterparts. Red Alert and Hot Shot take after their Unicron Trilogy incarnations. Spittor and Strika are both modeled after Beast Era characters, and Blackout's design is heavily influenced by the live-action movie version.
*While lecturing Sari on taking it slow with her powers, Ratchet says that there's "more than meets the vis-scanners" on having powers, a clear reference to the time-honored Transformers tagline "[[More than Meets the Eye (disambiguation)|more than meets the eye]]".
*Arcee's open head [[:File:Spotlight Arcee cvrB.jpg|looks ''waaay'' too much]] like [[Alex Milne]]'s cover for [[IDW Publishing]]'s "[[Spotlight: Arcee]]" to be a coincidence.
*Blurr races along a Saturn-style planetary ring, as [[Blurr (G1)|his namesake]] had done in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 3|Generation 1 season 3]] [[title sequence]].
*The building in which the [[Autobot High Council]] have their meeting looks [[Metroplex (G1)|somewhat familiar]].
*Blackout seems to have retained his seismic stomp that was used by his [[Blackout (Movie)|movie counterpart]].
*Team Chaar gets its name from [[Chaar|the planet of the same name]].
*After being told by Optimus to stay behind, Sari tells Optimus that she is a Robot Hero now too.
*Ratchet says that he has been the team's medic for 4 Million Stellar-cycles.

===Real-world references===
* Megatron tells Optimus, "You have persistence, Autobot. I hate persistence." This is based on Lou Grant's well-known dialogue from the first episode of ''{{w|The Mary Tyler Moore Show}}''—"You know what, you've got spunk! … I hate spunk!"
* Sari's transformation sequence upon absorbing the power of the key is a nod to the transformation sequence of the title robot in ''{{w|Gurren Lagann}}''.
* Sari's use of a large hammer, sending it down with her buttocks in the air, references back to... about ninety billion different anime shows. Although they usually involve an upskirt of sorts that's very thankfully absent here.

===Trivia===
*[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] confirmed via Twitter after the show aired that like the [[Transform and Roll Out|series pilot]], "TransWarped" was made "as one 70-minute movie", although it was also cut into 22-minute episodes for syndication.<ref>[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] — http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1329673450 — "We made it as one 70 minute movie, but it has also been cut into three 22s".</ref> Unlike the pilot, however, "TransWarped" counts as three episodes out of the thirteen allotted for the show's third season. While Cartoon Network aired all three episodes in movie form for their premiere, Canadian network YTV opted to debut them in episodic form, airing only the first two in a double-bill, and then screening the final part the following week.
*Originally the first two episodes of ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s third season were "Homecoming" and "Upgrade". When the decision came to open the season with a three-part movie, the season's original third episode, "[[Three's a Crowd]]", was pushed back, as it didn't fit with the previous episodes. The solution was to create a new episode, which became "Transwarped Part III".<ref>The AllSpark Almanac II page 177</ref>
*Two subplots were dropped when "Homecoming" became part of "Transwarped": One would have featured Bulkhead annoyed when Bumblebee was unable to accept him as a space bridge expert; the other would have had Powell unofficially promise Masterson that he would get his job back if "something" happened to the Sumdacs. After Masterson was arrested, Powell would distance himself from Masterson, rather than bail him out again.<ref>The AllSpark Almanac II page 177</ref>
* Several scenes are known to have been storyboarded for this three-parter, only to wind up being cut for time. One of these scene would have included an appearance by [[Beachcomber (Animated)|Beachcomber]], who would have died at the hands of Shockwave. At the time, Isenberg asked Wyatt for an established character he would be able to kill without anyone getting mad, and Wyatt—apparently without hesitation—put forward Beachcomber.
**As originally planned, Beachcomber would have caught Shockwave converting from his Longarm disguise and disposing of Blurr, and would have said "Dude, not cool." Shockwave, raising his weapon, would have replied "I have a very simple explanation," to which Beachcomber would have responded, "I don't get it...", before being blown to bits by the double-agent to maintain his cover.
**Though Beachcomber turned up in crowd scenes later in the season, Isenberg would make another attempt on the Autobot's life in the unproduced season four episode "[[Trial of Megatron, Part 1]]".
*Another planned scene that was cut for time was an extended flashback to the [[Battle for Iacon|final battle of the Great War]], which would have featured [[Reflector (Animated)|Reflector]], [[Straxus (Animated)|Straxus]] and the myriad [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinels]].
**While Reflector had a bio in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 26|issue #26]] of the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]], it would take until the publication of ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'' over a year later before Straxus and the Sentinels would be revealed.
* The creatures that turn into rocks may be a reference to the [[Rock Lord]]s from the [[GoBots]] movie ''{{w|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords}}''; the creatures were later canonized as such via [[Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime]] in 2015.
*Starscream gains a "sonic scream" as a head-mounted weapon in this episode. Coincidentally (or not?), in the initial [[Cartoon Network]] press release for ''Transformers Animated'', Starscream's profile claimed that he had a sonic scream he could use to send foes spinning through the air. This ability is never seen again.
*The Headmaster's appearance in this episode marks the only time a human villain is used in Season 3. And even then, he's relatively minor compared to a Decepticon-controlled Omega Supreme.
*In his last line, Shockwave seems to forget to use his American accent. Probably because he's getting worried about getting caught.
*This episode marks the first live appearance of Cybertron.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Transdobra'''" ("Transwarp")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Transmutation'''" ("Transmutation")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Spanish (Latin America)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Teletransportados'''" ("Teleported")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 1)''
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 13|13 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 2)'
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 20|20 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 3)'''

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sari no Himitsu'''" (Part 1, サリの秘密, "The Secret of Sari")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 2|2 October]] [[2010]]
::*For the opening pre-[[title sequence]] chatter, [[Tesshō Genda]] reprises his role as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] in order to carry on a conversation with ''Animated'' Optimus Prime.

:*''Title:'' "'''Sari, Transform!?'''" (Part 2, サリ、トランスフォーム!?)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 9|9 October]] [[2010]]

:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron no Shōrai'''" (Part 3, メガトロンの襲来, "Megatron's Raid")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 16|16 October]] [[2010]]

==Home video releases==
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2011 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Vol. 8 ([[Paramount]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season Three ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season Three ([[Madman Entertainment]])

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transwarped}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]

TransWarped

2020-11-12T15:33:46Z

Slc56: /* Part I */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|image=TFA TransWarped Sari hands.jpg
|caption="WhY mY hAnDs HuRt?"
|prev=A Bridge Too Close, Part II
|next=Three's a Crowd
|ep=30, 31 and 32
|ep2=27, 28 and 29
|prev2=A Bridge Too Close, Part II
|next2=Three's a Crowd
|title="TransWarped"
|airdate=[[March 14]], 2009
|written by=[[Marty Isenberg]] [[Michael Ryan]] [[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Matt Youngberg]] [[Yoshio Frank Chatani]] [[Tetsurō Moronuki]] [[Yutaka Kagawa]]
|animation studio=[[Mook]]
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]}}

'''In the aftermath of the battle at the mine, Sari and her father's relationship takes a strange turn; the Autobots have their work cut out for them trying to contact Cybertron; and Megatron and Starscream find a new opportunity.'''

==Synopsis==
===Part I===
[[File:TransWarpedRodimusCosmicRust.jpg|thumb|left|No fair, I just got here!]]

Somewhere along the outer rim of the galaxy, the [[Autobot]] group, [[Team Athenia]], led by [[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]], defends [[space bridge 687-030]] against the [[Decepticon]]s' "[[Team Chaar]]," led by [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]. She, [[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]], and [[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] strafe [[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]], [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]], and [[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]], badly injuring Hot Shot's leg and forcing team medic [[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] to perform an amputation. Before she can do so, however, she is swallowed up by [[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]], who explosively vomits her back at her team. Rodimus contacts the [[Elite Guard]] for backup, but the Autobot forces are spread much too thin, defending space bridges from Decepticon attacks all across the galaxy. Oil Slick and Cyclonus proceed to take down Brawn and Ironhide, leaving Rodimus on his own, at which point Blackout arrives and all but finishes the fight with a huge electromagnetic pulse. Rodimus still has some fight left in him, but it drains away when Oil Slick offlines him with a vial of [[Cosmic Rust (disease)|Cosmic Rust]]. (Later episodes would confirm his survival) Strika contacts [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], who informs her that nobody is to TransWarp to the planet until [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] himself arrives. But Megatron was supposed to be there megacycles ago...

[[File:TransWarpedStarscreamsScream.jpg|thumb|right|I'mma firin' mah lazhar!]]

Off in the depths of space, the disembodied head of [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] attempts to remove Megatron's stasis cuffs with his teeth as the Decepticon leader berates him all the while. As Starscream begins bellowing back at Megatron, the [[AllSpark#Animated continuity family|AllSpark]] fragment in his forehead begins to glow, and he undergoes a surprising transformation: His mouth converts into a sonic blaster that shoots the cuffs clean off Megatron's wrists. There is no time for the two villains to celebrate, however, as the giant form of [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] materializes above them. But after a moment, Megatron realizes that the colossus is offline...

[[File:TransWarpedProtoform.jpg|thumb|left|Hush little baby, don't say a word. Sumdac's gonna build you a mockingbird.]]

On [[Earth]], as the Autobots return to [[Detroit]], [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] explains [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari's]] origins to her as best he can, revealing that he discovered her in his laboratory years ago, in the form of a small, liquid metal robot. Sari finds the story hard to believe, and her strained patience reaches its end when the group returns to [[Sumdac Tower]] and confronts [[Porter C. Powell]] and [[Headmaster (Animated)|Henry Masterson]]. Powell tries to smooth things over with Isaac, but Masterson's belligerent attitude dispels any attempts at peace, which is further ruined when he demands the Autobots return his Headmaster, or "heads will roll." Having entered the lab from the elevator behind them, Optimus picks up Masterson and asks for clarification on his threat. Isaac immediately fires both Powell and Masterson, but Masterson refuses to vacate the premises, and Powell takes another shot at Sari's disputed parentage.

[[File:TransWarped Pt1 Sari Freakout.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|[[Emperor Palpatine|POWER!!! UNLIMITED POWER!!!]]]]

In a moment of anger, Sari's hands transform into energy projectors that hurl the two men into the building's elevator. This newest revelation pushes Sari over the edge, and she walks out on the man she can no longer even think of as her father, returning to the [[Autobot Earth Base|Autobots' base]] with her "fellow machines." While [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] examines Sari—deducing that she's basically human, but partially Cybertronian—Prowl departs to carry out some research of his own. With Ratchet lost in his memories of [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]], [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] head back to the Decepticons' destroyed mine base to salvage some equipment that will let them contact Cybertron and inform the Autobots there of the traitor in their midst.

On a small planetoid somewhere in space, [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] is still trapped in a cement blob with Starscream's [[Thundercracker (Animated)|egomaniacal]] and [[Skywarp (Animated)|cowardly]] clones. Blurr proposes using sonic pulses to dissolve the glue, and the egomaniac takes the idea for his own and successfully frees them. Blurr immediately speeds off, launching into space and literally running across the galaxy, ricocheting off everything in his path (including the egomaniac) to get back to Cybertron and inform the Elite Guard of Megatron's invasion plan.

Megatron and Starscream force their way into Omega Supreme's body, but this action brings the giant Autobot back online, and his internal systems immediately seize the Decepticons. Megatron exploits Omega's simple processor and convinces the titan to take him back to Cybertron "to face justice." Omega transforms back into ship mode and TransWarps off toward Cybertron.

Back on Earth, Bumblebee and Bulkhead are searching through the ruins of the mine when Bumblebee discovers a [[plasma dynamic thruster]] space bridge component that abruptly TransWarps him away. While Bulkhead is wondering where his buddy went, he is suddenly attacked by Henry Masterson, who recovered his Headmaster unit and Starscream's headless body from the mine the night before.

At Sumdac Tower, Prowl shadows Sumdac into his laboratory, quickly accesses his computers, and scans the scientist in an attempt to learn more about Sari's origins. Ratchet is having distinctly less luck back at the Autobot base, where Sari refuses to let him perform an exploratory surgery. The whole unpleasant affair reminds Ratchet of his past on Cybertron, when he performed open-processor surgery on Arcee and discovered she was carrying the codes that were key to the creation of Omega Supreme. Prime snaps Ratchet out of his flashback with the news that he cannot contact Bumblebee and Bulkhead, and Ratchet heads out to the mine to investigate.

[[File:TFA TransWarped Headmaster Starscream power up.jpg|thumb|right|[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II|Here we go again...]]]]
With the other Autobots busy, Optimus Prime tries to patch up the Sumdac family feud by surreptitiously opening a comm channel to Professor Sumdac's laboratory and explaining loudly and at length to Sari that he is going to take her to [[Burger Bot]]. Sumdac catches on and heads out to meet them there, but Sari is furious at being set up and refuses to talk to him. Unfortunately, the Headmaster soon arrives, having picked up Prime's phone call through bugs left in Sumdac Tower, and threatens to unleash t0t47 0wN4ge!

===Part II===
[[File:TFAni TransWarped Headmaster PWN3D.jpg|left|thumb|Heads out.]]
Optimus Prime engages the Headmaster, binding him with his grapplers and dragging him around the Burger Bot parking lot before taking a moment to usher the Sumdacs to safety behind a dumpster. The fight carries the two combatants to an overhead roadway and back, with the Headmaster eventually downing Prime with a slab of concrete. Sumdac is forced to take action, and he hides Sari within the dumpster so that he can draw the Headmaster's attention and keep her safe. Touched by this, Sari unleashes her energy projectors on the Headmaster in defence of her father, though they do little to the villain other than draw his attention. Prime rejoins the battle just in time, ramming the villain in truck mode and goading the Headmaster into trying to transform Starscream's body as well. Infuriated by Prime's claim that a n00b such as he would find it difficult, the Headmaster tries to meet the challenge... only to find his Headmaster unit squeezed clean off Starscream's body by the transformation process. As Starscream's lifeless carcass spirals off into the river, the Headmaster is apprehended by Prime and handed over to [[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]].

Back at Sumdac tower, Prowl reveals his findings to Prime, Sari and Sumdac: He believes that the body Sumdac found in his lab was, in fact, a Cybertronian [[protoform]] that scanned Professor Sumdac's genetic data. Sari takes the revelation in stride, although everyone else remains mystified as to how a protoform wound up on Earth in the first place. There is no time to dwell on the subject, however, as Ratchet radios Prime to inform him of Bulkhead's injuries and Bumblebee's disappearance.

Out in space, Omega Supreme re-emerges from TransWarp, and his systems all power down, having been sapped of energy by the effort of the teleport. Megatron attempts to escape from the confines of the giant Autobot's body, but without his weapons, he is unable. Starscream's new sonic blaster is similarly ineffective, and Megatron instead schemes to take control of Omega's very body.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Blurr Crushed.jpg|right|thumb|"We... are going... to die!"]]
On Cybertron, Shockwave (in the form of Longarm Prime) is informed by [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] that the space bridge network has been shut down to prevent a Decepticon invasion of the planet. Suppressing his frustration, Shockwave is promptly presented with an outlet for his anger when Blurr comes streaking out of the sky and crashes at his feet. Blurr informs him of the double-agent on Cybertron, whom he plans to identify by cross-referencing his voice-print with the Cybertron intelligence database, and Shockwave immediately attacks the speedster, intent on silencing him before his cover can be blown. Blurr streaks off into a series of nearby corridors, but his speed fails to carry him beyond Shockwave's reach: Using a control console, Shockwave seals off the tunnels, and Blurr is crushed between two walls.

Back on Earth, Ratchet's treatment of Bulkhead is interrupted by Sari, who volunteers use of her Key to fix the larger Autobot's wounds. Ratchet is indignant, insisting that just because something is new, it doesn't make it better, but Bulkhead requests the Key. While Sari goes to work on Bulkhead's injuries, the sullen medic is overtaken by his memories; he recalls the creation of Omega Supreme and how he was partnered with the newborn titan to serve as his mentor, teacher and friend. Ratchet is roused from his unpleasant trip down memory lane when discussion turns to the whereabouts of Bumblebee, and before long, Bulkhead figures out that the plasma dynamic thruster has TransWarped Bumblebee off across the galaxy. Bulkhead suggests using a [[retrieval beacon generator]] recovered from the mine ruins to pinpoint Bumblebee's location, and Sari uses her Key to fix it before Ratchet can even begin examining it.

Aboard Omega Supreme, Megatron uses his stasis cuffs to "hotwire" Omega's body and bring it back online. However, when the light from Omega's "headlights" falls upon a nearby asteroid, Megatron and Starscream are shocked to see the rock react to the light, transforming into a humanoid monster that immediately attacks the ship! As more asteroids transform around him, Omega transwarps away to safety...only for Bumblebee, cruising on the tail end of Omega's TransWarp field, to materialize in his place, right in the midst of the [[Rock Lord]]s! The largest creature swallows the tiny Autobot with a single gulp.

Simultaneously, on Earth, Bulkhead locks in on Bumblebee's position and teleports him back, but the Rock Lord he is inside comes with him and is immediately driven to a rampage by the blinding light of the [[Sun]]. Optimus Prime detects Bumblebee's signature within the creature, and the Autobots prepare to give chase as the alien stomps off through the city. Prowl is rather taken aback to see Ratchet wearing his EMP generator on his arm once more, while Prime has to deal with Sari's demands that she be allowed to join them in the fight now that she has powers. Prime refuses, and the Autobots zoom off after the rock monster, but Sari won't take no for an answer and is struck with inspiration: Give herself an upgrade! Sari concentrates, and a port opens in her chest, into which she inserts her Key...and in an explosion of energy, Sari's whole body transforms into a taller, older form, suited in combat armor!

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Screamer Hotwire OmegaSupreme.jpg|left|thumb|Name: Starscream Function: Jumper Cable]]
Meanwhile, Megatron has discovered that Omega Supreme has again expended all his power, and his stasis cuffs do not have the energy left to rectify the situation. He grabs Starscream's head and jams it into the circuits, where the traitor's AllSpark fragment energizes Omega's systems once more.

[[File:TransWarpedBumblebeeSari.jpg|thumb|right|So, kids, don't play with too many knives!]]
Back in Detroit, the Autobots are attempting to figure out how to stop the Rock Lord without hurting Bumblebee, when the upgraded Sari comes streaking onto the scene on jet skates. As the Autobots look on in shock, Sari begins attacking the alien with arm-blades and an energy-hammer that morph out of her arms. A single strike of the hammer reduces the alien to boulders, freeing Bumblebee, who is immediately struck by Sari's new look, but then shouts a warning: The smaller boulders surrounding the pair have transformed into small creatures. But the creatures pose no threat to Sari, and she pounds them into pebbles. As Sari basks in her triumph, Ratchet realizes with horror that she has used the Key on herself. The elderly Autobot's concern is soon proven valid, as the Key overloads Sari's systems, and she loses control of her body. With Sari attacking everything and everyone around her, the Autobots attempt to stop her with a variety of non-lethal strategies, but Sari counters everything they throw at her, including Prowl's processor-over-matter technique. Even as Prime and Sari tell Bumblebee to keep back, the young Autobot races to his friend's side...only for the out-of-control Sari to stab him through the chest! Frozen for a horrific moment, Bumblebee is then hurled back by an energy discharge, and the light dims from his optics...

===Part III===
Ratchet leaps to Bumblebee's aid, but without Sari's Key, Bulkhead fears his little buddy is done for. Ratchet denies that he requires the key to do his job, but his memories of when he was forced to place the dying Omega Supreme in stasis haunt him as he begins to operate on Bumblebee.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Ratchet Repairs Bumblebee.jpg|left|thumb|'''D:''']]
Sari, meanwhile, is storming through the city streets, causing objects to explode when she comes into contact with them, and the Autobots head after her, seeking to remove the Key in hopes of bringing her back under control. They corral her with a wall of steel girders, affording Prowl the chance to get the drop on her and rip the Key from her chest, but Sari continues to rampage. With Bumblebee fading, Ratchet goes back on his previous claim and requests the Key be brought to him, but when Prowl complies, he discovers that the energy of the Key has been completely drained. Prowl assures Ratchet that he can accomplish the task without the Key, and the old medic gravely takes up the challenge and manages to bring Bumblebee back online.

Back with Sari, Prime and Bulkhead, Sari's energies are growing increasingly more out of control, as the street beneath her explodes with every step she takes. Bulkhead suggests just trying to "hold it in," but when Sari tries, things get even worse, as she begins to glow with so much energy that she is on the verge of exploding. Optimus summons Ratchet so that he can use his EMP generator to take Sari down, and while Ratchet is hesitant to do so, Sari begs him to stop her. Ratchet fires, and Sari collapses, her energy fading.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped LongArm Cliffjumper Cube.jpg|right|thumb|Kid's meal premiums aren't what they used to be.]]
On Cybertron, Longarm Prime has Cliffjumper dispose of the crushed remains of Blurr and is then contacted by Megatron. Learning that the space bridge network is down and that the Earth-based Autobots are poised to blow Shockwave's cover, Megatron orders the Decepticons to cease their attacks on the space bridges so that he can solve both problems his own way. Team Chaar receive the transmission and fall back, much to the Elite Guard's surprise.

In the Autobots' base, Ratchet completes a rewiring of Sari's systems, bypassing the circuits that caused her to run out of control. Professor Sumdac soon arrives, having been informed of the location of the base by Optimus Prime. The Autobots are a little upset by this, but Prime makes it clear that there are to be no more secrets in this "family". The Autobots step outside the plant to give the Sumdacs some time together, and are in the middle of catching Bumblebee up on recent events when the small Autobot suddenly begins to glow with TransWarp energies once more. Bulkhead quickly deactivates the plasma dynamic thruster, but the source of the TransWarp wave the thruster was picking up soon becomes apparent, as Omega Supreme materializes in the sky overhead. Much to the Autobots' surprise, the titan fires upon them before transforming to robot mode, revealing a projected image of Megatron's face upon his visor! The Decepticon leader is in complete control of Omega's body and begins attacking the Autobots, forcing Optimus Prime to consider unleashing an uncontrollable Sari on the giant. Before resorting to this desperate last resort, the Autobots attempt to lure Megatron away from the city. Ratchet even upgrades Bumblebee's stingers to a more powerful battle grade for the mission.

[[File:TFAni TransWarped Prowl Megs OSFight.jpg|left|thumb|I'm going to have to put you on the game grid.]]
Taking refuge in the nearby river, the Autobots attack Omega's legs, forcing open an access hatch through which Prime and Prowl enter Omega's body. Battling Omega's internal defences, Prowl taps into Omega's processor in order to help him fight off Megatron's control, and they succeed in forcing Megatron out of the system. Prime engages Megatron in order to keep Prowl safe, but as their battle rages, Starscream seizes control of Omega's mind and forcibly disconnects Prowl from Omega's processor. Prime and Prowl are unceremoniously ejected from Omega Supreme's body, but Starscream is not finished there; he uses Omega's internal defences to seize Megatron, and resumes attacking the Autobots all around him. Megatron manages to talk Starscream into an alliance, suggesting they forget Earth and conquer Cybertron together. Starscream struggles to activate Omega's TransWarp system, and while his attention is occupied with this task, Omega's consciousness fights its way to the surface and begs Ratchet to shut him down again. Ratchet regretfully unleashes his EMP generator upon Omega, but it has no effect, and Starscream transforms Omega into starship mode in order to begin the TransWarp. Bulkhead and Bumblebee hit upon the idea to plant the plasma dynamic thruster on Omega Supreme, and they hand it off to Prime to complete the task. Prime plants the thruster at the last second before Omega disappears into TransWarp, and Ratchet catches Prime with his magnets as he falls out of the sky.

Back at the Autobot base a little later, Sari comes to and admits to Ratchet that he was right about taking it slow. Sumdac apologizes for holding back the truth from Sari for so long, and Bumblebee thanks Ratchet for saving his tailpipe. Unfortunately, Bulkhead brings the mood down by reminding everyone that they still have to find a way to contact Cybertron.

[[File:TFA TransWarped lost in space.JPG|thumb|right|[[Ripped Up Space]]]]
On Cybertron, [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] holds an Autobot council and announces that all the evidence points to a double agent on Cybertron. Longarm Prime implicates escaped convict [[Wasp]], and Ultra Magnus instructs [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] to put together a unit to hunt the fugitive down. Magnus also notes that he has to make contact with Optimus's crew on Earth, and Longarm hastily demands that all contact with them be filtered through him, responding to the council's wary looks by adding that it will be purely for security reasons.

In the sky above Cybertron, Omega Supreme materializes, and Starscream howls with glee...only for the Autobot spaceship to TransWarp away immediately to another random point in space...and another...and another...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Brawn (Animated)|Brawn]] (2)
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] (3)
*[[Hot Shot (Animated)|Hot Shot]] (4)
*[[Red Alert (Animated)|Red Alert]] (7)
*[[Rodimus Prime (Animated)|Rodimus Prime]] (9)
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] (10)
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] (11)
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] (12)
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] (17)
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (18)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (19)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (20)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (21)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (22)
*[[Mainframe (Animated)|Mainframe]] (27)
*[[Highbrow (Animated)|Highbrow]] (28)
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] (29)
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] (31)
*[[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]] (33)
*[[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]] (34)
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] (36)
*[[Alpha Trion (Animated)|Alpha Trion]] (37)
|c2=
*[[Cyclonus (Animated)|Cyclonus]] (1)
*[[Oil Slick (Animated)|Oil Slick]] (5)
*[[Strika (Animated)|Strika]] (6)
*[[Spittor (Animated)|Spittor]] (8)
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime / Shockwave]] (13)
*[[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]] (14)
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] (30)
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] (32)
|c3=
*[[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (24)
*[[Headmaster (Animated)|The Headmaster]] (25)
*[[Porter C. Powell]] (26)
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Fanzone]] (35)
|c4=
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (23)
*[[Rock Lord]]s (38)
}}

==Quotes==
"'Bulkhead' and 'genius' in the same sentence? I'll never get used to that."
:—'''Bumblebee''' shows his high opinion of his best friend.

"I'll warn them even if I have to run halfway across the galaxy to Cybertron to do it!" 
:—'''Blurr''', who apparently does just that.

"Sari, I don't pretend to fully understand humans, but from what I've seen, being a father is far more than a simple organic bond. It has much more to do with the spark. With the heart."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' muses on the nature of family. Sadly, the [[fandom]] desires more [[Relatives|concrete answers]].

"Prepare for T-O-T! Total Ownage Time!"
:—'''Headmaster''' to Optimus Prime and the Sumdacs.

"You taught me to protect like an Autobot, but all I did was destroy like a Decepticon." 
"We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn't make sense." 
:—'''Omega Supreme''' and '''Ratchet''', before the former is put into modified stasis

'''Ratchet''': Omega, what are you doing?! Don't you recognize your old friend?! 
'''Megatron''': The question should be, "Don't you recognize your old enemy?" 
'''Optimus Prime''': Megatron?! 
'''Megatron''': Ah, then you ''do'' remember my name. Pity I can't remember yours.
:—The Autobots learn that Megatron has taken control of Omega Supreme

"It appears you and I are destined to battle aboard this ship once more, Autobot." 
"Bring it on, Decepticon."
:—'''Megatron''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

"Starscream too powerful. Please, shut me down! I want to sleep again." 
"I already had to use this thing once today when I didn't want to. Don't make me use it again." 
"We do what we must, even if it sometimes doesn't make sense."
:—'''Omega Supreme''' tries to convince '''Ratchet''' to use his EMP Generator

"Someday I really have to learn how to fly."
:—Someday will come [[Endgame, Part I|soon]], '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Technical or animation errors===
* When Megatron is first seen in space, parts of his helmet are miscolored red.
* Just before Omega Supreme is activated, Ultra Magnus accompanies Highbrow and Ratchet on a lift. In this shot, part of the Magnus Hammer's handle is missing.
* When Sari removes her key in order to place it in the homing beacon generator, the string doesn't actually go over her head... it just phases through her neck. Somehow.
* The damage to Starscream's body disappears during the commercial break.
* When Bumblebee tells Sari to watch out, her back kibble disappears for a moment. It reappears in the next shot.
* Once the key has been removed from Sari, the vaporized string attached to it mysteriously reappears.
* When Ratchet is talking to Bumblebee about Sari's condition, the side of his head is miscolored white.
* When Blackout attacks Rodimus, his chest is miscolored gray.
* After Bumblebee is slashed, there's a red spot on Bulkhead with an Autobot symbol inside it.

===Continuity errors===
* Megatron finds both of his rotors/swords after being freed from the stasis cuffs, despite leaving ''at least'' one behind when he was sucked into the space bridge in "A Bridge Too Close".
* If Sumdac was wearing gloves at the time he touched the protoform, how did it get his DNA? For that matter, how did Sari end up female?
** Given that protoforms in ''Beast Wars'' scanned animals that were nowhere near their pods, Sari may have not actually required physical contact to scan Sumdac. Also, the protoform may have already been female before being activated.
* It is revealed that the streak of white in Isaac's hair came from the shock he received when he approached the protoform that would become Sari. Pay no attention to the streak in the hair of his younger self appearing in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]", please...
* Sari's protruding robotic elbow disappears without explanation while she's sitting on Ratchet's repair table.
* When Bumblebee gets blown away in "Part II" after being stabbed by Sari, he lands on his back. When we cut back to him in "Part III", he appears on his side.
* Bumblebee's rocket boosters seemingly appear out of nowhere.
** The [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|AllSpark Almanac II]] reveals that Ratchet installed the turbo boosters while he was repairing Bumblebee just in case he needed them.
** With Ratchet's upgrading of his stingers and now this, it seems that <s>Hasbro</s> the Autobots have gotten over their "upgrades are bad, m'kay" phase. Spending two seasons out-gunned will probably do that to you.

===Continuity notes===
*As Sari dismisses Isaac Sumdac's story of her origin, she suggests that he should have told her how he found her "in a cabbage patch", or how "the stork" brought her. Similar ideas were suggested by Professors Bumblebee and Bulkhead in "[[The Return of the Headmaster]]". In that episode, the professors also suggested that Sari was really a robot, that she came to Earth in an egg, or that she could have fallen through a portal, ''all'' of which seem to have some nugget of truth to them: She ''is'' part-robot, she was contained in a strange pod, and she appeared in Sumdac's lab out of thin air. ''Foreshadowing!''
*After Sari mentions those theories, Optimus Prime recalls how Sari told him of human manufacturing, which occurred in "[[Transform and Roll Out]]".
*Starscream says Omega Supreme is "more powerful than I imagined...well, not AllSpark-powerful...", in reference to his use of the same phrase to describe the AllSpark way back in "Transform and Roll Out!"

===Transformers references===
[[File:TransWarped Pt1 Blurr Runs Rings.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Bar Oil Slick, every member of the new squads harkens back to a previous series. Rodimus, Ironhide, Brawn and Cyclonus are heavily based off their Generation One counterparts. Red Alert and Hot Shot take after their Unicron Trilogy incarnations. Spittor and Strika are both modeled after Beast Era characters, and Blackout's design is heavily influenced by the live-action movie version.
*While lecturing Sari on taking it slow with her powers, Ratchet says that there's "more than meets the vis-scanners" on having powers, a clear reference to the time-honored Transformers tagline "[[More than Meets the Eye (disambiguation)|more than meets the eye]]".
*Arcee's open head [[:File:Spotlight Arcee cvrB.jpg|looks ''waaay'' too much]] like [[Alex Milne]]'s cover for [[IDW Publishing]]'s "[[Spotlight: Arcee]]" to be a coincidence.
*Blurr races along a Saturn-style planetary ring, as [[Blurr (G1)|his namesake]] had done in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)#Season 3|Generation 1 season 3]] [[title sequence]].
*The building in which the [[Autobot High Council]] have their meeting looks [[Metroplex (G1)|somewhat familiar]].
*Blackout seems to have retained his seismic stomp that was used by his [[Blackout (Movie)|movie counterpart]].
*Team Chaar gets its name from [[Chaar|the planet of the same name]].
*After being told by Optimus to stay behind, Sari tells Optimus that she is a Robot Hero now too.
*Ratchet says that he has been the team's medic for 4 Million Stellar-cycles.

===Real-world references===
* Megatron tells Optimus, "You have persistence, Autobot. I hate persistence." This is based on Lou Grant's well-known dialogue from the first episode of ''{{w|The Mary Tyler Moore Show}}''—"You know what, you've got spunk! … I hate spunk!"
* Sari's transformation sequence upon absorbing the power of the key is a nod to the transformation sequence of the title robot in ''{{w|Gurren Lagann}}''.
* Sari's use of a large hammer, sending it down with her buttocks in the air, references back to... about ninety billion different anime shows. Although they usually involve an upskirt of sorts that's very thankfully absent here.

===Trivia===
*[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] confirmed via Twitter after the show aired that like the [[Transform and Roll Out|series pilot]], "TransWarped" was made "as one 70-minute movie", although it was also cut into 22-minute episodes for syndication.<ref>[[Derrick J. Wyatt]] — http://twitter.com/DerrickJWyatt/status/1329673450 — "We made it as one 70 minute movie, but it has also been cut into three 22s".</ref> Unlike the pilot, however, "TransWarped" counts as three episodes out of the thirteen allotted for the show's third season. While Cartoon Network aired all three episodes in movie form for their premiere, Canadian network YTV opted to debut them in episodic form, airing only the first two in a double-bill, and then screening the final part the following week.
*Originally the first two episodes of ''Animated''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s third season were "Homecoming" and "Upgrade". When the decision came to open the season with a three-part movie, the season's original third episode, "[[Three's a Crowd]]", was pushed back, as it didn't fit with the previous episodes. The solution was to create a new episode, which became "Transwarped Part III".<ref>The AllSpark Almanac II page 177</ref>
*Two subplots were dropped when "Homecoming" became part of "Transwarped": One would have featured Bulkhead annoyed when Bumblebee was unable to accept him as a space bridge expert; the other would have had Powell unofficially promise Masterson that he would get his job back if "something" happened to the Sumdacs. After Masterson was arrested, Powell would distance himself from Masterson, rather than bail him out again.<ref>The AllSpark Almanac II page 177</ref>
* Several scenes are known to have been storyboarded for this three-parter, only to wind up being cut for time. One of these scene would have included an appearance by [[Beachcomber (Animated)|Beachcomber]], who would have died at the hands of Shockwave. At the time, Isenberg asked Wyatt for an established character he would be able to kill without anyone getting mad, and Wyatt—apparently without hesitation—put forward Beachcomber.
**As originally planned, Beachcomber would have caught Shockwave converting from his Longarm disguise and disposing of Blurr, and would have said "Dude, not cool." Shockwave, raising his weapon, would have replied "I have a very simple explanation," to which Beachcomber would have responded, "I don't get it...", before being blown to bits by the double-agent to maintain his cover.
**Though Beachcomber turned up in crowd scenes later in the season, Isenberg would make another attempt on the Autobot's life in the unproduced season four episode "[[Trial of Megatron, Part 1]]".
*Another planned scene that was cut for time was an extended flashback to the [[Battle for Iacon|final battle of the Great War]], which would have featured [[Reflector (Animated)|Reflector]], [[Straxus (Animated)|Straxus]] and the myriad [[Omega Sentinel (Animated)|Omega Sentinels]].
**While Reflector had a bio in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 26|issue #26]] of the [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club (magazine)|Transformers Collectors' Club magazine]], it would take until the publication of ''[[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]]'' over a year later before Straxus and the Sentinels would be revealed.
* The creatures that turn into rocks may be a reference to the [[Rock Lord]]s from the [[GoBots]] movie ''{{w|GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords}}''; the creatures were later canonized as such via [[Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime]] in 2015.
*Starscream gains a "sonic scream" as a head-mounted weapon in this episode. Coincidentally (or not?), in the initial [[Cartoon Network]] press release for ''Transformers Animated'', Starscream's profile claimed that he had a sonic scream he could use to send foes spinning through the air. This ability is never seen again.
*The Headmaster's appearance in this episode marks the only time a human villain is used in Season 3. And even then, he's relatively minor compared to a Decepticon-controlled Omega Supreme.
*In his last line, Shockwave seems to forget to use his American accent. Probably because he's getting worried about getting caught.
*This episode marks the first live appearance of Cybertron.

===Foreign localization===
'''Brazilian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Transdobra'''" ("Transwarp")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Transmutation'''" ("Transmutation")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''Spanish (Latin America)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Teletransportados'''" ("Teleported")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 6|6 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 1)''
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 13|13 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 2)'
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 20|20 October]] [[2009]] ''(Part 3)'''

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Sari no Himitsu'''" (Part 1, サリの秘密, "The Secret of Sari")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 2|2 October]] [[2010]]
::*For the opening pre-[[title sequence]] chatter, [[Tesshō Genda]] reprises his role as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] in order to carry on a conversation with ''Animated'' Optimus Prime.

:*''Title:'' "'''Sari, Transform!?'''" (Part 2, サリ、トランスフォーム!?)
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 9|9 October]] [[2010]]

:*''Title:'' "'''Megatron no Shōrai'''" (Part 3, メガトロンの襲来, "Megatron's Raid")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 16|16 October]] [[2010]]

==Home video releases==
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2011 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Vol. 8 ([[Paramount]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season Three ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season Three ([[Madman Entertainment]])

==References==
<references/>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transwarped}}
[[Category:Animated episodes]]

User:Slc56

2020-11-09T02:01:37Z

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Safeguard (Animated)

2020-11-07T23:41:14Z

Slc56: Undo revision 1456942 by Cyberlink420 (talk)

{{factions|autobot|eliteguard}}
{{disambig3|Safeguard}}
:''Safeguard is an [[Autobot]] [[combiner]] from the [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]] [[continuity family]].''

[[Image:Safeguardanimatedboxart.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Tide Pod power!]]

When flight schematics downloaded from [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] were infused into [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]] and [[Jetstorm (Animated)|Jetstorm]], '''Safeguard''', their "[[combiner|gestalt]] [[powerlinx|powerlink]]" form, was an unexpected result!

Though Safeguard combines the twins' bodies to further enhance their already-impressive combat capabilities, it does not appear to be a melding of their minds. Instead, both twins work in complete synchronization in this form. Unfortunately, both twins are cocky, brash showoffs who are only partially in control over their own powers... which makes Safeguard a potentially very dangerous robot to everyone around him.

Safeguard has both a robot mode and a super jet mode.

==Fiction==
===''Animated'' cartoon===
{{Idw-tfa}}
[[Image:Safeguardriseofsafeguard.jpg|left|300px|thumb|He also leaps to the right.]]
{{voiceactor|[[Tom Kenny]] and [[Phil LaMarr]] (English), [[Wataru Takagi]] and [[Kappei Yamaguchi]] (Japanese)|[[Frédéric Popovic]] and [[Vincent Violette]] (French)}}

''While fighting Starscream during a simulated mission, an angered Jetstorm and Jetfire suddenly combined into the mighty Safeguard! After dodging a blast from Starscream by dividing in two, he (they?) joined into a combined jet mode and melted the simulated Starscream into nothing. Impressed by their skills, [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] instructed them to accompany [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] and [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] in pursuing the escaped Autobot fugitive [[Wasp]] to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|First (and Second) in Flight}}''

[[Image:WhereIsThySting-obligatorymisunderstanding.jpg|right|thumb|Your Autobot symbols are in FULL VIEW! Come ''ON!'']]

Upon arrival on Earth, Jetstorm and Jetfire were sent on an aerial search of [[Detroit]], but things went bad when their power of flight caused [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] to mistake the twins for Decepticons. A fight broke out between them, during which Jetfire and Jetstorm merged into Safeguard and floored Ratchet with a flying kick. Just as Optimus Prime tackled the combined twins, Sentinel Prime and Jazz arrived to interrupt the fight and explain that Prime's opponents were actually Autobots. {{storylink|Where Is Thy Sting?}}

When Sentinel Prime was captured by [[Ramjet (Animated)|one of Starscream's clones]], the twins merged into Safeguard to save their commander. Unfortunately, the clone just used Sentinel as a shield to block their attacks, and Safeguard wound up nailing Sentinel right in the gearbox. {{storylink|Five Servos of Doom}}

[[Image:SafeguardJetMode PredaconsRising.jpg|left|240px|thumb|The toy doesn't look ''half'' this good.]]
In order to follow [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] and [[Wasp]] to [[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]], the twins combined into Safeguard's jet form and lowered a magnetic grappler with which to carry Sentinel Prime. Unfortunately for Sentinel, they kind of forgot he was there when they reached the island, and ended up dragging him through the water for a few yards. {{storylink|Predacons Rising (Animated)|Predacons Rising}} The twins would later form the combined jet mode once again to create a whirlwind in a brief fight with Decepticons in space.{{storylink|Decepticon Air}}
{{-}}

===''The Cool'' comic===
[[Image:SafeguardTheCool.jpg|thumb|right|200px| Symmetrical Docking!]]
After pursuing [[Blackout (Animated)|Blackout]] all the way to [[Earth]], Jetfire and Jetstorm finally forced him into ground-level combat in the city of [[Detroit]]. Though their small stature proved effective against the massive brute, they decided to combine into Safeguard, the Elite Guard Super Speed Warrior, anyway. Safeguard proceeded to go toe-to-toe with Blackout, creating a battleground too hazardous for the other Decepticons to remain, forcing them into retreat. {{storylink|The Cool Episode 4}}
{{-}}
===''Legends'' comic===
Together with Jazz, Safeguard attempted to apprehend [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]], only to be blasted apart into Jetfire and Jetstorm by the fleeing Decepticon. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 16|Bonus Edition Vol. 16}}

==Toys==
===''Animated''===
[[Image:Safeguardanimatedtoy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Rack'n'Ruin (G1)|Rack'n'Ruin]], eat your hearts out.]]
*'''Jetfire and Jetstorm''' (Entertainment Pack, 2008)

:''[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|Animated]]'' Safeguard is a symmetrical-style [[combiner]], one of the first instances of such in the ''Transformers'' brand (though [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] had already used the concept extensively in ''King of [[Brave (franchise)|Braves]] GaoGaiGar''). Jetfire forms his right half, while Jetstorm forms his left half.

:Safeguard is one of the few combiners who also has a separate vehicle mode from the combined parts. Unfortunately, it's just Jetstorm's and Jetfire's alt modes combined at the bottom to form a "super jet".

:He has a rather frustrating problem that his crotch won't stay assembled in gestalt form.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Autobot/Safeguard/safeguard.htm More information on Safeguard at TFU.info]''

{{-}}
[[File:TFA-JP-Jetfire-Jetstorm-Safeguard-packaging-arts.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Switch on! One! Two! Three!'']]
*'''Jetfire''' (Deluxe Class, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''TA-21'''
*'''Jetstorm''' (Deluxe Class, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''TA-22'''
*'''Elite Guard Supersonic Warrior Safeguard''' (2-pack, 2010)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''G'''

:''TakaraTomy's'' Safeguard features unchanged releases of ''Animated'' Japan's Jetfire and Jetstorm, either as individually-packed deluxes, or as a 2-pack like the Hasbro release. The 2-pack is ''slightly'' cheaper than getting two individual deluxes though.

{{-}}

==Notes==
[[Image:TFA Jetfire Jetstorm concept.jpg|right|200px|thumb|CHEEKS!]]
*Safeguard is the only combiner to appear in ''Animated''. Devastator was supposed to appear in the season 4 episode "Turf War", but the series was canned.
* Jetfire and Jetstorm's fire/wind theme has its roots in some of the earliest concepts of ''Animated''. [[Sean Galloway]], who had been commissioned to do early concept work for the series, revealed several pieces of this concept art long before the "final" [[Derrick J. Wyatt|Derrick Wyatt]]-designed characters were shown. Among these images were a pair of "fire and wind" robots who have a few features that made it into the jet-twins' final designs.
* In addition to the fire/wind theme, the twins' method of combination is seemingly an intentional homage to Hyōryū and Enryū/Chōryūjin from the final installment of Takara's ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave]] Series'', ''King of Braves GaoGaiGar''. The split two-color gridlines in the background of their combination are also evocative of the Raker brothers' combination sequence from ''Brave Exkaiser''.
* In the early stages of the toy's development, the end of the twins' combined vehicle mode was supposed to split apart and wings were supposed to slide out of the shins, so that the combined mode resembled an [[Luke Skywalker|X-wing fighter]]. However, this did not appear in the released instructions because the toy can't take the form without disconnecting the legs of Jetfire and Jetstorm.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Safeguard''' (セーフガード ''Sēfugādo'')

[[Category:Animated Autobots]]
[[Category:Combined forms]]
[[Category:Elite Guard]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]

Safeguard (Animated)

2020-11-06T04:42:27Z

Slc56: /* Notes */

Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3

2020-11-06T02:25:28Z

Slc56: /* Season 5 */

{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=68
|series2=2010
|ep2=3
|prev2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2
|next2=Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4
|image=FFOD3 Decepticons Quintesson ship.JPG
|caption=Intimidating, but they can't hit a single 'Bot.
|title="Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3"
|production code=#700-88
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|animation studio=[[AKOM]]
|airdate=[[September 17]], 1986
|written by=[[Flint Dille]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Desperate to destroy the Autobots, the Quintessons make a deal with the Decepticons.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:FFOD3 Autobots vacuum.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm Batman, and I can breathe in space."]]
Detonated by the Quintessons, the planet [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]] explodes as the Autobots flee. They escape the planet's destruction, but their ship is smashed by a chunk of debris, sending the group hurtling through space. Eventually, Ultra Magnus calculates that they will soon impact an object, but isn't sure if it's a planet or a ship. Rodimus tells him to relax and enjoy the ride.

[[File:FFOD3 Autobot shuttle boom.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Remember, Wheelie is on this ship.]]

Meanwhile, Cyclonus briefs Galvatron on the recent developments, including the creation of [[Outpost One|a space platform]] to guard [[Earth]]. Intrigued, Galvatron alters course, deciding to punish the [[human]]s for assuming that they could build something to defend themselves against him. Some of the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] are unnerved by Galvatron's behavior, but Scourge tells them to shut up.

Blurr and Wheelie, carrying Metroplex's [[transformation cog]], arrive in Earth's [[Solar System|solar system]], and spot Galvatron. They warn [[Outpost One]], but Galvatron destroys the station with ease, then turns his sights on the [[Autobot]]s. Fleeing to the planet [[Jupiter]], the Autobots are forced to abandon ship with Metroplex's cog and end up falling into the upper atmosphere. Galvatron uses his cannon to electrically charge a nearby storm cell, causing a violent and explosive reaction which disrupts the transformation cogs of both Blurr and Wheelie, and ejects them from the planet. The [[Decepticon]]s then depart for [[Chaar]]. Blaster sends warning to [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], where [[Marissa Faireborn]] of [[Earth Defense Command]] heads out on a rescue mission.

[[File:FFOD3 junk collector.JPG|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Not Springer's finest hour.]]

Meanwhile, the Quintessons are contemplating how best to celebrate the death of the [[Prime (rank)|Autobot leader]], when they learn that Rodimus has survived. They conclude that they have no choice but to make an alliance with the one group who can help them: the Decepticons.

The Autobots crash land on a bizarre planetoid named [[Goo 8739B|Goo]]. They soon discover that they can walk in the planet's gum-like surface, but cannot get out. [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] points out that even though they're stranded, it could be worse. Predictably, a giant machine arrives and begins sucking up various garbage. Springer is caught and sliced up, and Rodimus is next. Despite Arcee and Kup's pleas, Rodimus stands his ground, letting the machine pull him up; he manages to clog the blades with some of the goo, causing it to crash. [[Deliberata]] is surprised, claiming that the Autobots weren't programmed for self-sacrifice.

On Chaar, the Quintessons approach the Decepticons with an offer of [[energon]]. The battered Decepticons are at first hesitant, but once [[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] samples some energon and lives, the others dogpile on it. The Quintessons make their proposal: in return for unlimited energon, the Decepticons will destroy the Autobots for them. The Decepticons are nervous, saying that they can't take [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] in their present condition, but the Quintessons tell them that Rodimus Prime is on Goo with only a small number of Autobots to guard him. Although it's an offer the Decepticons are eager to accept, Blitzwing is suspicious of the Quintessons, finding them familiar. Motormaster decides to have a vote. The yays have it, but Blitzwing decides to remain on Chaar. The Quintessons are pleased, saying that the Decepticons will soon be theirs... again?

[[File:FFOD3 Quintessons attack.JPG|right|upright=1.1|thumb|No wonder it can't shoot straight. There isn't a single straight line on it!]]

From her ship, Faireborn detects metal fragments which were blown all the way to Jupiter's moon of [[Io]]. On the surface of the Jovian moon, Wheelie and Blurr wake up, not realizing that [[Lightpole|they aren't alone]]...

Arriving at Chaar, Galvatron is incensed when Blitzwing informs him that the Decepticons left following others, though he doesn't much care who. Galvatron vows to reclaim his rightful place as Decepticon leader.

On Goo, the Autobots are searching for a way to shut off whatever equipment is keeping the goo warm and soft, allowing them to smash their way out. Suddenly, the Quintesson ship arrives, and a fleet of Decepticons emerges, firing at the trapped Autobots.

[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|To be continued...]]

{{-}}

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] (2)
*[[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] (3)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (4)
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] (5)
*[[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] (7)
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (8)
*[[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] (13)
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]] (14)
*[[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] (15)
*[[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] (17)
*[[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] (18)
*[[Slingshot (G1)|Slingshot]] (19)
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]

|c2=
*[[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] (9)
*[[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] (10)
*[[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]] (11)
*[[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] (12)
**[[Sweep No. 4]]
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] (20)
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (21)
*[[Breakdown (G1)|Breakdown]] (22)
*[[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] (23)
*[[Dead End (G1)|Dead End]] (24)
*[[Bonecrusher (G1)|Bonecrusher]] (25)
*[[Hook (G1)|Hook]] (26)
*[[Scavenger (G1)|Scavenger]] (27)
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] (28)
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]] (29)
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]] (30)
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (31)
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] (32)
*[[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]] (33)
*[[Drag Strip (G1)|Drag Strip]] (34)
*[[Brawl (G1)|Brawl]] (35)
*[[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]] (36)
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] (37)
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]] (38)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (39)
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]] (40)
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]] (42)
*[[Mixmaster (G1)|Mixmaster]] (43)

|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (6)
*[[Marissa Faireborn]]

|c4=
*[[Deliberata]] (7)
*[[Quintesson]]s (16)
*[[Lightpole]] (41)
}}

==Quotes==
"My guidance system is hit! Galvatron, save meeeEEE!" 
"Please meet your end with dignity! I despise whiners!"
:—A '''Sweep''' is left to die by '''Galvatron'''

'''Sweep 1''': This is blowing out my audio sensors. 
'''Sweep 2''': It's torture! 
'''Galvatron''': Hahah, no, no! It's music. The symphony of destruction, and the anthem of agony!
:—Galvatron really needs to see a head doctor.

'''Cyclonus''': Bravo, Galvatron. The Autobots' destruction is assured. 
'''Galvatron''': Assured is not enough. I told you I want their heads, Cyclonus! 
''[moments later]'' 
'''Cyclonus''': Mighty Galvatron... where are the Autobots' heads?! 
'''Galvatron''': ''[whacks him]'' What does it matter? Their destruction is assured!
:—Consistency is not Galvatron's strong suit.

"How pleasant the feeling, to know the Autobots and their Matrix of Leadership have been destroyed." 
"I could watch it over and over again." 
"It is a day so long in coming that I am uncertain how to celebrate it." 
"Perhaps... a quiet chuckle." 
"Very well then. Let us... chuckle."
:—The '''Quintessons''' loved it. It was much better than ''Cats''.

[[File:FFoD3 DeadEnd eating.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|"We have not come to kill you. We have come to offer you NOMS."]]
'''Quintesson''': We have not come to kill you. We have come to offer you a proposition. 
'''Dead End''': Uh—Swindle! I think this is your department. 
'''Swindle''': First, see if we can trust 'em. Taste one of the energon cubes.
:—Send the guy named "Swindle" to negotiate. Always a good idea.

"Forget everything I told you about heroism, RUN!"
:—'''Kup''' decides to change his tune when Rodimus Prime nearly faces death by alien garbage truck.

"Well?! Where are they?" 
"You, uh... pose an interesting question, my lord."
:—'''Galvatron''' and '''Cyclonus''' wonder where the Decepticon army went.

"Mark this moment well. For when the Decepticons eliminate the Autobots, they take the first step to their own destruction as well."
:—A '''Quintesson'''

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

[[File:IHaveToGoNowMyPlanetNeedsMe.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|''Spoilers for the end of [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction]].'']]

[[Tommy Kennedy|Tommy]] and [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] meet in the barren wasteland and Optimus asks the youth if he's ready for more of the story. Boy howdy is he ever! According to Tommy, the tale was just starting to get good. Optimus laughs at his enthusiasm and continues...

After telling this portion of the story, Optimus surprises Tommy with a pop quiz on history. Tommy is disgusted by the thought of a history exam during storytime, but Optimus tells him that this history lesson involves the origin of the Transformers. And he'll learn all about it when he hears the details of [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]]'s journey into the Matrix. Tommy stumbles, saying that he actually ''loves'' history, but Optimus has to go. Blasting off, he promises to return and transform Tommy's day into an adventure. What a cool guy.

{{--}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:G1 cartoon Goo.JPG|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Rodimus refers to Springer with the nickname "Springo". It recurs only once, in [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|the next episode]].
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] mentions that the gooey substance on Goo reminds him of stuff he put under his chair in school. Although this is disgusting, it does raise a valid question: when did Spike ever have time to go to school during the first two seasons?
*Blitzwing singles himself out as the only Decepticon who recognizes the Quintessons. This tantalizing plot thread was never developed further in the cartoon. Decades later, however, [[e-HOBBY]] would use this statement, together with the army of tank mode Blitzwings seen in the Season 3 opening credits, as the inspiration for [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]].

===Animation and technical errors===
*An AKOM episode, with incorrect color models including:
**Characters with the inside of their mouths colored to match their exterior colors. Magnus has a bright red mouth in at least three different shots, with bright blue in a couple of others; Springer's is dull green; Galvatron and Cyclonus's are dark purple, Blurr's is blue, Wheelie's dark orange.
**Rodimus and Galvatron are both consistently colored using outdated color models; Rodimus's shoulder indentations are red instead of white and his pelvis-winshield details are white instead of light burgundy, while Galvatron has pale purple "underpants." Rodimus Prime's gun is back to being AKOM's red (instead of the correct black) after its one-off light blue and gray coloration last episode.
*It's an AKOM episode, so watch for Grimlock's outdated head design.
*As Galvatron exits the warp gate, the gate's energy is shown streaming out of it. The previous scene showed the energy precisely confined within the gate's boundaries; later portrayals of warp gates would remain consistent with this. It looks like the animators might have conflated a view of Galvatron's passage within the warp gate with a view of space outside it.
*As Blurr decides to try and lose Galvatron around Jupiter, his lip flap is far slower than his rate of speech. In the same scene, Wheelie's voice starts getting higher. Just wait, it'll get worse.
*The first shot of this sequence has Blurr and Wheelie standing around and staring at a blank wall for no apparent reason; there were probably supposed to be controls and view screens there.
*The establishing shot of [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]] shows some waterfalls that aren't moving at all. (That makes up for the frozen waterfall that [[The Core|spontaneously unfroze]] last season.)
*The EDC base on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] totally changes shape and size between its two establishing shots.
*When Galvatron transforms to destroy the Autobot shuttle, his arm-mounted cannon flies off of his arm and off-screen... and a new one emerges from his body to replace it in his cannon mode.
*Wheelie takes the transformation cog with him when he ejects from the shuttle, but as he and Blurr fall through the tornado, it's not in either of his hands.
*When Wheelie shoots Galvatron, his Autobot symbol is missing (there's only a red square in its place).
*Improbable viewpoints:
**The Quintessons get a tracking pan view of Rodimus and company floating through space. (Four of the five Aerialbots are missing; only Air Raid is shown.)
*The mouth of the Quintesson reporting the Autobots' trajectory turns gray instead of black for several frames.
*All five of the Aerialbots are supposed to be with Rodimus & company, but only Silverbolt and Air Raid are actually shown.
*Rodimus has his early-casting voice when he says "I don't think it's the welcome wagon".
*Silverbolt doesn't move his mouth when he says "I'll fly over and see."
*The idea is that the erupting storm blasts Wheelie and Blurr out of Jupiter's atmosphere, but the animation makes it look like they just randomly start flying that way.
*Wheelie says he can't control his transformations, but he doesn't actually transform.
*Coloring errors:
**Rodimus's lower legs are orange instead of red in the second shot of him and the others firing at the garbage scow.
**As Springer is pulled into the garbage scow, Arcee's helmet is pink on the sides when it should be all white.
**Rodimus's spoiler ridge is yellow instead of orange:
***As he leads the others to try and help Springer.
***During the whole sequence of him bringing down the garbage scow.
***When Rodimus reacts to Springer's destruction, his eyes are black instead of blue.
**As Swindle denounces the Quintessons' offer, the top of his torso is purple instead of yellow, and Drag Strip's head is yellow instead of brown.
**As Magnus reacts to Rodimus stopping the garbage scow, the underside rim of his helmet is also ''huge''. And gray instead of blue.*Springer's mouth isn't moving when he says, "Maybe I can lift us out of here."
**Cyclonus's jet windows aren't colored in as Galvatron says "Who cares?"
*Springer says "No go!" about his failure to escape from the goo before he's even activated his rotor blades.
*Springer returns to [[robot mode]] with no transformation noise.
*Not nearly enough Springer parts come out of the machine to make up the complete Springer.
[[File:Ffod3 squalor on chaar.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*"They wanna make a deal with us" is spoken in Swindle's voice, but Blitzwing is shown speaking.
*Astrotrain is missing some details on his back as he dives on the energon cube pile.
*During the same shots, Arcee's backpack is shown in front of her arms (and again, the sides of her helmet are pink), and her eyes aren't colored in.
*As Rodimus asks, "How are we gonna get out of this mess?," Magnus's eyes are only half drawn in.
*The establishing shot of Chaar is pretty clearly Goo, which we just left in the previous scene.
[[File:Combaticons bruticus.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|The Decepticons are resorting to animation errors to boost their troop numbers.]]
[[File:Aerilabotindecepticons.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Ah hah, so THAT'S why he isn't on Goo.]]
*The entire next sequence is an infamous continuity and animation FUBAR, as the Decepticons seem to teleport all over the place between shots:
**When the Decepticons react to "Destroy the Autobots", Motormaster is shown with Swindle and Drag Strip. The previous shot ("That means it probably is.") had Wildrider in that spot.
**Onslaught very clearly ''walks'' up to protest the Quintessons' proposal of attacking Cybertron. The next shot is a reaction shot of the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]], with Onslaught down on his knees, and reacting in protest to his own statement! Swindle is also on his knees behind him, even though he was shown with some Stunticons just a shot before. AKOM cheats some "expressive" motion from the Combaticons by just sliding static drawings of them around on the background. Best of all, [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]—the combined form of the five Combaticons—is standing right behind them! In addition to being where he should be ''and'' being the same size as his componetns, his legs are switched around, and his chestplate is all grey, instead of Blast Off colors.
**In the next shot of the Decepticons, Onslaught is now sitting next to Soundwave and Astrotrain, and Swindle is now behind Dead End.
**[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] is the size of [[Octane]] and [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]].
**The first shot of Blitzwing ("They lie!") shows him behind Rumble and Octane, but when we switch to a view from behind him, he's alone.
**In the wide shot as Dead End agrees with the plan, the Autobot [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] is shown sitting with the Decepticons. Same shot: Drag Strip's head is yellow again. Amazingly, this shot actually consistently keeps Blitzwing behind Octane and Rumble. Dead End, Soundwave and Onslaught are also still together, but Astrotrain has vanished from between them, and Rumble is in the space behind Dead End where Swindle should be.
**Yeah. It's bad, even for [[AKOM]].
*When the Quintessons say they must act quickly, one Quintesson is missing the lower half of his face and another is missing altogether, with just a telltale beam of energy where he should be.
*Only three Sweeps arrive on Chaar. The number following Galvatron up to now has been five to six. The Sweep in the rear has gray legs and gray back details, even though his siblings on either side are colored correctly. Subsequent shots show several additional Sweeps.
*Shots of Galvatron and his men flying over Chaar have Sweeps colored quite creatively:
**"We have fallen upon hard times": a Dirge-colored Sweep
**Panning shot: Swindle, Soundwave, and Dirge-colored Sweeps
**"Soon I shall raise the Decepticons": Bombshell, Grimlock, and maybe others.
*The ordering of the reused backgrounds during Galvatron's "soon I shall raise the Decepticons" line makes it appear that they are flying backwards.
*The top of Blitzwing's head is purple instead of yellow as he struggles to remember the Quintessons' name.
*Wheelie and Blurr have switched positions from where they crashed; Wheelie was on Blurr's left, but now he's on Blurr's right.
*As he and Blurr awake on Io, Wheelie doesn't have his usual voice. The strained, high-pitched, whiny substitute used instead makes his usual voice sound like sweet music.
[[File:Lightpole close up.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*The animation of the [[lightpole]]s seems to portray them as giant walking beasts (and ''definitely'' portrays them as glowing and dripping acid from their fangs), with deep-throated snarls and growls. Nothing wrong so far, but next episode they'll be a swarm of tiny, non-glowing, non-acid-dripping, flying, high-pitched-squeaking creatures. Whether the animators misinterpreted the writer's directions in this episode, or the writer himself changed his mind between installments, remains unclear.
*Wheelie's final lines lack the usual processing (which was already not up to snuff in this episode.)
*Right in the middle of the discussion about how to shut off the inescapable goo... Rodimus just walks right out of it!
*Only Air Raid is shown during the final sequence on Goo; the other four Aerialbots are missing (again!)
*Rodimus says "What was that?" in reaction to laser fire that hasn't happened yet.
[[File:Shockwave5Faces.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|My coloring scheme is illogical.]]
*Another infamous cluster follows as the Decepticons pour out of the Quintesson ship and fire on the Autobots:
**The first shot features a light gray [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] with a Blurr-like head bobber (maybe someone at AKOM was reading "[[Decepticon Patrol]]"?) and Shockwave colored like Long Haul.
**The second shot features a clearer shot of Shock Haul, as well as [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]], who was reformatted into a Sweep during the Movie. Behind them, Dirge is missing his wings.
**If that doesn't seem so bad, wait until the same sequence continues next time!
*Although both the [[Kid Rhino]] and [[Shout! Factory]] versions of this episode contain the correct unique opening titles for the story (one of only two parts of "Five Faces of Darkness" on DVD that do), the Shout! version incorrectly uses the soundtrack to the standard season three opening as now found on the broadcast masters to all five parts.

===Continuity errors===
*The Autobot ship which looks exactly like Broadside is destroyed in the explosion of Quintessa. Broadside himself shows up alive and well later in the series, so... apparently that wasn't Broadside.
*The Aerialbots are clearly capable of at least limited space flight, as seen both in the previous episode, and the later episode "[[Fight or Flee (episode)|Fight or Flee]]". It therefore seems a bit silly for them to be tumbling helplessly through space.
*Spike is in his civilian clothes when he boards the Autobot ship. When it's destroyed a few seconds later, he's got on a space suit. Even if that ''was'' the first thing he did the instant he set foot on the ship, it sure doesn't look like he'd have ''time'' to change into it.
*The animation shows Marissa pushing a button and saying "On my way!" The next shot shows her ship rocketing off of its launching rail. The net effect is that she seems to have just been sitting there in this angled ship, waiting around for a mission.
*Rodimus is shown standing outside the garbage scow after he brings it down. Considering it came down right on top of him, he should really be ''inside'' it. (Or under it.)
*Kup says to Rodimus, "I've seen a lotta brave Autobots do a lotta brave things in my time, but nothing like that." With all Kup's experience, it's a little hard to swallow that that's the ''bravest'' thing he has ever witnessed.

===ERRORS. OF. ''SCIENCE!''===
[[File:FFoD3 Sullivan.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
*Cyclonus's first line is muffled as if he were communicating by radio to Galvatron. ''Technically'', that's actually correct, since they're in the soundless vacuum of space and should be communicating by radio. But it's inconsistent with every other portrayal of Transformers communicating in space, including the rest of this very scene. Anyway, wouldn't super-advanced space robots have hi-fi communicators that wouldn't sound like walkie-talkies?
*[[Sullivan (G1)|Trooper Sullivan]] is shown radioing [[Earth Defense Command]] with a hand-held radio as he's floating through space. The "mouth plate" of his helmet even moves as he does so. Unlike the super-advanced space robots, he does not get a "really talking by radio" pass for this.
*Jupiter's ring appears to be composed of scrap metal (instead of ice.) The planet itself is shown as a dusky orange instead of the banded red, white, brown and tan of the actual planet.
*The Autobot shuttle loops around a gray, homogeneous moon of Jupiter. It's not clear that this ''has'' to be [[Io]], but if it is, it's all wrong. The real moon is orange and red, with black and white splotches, and looks like a pizza. Later, when Wheelie and Blurr are ejected from Jupiter's atmosphere, a distant Io (for sure this time!) is shown looking a lot like post-Movie Cybertron, silvery with spikey buildings poking out into space.
*During the establishing zoom-in toward [[Earth]], two planet-like objects are in the foreground, in close proximity to the other. The smaller one is the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], but there's no real-world body that could be the other one. The reddish color may mean it's supposed to be [[Mars (planet)|Mars]] (which comes into play in the following scene), but it's waaaaay too close to the Moon for that.
*Wow. Who knew that storms on Jupiter were so... ''flammable''?
*There probably isn't life on Io.

===Trivia===
*The sequence on Goo is the inspiration for the last portion of the ''Five Faces of Darkness'' custom [[title sequence]], though in a clever spoiler-avoiding twist, Springer actually ''does'' get free from the goo in the title animation.
*In a outwardly bizarre sequence, when the Autobots land on Goo, Deliberata appears only as his Face of Death, which is plucked out of the goo and dropped back in by Kup, as if the face had somehow ''fallen off'' the Quintesson's body, before reappearing intact later in the episode. As with a few other beats in "Five Faces of Darkness", this doesn't appear to have been a totally random error, but rather, was likely based on the depiction of the Quintessons in an early draft of ''The Transformers: The Movie''. That draft presented them as bipedal creatures with detachable heads, so this scene of a detached face appears to have been a futzed attempt to transfer that concept over the finalized Quintesson design.

===Foreign localization===

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die fünf Gesichter der Finsternis, Teil 3'''" ("The five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''I cinque volti del male, Parte 3'''" (First dub, "The Five Faces of Evil, Part 3"), "'''Le cinque facce dell'oscurità, Parte 3'''" (Second dub, "The Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wakusei Goo no Wana'''" (惑星ゴーの罠, "The Trap on Planet Goo")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 28]], [[1986]]

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Wǔmiànguài (3)'''" (五面怪 (三), "Five-Faced Monsters (3)")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness ([[Family Home Entertainment]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1990 — ''The Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness (Family Home Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1999 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers: 2010'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Five Faces of Darkness: Parts 1-5 ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1 ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Season 3 Part 1: Vol. 1 (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 3 and Season 4 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 4: Series 3.1 ([[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 UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season's Three & Four {{sic}} (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2010 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Seasons Three & Four: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==External links==
*[http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-3/synopses/700-88.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=14yAI8vAKpklLto_L6gUtfMwldU6vsAHw Episode dialogue script]

[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]