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File:Tim Curry LoadedWeapon1.jpg

2026-04-19T04:35:35Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

Actor [[Tim Curry]] in his role as "Jigsaw" in the film ''National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1''.

{{C}} 1993 {{w|New Line Cinema|New Line Productions, Inc.}}

{{screencap|source=''National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1''|owner=New Line Productions, Inc.}}
[[Category:Actor images]]

Swerve (G1)

2026-04-08T18:38:18Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Age of the Primes */

{{factions|autobot}}
{{disambig3|Swerve}}
:''Swerve is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]]. He is sometimes known as "Shut the Hell Up".''
[[File:Swerve.toy.boxart.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Comes with ''[[My First Blaster]]''™ accessory!]]
Gregarious would be a good word to describe '''Swerve'''. So would outgoing, enthusiastic, upbeat, joyfully irreverent, flippant, sarcastic, wise ass, troll, or "total pain in the aft", depending on which side of his weapons-grade mouth you happen to fall on and how long you've been listening to him use it. Swerve has a sense of fun and even whimsy that stands out from your run of the mill Autobots fairly dramatically, but this constant running commentary stems at least partially from Swerve's low self-esteem, a coping mechanism that helps to cover up some of his own insecurities. The little fellow may get on their nerves... he'll ''probably'' get on their nerves... but it'll always be with a smile, a laugh, and an epic level quip, making him a good [[Swerve's|bartender]].

He is, however, also a menace to everyone within range of a gun in his hand—including himself—given his legendarily bad aim, as well as to anyone driving nearby because he's ''so'' easily distracted by just about anything that catches his attention. Despite this, he's quite intelligent and skilled as a metallurgist, analysing the properties of a material with unique sensors in his hands. When he gets caught up in a problem, he becomes almost laser-like in focus and intensity, going on quest after quest, both major and [[Thumb Quest|minor]]. Unfortunately, this generally leaves him just as distracted from any other tasks at hand and just as accident-prone as ever. He's almost always in need of some repairs, major or minor, because of it.

Now if only [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Prime]] could get him to not get easily distracted when receiving his orders too...

{{bigquote|People ''don't'' like me—they just laugh at my jokes. There's a difference.|Swerve|"[[Cybertronian Homesick Blues]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
[[File:FFOD Part5 Swerve.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Now we know why he refuses to play in the sand.]]
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Minoru Inaba]] (Japanese)}}
Swerve participated in the defense of the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] in [[2006]], but was trod upon by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}} Later, after the [[Quintesson]] scientist [[Inquirata (G1)|Inquirata]] attempted to change history by removing the Autobot resistance leader known as [[Alpha Trion|A-3]] from the past, a race Swerve was participating in repeated itself in an endless loop due to the ripples in the timestream. {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}
{{--}}

====Japanese cartoon continuity====
=====''Legends'' comic=====
[[File:Transformers Legends LG08 Tailgate and Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|]]
In [[2015]], Tailgate and Swerve fought [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] in a battle that went poorly, with Tailgate being easily kicked aside and Swerve stomped into the ground. As he was being dug up by Tailgate, the two Minibots were questioned by the [[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]] of [[Legends World|another universe]] as to why they'd even taken on such a huge enemy. Swerve responded that size had nothing to do with it, claiming that as long as you've got guts and smarts, you can win against anyone. He and Tailgate then introduced Rattrap to their Mini-Con allies, [[Phaser (G1)|Phaser]] and [[Groundshaker (Legends)|Groundshaker]], explaining that even though they were tiny, they were still valuable allies. {{storylink|LG08 Swerve & Tailgate}}

Rattrap then asked Swerve about why he barely appeared in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]] and why his name [[#Foreign names|wasn't Werve anymore]], to which he grinned and responded that stuff like attention and names weren't important to him: as long as he got his work done, he didn't care about being noticed or what people called him. Rattrap swooned at how cool his answers were. When Swerve shrugged aside a similar question about his marksmanship, however, claiming it wasn't important if he hit or not, Phaser protested. The Mini-Con then displayed the usefulness of his [[My First Blaster]] mode by having Swerve attack Trypticon with it, but unfortunately his helpful advice on where to aim only served to let the Decepticon dodge their blasts anyway. {{storylink|2015's Swerve}} Eventually, Swerve and Tailgate successfully defeated Trypticon {{storylink|LG-43 Trypticon Project Chapter}} by exploiting a weak spot they discovered on the sole of his foot.

Given Swerve's achievement, [[Alpha Trion]] brought him to the Legends World to help defeat a revived Trypticon. Swerve put on a bomb belt and let himself get trampled by Trypticon once more, at which point he detonated the explosives right on the weak spot, stunning Trypticon and allowing [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]] to defeat him. He survived the explosion unscathed by again ending up stomped into the ground. {{storylink|LG43 Trypticon}}

=====Train Wars=====
Swerve was present on Cybertron after the various [[Trainbot]]s and inter-dimensional warriors defeated [[The Fallen]]. {{storylink|Train Wars 2}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' comic====
[[File:4WheeldriveBrigade1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Swerve appeared on Earth as a member of the [[Four-Wheel Drive Corps]]. Led by [[Hound (G1)|Hound]], the Corps confronted the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticons]] out in the desert, only to be caught in an explosive mine trap and fall into a pit. Working together, Swerve and the others combined their Scramble Power and worked their way free of the pit. A concentrated Scrumbuster attack drove off the Decepticons, and the Autobots won the day. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 3|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #3}}

===Ladybird Books continuity===
Swerve helped with the assembly of a special radio transmitter to interfere with Decepticon surveillance space stations. {{storylink|Galvatron's Air Attack}}
{{--}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
[[File:BlackSunshine Autobot training failures.jpg|left|thumb]]
Swerve was on Cybertron observing the anti-Prime propaganda that [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] pumped through the data-net after retrieving the Ark's crew from [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Cold War (issue)|Cold War}} Later, he was among the group of new recruits seen failing to take on the [[auto-combatant]] training drones on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] after Shockwave's rule was toppled. {{storylink|Black Sunshine}}
{{--}}

===2005 IDW continuity===
{{first|[[Stormbringer issue 1|''Stormbringer'' #1]]}}

[[File:Swerve blurr cybertronian homesick blues.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|It's actually [[Joe Kyde]]'s number.]]

'''Swerve of [[Helex (polity)|Helex]]'''<ref>[https://www.idwpublishing.com/product/transformers-more-than-meets-the-eye-42/ ''The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye'' #42 solicitation]</ref> was [[Reproduction#2005 IDW continuity|forged]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} and a practicing "Adaptican" who worshipped [[Adaptus]] of the [[Guiding Hand]]. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} While Swerve was a trained metallurgist, his ''real'' dream was to open his own bar; in the years before the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]], he received an autograph from his favorite athlete [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], who mentioned that he'd wanted to run a bar as well after retiring from racing. Swerve thought Blurr might want to run it with ''him'', but Blurr escaped by giving Swerve a fake phone number. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Forever after, Swerve insisted that he and Blurr had a plan to run a bar after the war. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}}

When war broke out, Swerve joined the Autobots. At the academy, he received the unflattering nickname "Shut the Hell Up."<ref>''More than Meets the Eye'' roll call</ref> During one early battle, Swerve was in [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], and helped guard the civilian population. {{storylink|Primacy issue 4|Primacy #4}} Throughout the war, Swerve had multiple adventures, which he called "quests"—these included a "[[Titan (group)|Titan]] Quest", a "[[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]] Quest", a "[[Prime (rank)|Prime]] Quest", and a legendarily awful "[[Thumb Quest]]". {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}} Swerve's last quest before the end of the war would be the "Moon Quest", in which he and [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Hot Rod]] unsuccessfully searched for [[Moonbase One|Luna One]]. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations}} Five hundred years ago, the Decepticon scientist [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]] contacted multiple scientists from both factions to discuss Cybertron's dwindling energy reserves. Swerve, like the rest, disregarded his warnings. {{storylink|Stormbringer issue 1|Stormbringer #1}}

After the fall of Cybertron, Swerve was stationed at the [[Kimia Facility]]. He was a fan of the ''[[Wreckers: Declassified]]'' datalogs, although he thought [[Fisitron (G1)|Fisitron]] was a bit of a hagiographer {{storylink|Bullets}}, and was unaware that "Fisitron" was really a pseudonym for his colleague [[Ironfist (G1)|Ironfist]]. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} While away from Kimia, Swerve encountered the [[Decepticon Justice Division]] members [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]] and [[Dominus Ambus|Vos]] force-feeding a [[Genericon]] his own innards. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} While trying to get away, Vos shot him in the shoulder; unbeknownst to Swerve, "Vos" was in reality the undercover Autobot [[Dominus Ambus]], who communicated with his handlers by firing data slugs in the right eye of the [[Autobot]] insignia. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} The experience left him speechless for six months. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Unaware that he'd been shot with a solid bullet, Swerve didn't get his injury properly treated, and the hastily patched wound bothered him for centuries. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:LiarsAtoD1-SwerveRedAlert.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|Questquestquestquestquestquestquest.]]

Swerve was present when [[Cyclonus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Cyclonus]] and the [[Sweep (G1)|Sweep]]s invaded Kimia. {{storylink|Chaos Part One: Lamentations|Lamentations}} He survived the massacre by piling into an escape pod with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Brainstorm (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Brainstorm]]. When [[Arcee (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Arcee]] came to rescue them, everyone reminded the motor-mouthed Swerve not to say something tactless that might set her off. {{storylink|Chaos Part Three: Kings|Kings}} Swerve listened with the others to [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]] and Arcee's explanation of the situation with [[Galvatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Galvatron]], the [[Darkness (G1)|Heart of Darkness]] and [[D-Void]], although his immediate understanding of the complex scenario clashed with his naïve optimism at the prospect of saving the universe. However, once they arrived in Cybertron's atmosphere, Arcee ordered the shuttle to fly directly at the planet's surface and Swerve was among the first to bail. {{storylink|Chaos Part Four: Genesis|Genesis}}

Following the end of the war and the revitalization of Cybertron, Swerve chose to accompany [[Hot Rod (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rodimus]] on his search for the [[Knights of Cybertron]]—an adventure he immediately dubbed the "Knight Quest". [[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]] reluctantly allowed Swerve to board the ''[[Lost Light]]'' if he'd stop talking. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 1: How to Say Goodbye and Mean It|How to Say Goodbye and Mean It}} He was in the medibay when [[Tailgate (G1)|Tailgate]] recovered consciousness, and got to be the one who broke the news that Tailgate had been trapped underground for six million years and missed the entire war. He and Tailgate went out for some fresh air and, along with [[Chromedome (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Chromedome]] and [[Rewind (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Rewind]], encountered [[Skids (G1)|Skids]] and watched him fight the [[Legislator]]s. Skids wasn't keen on Swerve's suggestion they should team up. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 2: Hangers On|Hangers On}}

[[File:Swerves bar life after the big bang.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Sometimes you've got to go where everybody knows your name.]]

During the incident with the [[Sparkeater (creature)|Sparkeater]], Swerve and Skids stumbled on an abandoned canteen, which reminded Swerve of his earlier plans to run a bar. {{storylink|Liars, A to D Part 3: The Chaos of Warm Things|The Chaos of Warm Things}} To celebrate the Sparkeater's demise, Swerve refurbished the facility and dubbed it "[[Swerve's]]"—although he hid its existence from the uptight [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ultra Magnus]]. As a subscriber to Fisitron's ''Wreckers: Declassified'', he received a strange new datalog and discussed it with [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]], prompting the latter's trip to [[Delphi]]. {{storylink|Life After the Big Bang}} Shortly after that, Swerve saw [[Ambulon]] talking with First Aid, and curious about his [[alternate mode]], threw a ball at his [[neural cluster]] and triggered an involuntary transformation. Ever the understanding sort, Swerve proceeded to make bad puns about his leg mode. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}}

Swerve attended a celebration following the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s collision with a discarded thumb from Metroplex and its subsequent repair. There, he cheered when Highbrow, Chromedome, and Brainstorm were awarded a [[Rodimus Star]] for their part in saving the ship. He was at some point put on "sponsored silence," in return for a coveted Rodimus Star of his own if he followed through with it. Swerve found that remaining silent was exceedingly difficult for him, and so contacted Trailcutter, asking him to project a forcefield into his mouth to seal off his vocal synthesizer. Trailcutter refused. Swerve was then frozen in place, along with nearly everyone else aboard the ''Lost Light'', when one of Brainstorm's experimental weapons accidentally went off. When he eventually recovered, he was awarded a Rodimus Star after all, though it was "for exceptional endurance in the face of adversity." {{storylink|The Reluctant Specialist}}

Swerve accompanied [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] and [[Perceptor (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Perceptor]] on a mission to scrounge [[energon]] from a deserted Decepticon outpost but their pilot, [[Sunstreaker (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Sunstreaker]], was distracted by his own reflection in the radar screen and crashed their shuttle into a planet. With the ship upside down and Perceptor half-melted into the ceiling Swerve kept up his usual banter as they found themselves under attack by [[Tarn (G1)|Tarn]], which happened to be one of his worst fears. With the shuttle cloaked, Swerve passed the time by teasing Sunstreaker and talking about his other worst fears—[[Megatron (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Megatron]], [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]], [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]], [[Shockwave (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Shockwave]], and [[Overmegasixwave|some nightmare combination of all four]]. However, it was soon revealed that this bluster was merely an attempt to disguise the fact that his [[spark]] casing had cracked during the crash; without immediate medical attention, he would die. Hoist and Sunstreaker left him to take the fight to Tarn but the [[Decepticon Justice Division|D.J.D.]] leader quickly took down Sunstreaker and Hoist found himself under attack by Megatron, Overlord, Sixshot, and Shockwave—who then combined before disappearing at the same time Swerve fell unconscious. After Perceptor deduced that the planet was protected by a [[phobia shield]], Hoist managed to defeat it by rendering Perceptor and Bob unconscious and facing his own worst fear—being alone. {{storylink|The Waiting Game}}

[[File:Swerve Interiors arrested.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66]]

Swerve recovered from the experience and eventually returned to waiting tables. However, when Ultra Magnus finally found out about his bar, he led Swerve away in handcuffs and assigned him to punishment detail with Rewind, replacing rivets on the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s hull. However, their vantage point gave them an advantage when [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] instigated a hostage crisis. While Rewind distracted Maximus with a recording of [[Garrus-9]], Swerve fired his rivet gun through the window, but his poor aim blew Rung's head off instead of merely wounding Maximus as he'd hoped. {{storylink|Interiors}} Though Rung survived, Swerve was horrified to learn that his actions had left the psychiatrist in a coma. He visited Rung with Skids, and left one of Rung's model ships at his bedside. {{storylink|Rules of Disengagement (issue)|Rules of Disengagement}} At one point, he sat and talked to Rung for 147 hours straight, until the patient finally moved for the first time since the shooting... to make a "shush" gesture. {{storylink|Signal to Noise}}

Swerve intended to attend Tailgate's [[Act of Affiliation]] ceremony but got sidetracked when he discovered [[Ore]], who'd been involved in a [[quantum generator]] accident, had been recently revived. He was assigned by Rodimus to distract the blinded Ore from realizing what had happened to him, which would cause the engine he was stuck on to activate and quantum jump the whole ship. Swerve began a conversation with Ore under the false identity of [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]], since the [[Duobot]] had been chatting with Pipes before the incident.

[[File:Mtmte10-p17-swerve-wholeotherstory.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4|Swerve vs. Swindle in a fingergun fight to the death!]]

Swerve used the conversation as an excuse to (surreptitiously) discuss the guilt he was experiencing after shooting Rung, his inability to disobey Rodimus for fear of losing his bar, as well as the confusion he was undergoing about the difference between peace and happiness. Ore allowed Swerve to realize that his ability to regret his actions made him a decent person, and Swerve considered whether or not he really wanted the reputation he'd earned. Moments later, Swerve was contacted by Rodimus to tell Ore the truth about what happened, as his death or mental breakdown would jump them away from the aggressive [[Galactic Council]]. Swerve responded by saying he would rather save Ore than hurt him, orders or no. Fortunately, the nearby [[Metrotitan (G1)|Metrotitan]] quantum-jumped the ship and teleported Ore away as an extra convenience. {{storylink|Primus: You, Me, and Other Revelations|You, Me, and Other Revelations}}

[[File:CybertronianHomesickBlues-holomatterswerve.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|''Voice actor:'' Rich Evans (English)]]

A few days later, Swerve joined a few other Autobots to watch "[[Proteus's Promise]]" in Rewind's hab-suite. {{storylink| Scavengers (Part 2): Who's Afraid of the DJD?|Who's Afraid of the DJD?}} Swerve and Rewind arranged a series of storytelling sessions in the bar to try and help Rung's mental recovery. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}} They made little progress and eventually had a third session with Chromedome, [[Drift (G1)|Drift]], Ratchet, Whirl, and others. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 1: Post Hoc|Post Hoc}} Swerve was unable to stop himself occasionally interjecting into the story. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} Unable to get into his own quarters to fetch refreshments, Swerve raided [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]]'s stash of [[Nightmare Fuel]]. Following the story, the shipwide alarm sounded and Swerve speculated that someone had trodden dirt into Ultra Magnus's office. {{storylink|Shadowplay (Conclusion): An Intimate Beheading|An Intimate Beheading}}

The alarm turned out to be a call to take part in a mission to [[Temptoria]] to find the [[Circle of Light]]. Swerve kept himself calm during the trip in the ''[[Leading Light]]'' by using Rungian re-experience therapy, and took part in the battle against a Decepticon holdout on Temptoria until his gun ran out of ammunition. Whirl threw him the enormous "[[Shoomer]]", and as he struggled to lift the weapon he wound up accidentally shooting himself in the face. Despite the damage, he survived and was taken back to the ''Lost Light''. {{storylink|Before & After}}

While on shore leave on the planet [[Hedonia]], Rodimus told Swerve to bring Ultra Magnus along and help him relax. However, when Magnus began hitting the [[Nucleon (substance)|nucleon]] and passed out, Swerve was left to provide a shoulder for the drunken Magnus to cry on. He tried to buck the enforcer up, reassuring him that people did like him; when Magnus fell unconscious again, Swerve quietly admitted that people didn't like ''him'' either, just his jokes. After an intense effort, Swerve and the gang got Ultra Magnus back to the ''Lost Light''—after deciding that this particular "quest" was in his top three, he used a prototype broadcast system to call Blurr and tell him all about it, and refused to admit that the number was a fake. Sensing a new relationship with Magnus, Swerve asked him (next in a long line) if he'd like to share his room: Magnus, like everyone else, turned it down. {{storylink|Cybertronian Homesick Blues}}

Swerve and Tailgate bet 100 [[shanix]] that each would be the first to discover what Rung transformed into without asking him directly. Swerve's initial attempts involved striking the psychiatrist in the [[neural cluster]] to induce an involuntary transformation, but he was unsuccessful. He then tried to bribe Rung by getting him [[Thunder Clash|Thunderclash]]'s autograph, but soon found themselves in the middle of a hostage situation as the Autobot [[Paddox]] revealed he was actually a deep-cover group of [[Ammonite]]s and demanded the ''Lost Light's'' quantum engines in exchange for Thunderclash's life. Swerve bemoaned the fact that they were unarmed, but Rung responded that wasn't necessarily the case—Swerve ultimately wound up using Rung's unusual alternate mode as a weapon and knocked "Paddox" back into his component robots. {{storylink|Little Victories}}

[[File:MtMtE15-MetaBomb.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

Swerve accompanied Rewind to Brainstorm's laboratory in the hopes of finding Chromedome. While the other two Autobots talked, Swerve began playing with one of Brainstorm's inventions and accidentally triggered a "[[metafictional bomb]]" that caused Swerve to act like a character in a comic book. Just then, a ship wide alarm sounded—the notorious [[Decepticon]] Overlord had appeared on the ship and begun a rampage! Swerve wound up sitting by an injured Drift; still under the influence of the meta bomb, he began a detached monologue about their dire situation. {{storylink|Under Cold Blue Stars}} After Rewind sacrificed himself to kill Overlord, Swerve and Tailgate visited the ship's medbay as Ratchet tried to save the mortally wounded Ultra Magnus. Swerve played ''[[The Empyrean Suite]]'', one of Magnus's favorite tunes, but Ratchet reminded him that his comatose patient couldn't hear the music.Shortly afterwards, at the memorial service for those killed during Overlord's rampage, Swerve decided to begin a "quest" to learn the contents of Brainstorm's briefcase to take his mind off the recent tragedies. {{storylink|The Gloaming}} Swerve succeeded in opening the briefcase; unbeknownst to Swerve, however, the reiterative nature of Brainstorm's time machine had a unique effect on his systems that allowed him to perpetually loop holomatter energy through his systems again and again. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:MyFirstBlaster DirectHit.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mOdroOjLWM "Da-da-da-da dum-dum da-da-da!'']]]

After the service, Ultra Magnus spontaneously revived and fled the ship aboard a shuttlecraft. A they pursued the ship, the ''Lost Light'' arrived at a vast portal hanging in space—Swerve enthused wildly about this latest development to Tailgate, ignorant that the Autobot-in-training had just been diagnosed with a fatal case of [[cybercrosis]]. Through the portal, the ship found the long lost [[Moonbase One|Luna 1]]; despite his enthusiasm, Rodimus forbade Swerve from joining the landing party, as he'd done nothing useful with his metallurgical skills the past few months beside running his bar. A forlorn Swerve decided to shut down the bar for good... moments before the first [[Legislator]] attacked his bar. {{storylink|Remain in Light 1 of 5: The Fecund Moon|The Fecund Moon}}

The mechanoid promptly shredded the room to bits, but Swerve was able to get behind the bar and trigger Brainstorm's automated security protocol. Despite taking fire from scores of automated turrets, the Legislator remained standing, so the bartender went for another gift from Brainstorm, ''[[My First Blaster]]''™. Despite his infamously poor marksmanship, the chunky weapon allowed Swerve to put a hole through his assailant and kill it. Swerve rushed to the oil reservoir just in time to find his friend Skids, before [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] teleported in behind him and ran Skids through. Swerve frantically opened fire, but missed every shot and was knocked unconscious. {{storylink|Remain in Light 2 of 5: House of Ambus|House of Ambus}}

The two Autobots were teleported into a cell on Luna 1 where they found the other captured members of the ''Lost Light''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s landing party and [[Getaway]], {{storylink|Remain in Light 3 of 5: The Divided Self|The Divided Self}} who explained that the insane [[Chief Justice]] [[Solomus|Tyrest]] was behind their imprisonment. After escaping, the group rushed to confront Tyrest, only for the mad lawman to incapacitate the Autobots and activate his [[universal killswitch]]. {{storylink|Remain in Light 4 of 5: Arm the Lonely|Arm the Lonely}} Swerve finally got to put his metallurgy skills to good use when he and his team raided [[Pharma (G1)|Pharma]]'s medbay, where he helped discover a cure for cybercrosis and save Tailgate's life. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}} Swerve was still congratulating himself when he was approached by Brainstorm, who suspected that someone had opened his briefcase. {{storylink|The Sound of Breaking Glass}}

[[File:NoGunsNoSwordsNoBriefcases-Swerve.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66]]

After returning to the ''Lost Light'', Swerve began cleaning up his bar, only to find several crewmembers promising to help clean up if he'd re-open it. At Swerve's suggestion, [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]] found a damaged Legislator; Swerve rebuilt it, hacked its "bruised brain", and put the newly christened "[[Ten]]" to work as a doorman. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}} After the ''Lost Light'' left Luna 1, Swerve held a grand reopening of his bar. {{storylink|Remain in Light 5 of 5: This Calamitous Life|This Calamitous Life}}

While on their way to make contact with Thunderclash, the ''Lost Light'' received a dire warning from Orion Pax regarding the destruction of [[Gorlam Prime]]. Demonstrating a keen awareness of the severity of the situation, Swerve turned the warning into the ringtone for his comm unit. {{storylink|Dark Dawn: Dark Cybertron Chapter 1|Dark Dawn}} After they rescued Pax and his crew, Swerve held a welcoming celebration at his bar. As Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, and "Optimus Prime" shared a drink together at his bar, Swerve couldn't contain himself and started taking pictures for the wall until they shooed him away. {{storylink|Black Metal: Dark Cybertron Chapter 2|Black Metal}}

[[File:TheDeadAreNotEnough-Swerve.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

The ''Lost Light'' quantum jumped to the planet [[Hydrophena]] in search of [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]], but were attacked by thousands of Ammonites. Swerve joined the crew in taking the fight to the [[Stentarian]] army hand-to-hand while Ultra Magnus, Ratchet, and several others went for Metroplex himself. {{storylink|Into the Abyss: Dark Cybertron Chapter 4|Into the Abyss}} During the battle, Swerve saved famous [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]], and protested that he was one of the "main cast" when Crosscut admitted he didn't know who he was. Inside Metroplex, Swerve's comrades located traces of [[admium]] in the water running through the Titan, and contacted him for his metallurgic expertise. Swerve warned that Metroplex might have contracted an [[alchemical virus]] and told them to retreat as the Ammonite horde swarmed into Metroplex's cranium. {{storylink|The Dead Are Not Enough: Dark Cybertron Chapter 7|The Dead Are Not Enough}} Swerve and the crew got back aboard the ''Lost Light'' before Metroplex linked with the ship and triggered his internal [[space bridge|spacebridge]], bringing them back to Cybertron in time for Metroplex to defeat the [[Necrotitan]]. {{storylink|Finis Temporis: Dark Cybertron Chapter 9|Finis Temporis}}

After the dark Titan fell, Swerve opened up Swerve's for Autobot and Decepticon alike to relax in. His innermost energon nearly boiled over, though, when a dream came true: Blurr. ''In his bar.'' Swerve played it as cool as he could, meaning he left Blurr feeling unnerved and very annoyed at "that three-fingered guy". {{storylink|The Becoming: Dark Cybertron Chapter 10|The Becoming}} As the Ammonites returned to invade Cybertron by the billions, Swerve held the ground with the other Cybertronians. {{storylink|Black Planet: Dark Cybertron Chapter 11|Black Planet}} They kept the planet from falling until the leadership of the Autobots and Decepticons succeeded in stopping Shockwave's mad schemes. {{storylink|...And the Damage Done: Dark Cybertron Finale|...And the Damage Done}}

As the ''Lost Light'' prepared to leave Cybertron for the second time, Swerve, [[Crosscut (G1)|Crosscut]], and [[Riptide (G1)|Riptide]] hosted a series of "crewditions", during which he rejected [[Groove (G1)|Groove]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], and [[Nautica (G1)|Nautica]] for spurious reasons before [[Nightbeat (G1)|Nightbeat]] revealed the whole exercise to be one of Swerve's elaborate pranks. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 1: Towards Peace|Towards Peace}} While showing the some of the new crew around, he and Bluestreak had a chat about Earth culture. {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} Once the mission was once again underway, Swerve chafed under its new co-captain, Megatron. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 2: Words Hang in the Air|Words Hang in the Air}}

[[File:PREVIOUSLY, ON SWERVE.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|"Hey folks, did you know if you act all wacky and tell jokes, it doesn't make the pain inside go away but does mean everyone assumes you're happy? It's true!"]]

When things aboard the ''Lost Light''—and ultimately the ship itself—started to disappear, Swerve abandoned the ship along with the rest of the crew. {{storylink|World, Shut Your Mouth Part 3: Predestination: A Beginner's Guide|Predestination: A Beginner's Guide}} While trying to make sense of the situation aboard the [[Rodpod]] along with Megatron and a collection of other Autobots, Swerve himself then vanished. {{storylink|Twenty Plus One}} The remaining Autobots discovered a quantum duplicate ''Lost Light'' on which all aboard had been slaughtered by the Decepticon Justice Division. The duplicate Swerve had his skull crushed by Tarn himself. {{storylink|slaughterhouse}} When the duplicate ship's quantum engines were shut down, it disappeared and the other ship and crew reappeared, Swerve included. {{storylink|slaughterhouse Part 2: The Road Not Taken|The Road Not Taken}}

During the second leg of their voyage, Swerve—feeling increasingly out of place now that the "cast" had changed—fell into a deep depression. He stopped coming out of his room entirely, and used a holomatter avatar of himself to run the bar. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}} Swerve spent weeks consuming every piece of Earth media he could find, to the point where Bluestreak came to regret ever installing intergalactic wi-fi. {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} He developed a penchant for Earth sitcoms: wacky stories with happy endings, starring "losers and screwups" who became friends. The lingering effects of Brainstorm's meta bomb caused Swerve to act increasingly erratically, to the point where he'd begin recapping events on the ''Lost Light'' to an imaginary group of "readers". His old bullet wound gave him a creeping, untreated rust infection which, unnoticed by anyone nor himself, gradually shut his systems down. However, because Swerve maintained his wisecracking persona, nobody ever realized that Swerve was putting himself through severe neglect. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:OurStepsWillAlwaysRhyme-oi.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Swerve was serving drinks at his bar during a movie screening and joined in a singalong of "The Power of Love". {{storylink|Elegant Chaos Part 3: Predestination: An Expert's Guide|Predestination: An Expert's Guide}} The "bad batch of [[engex]]" hurt Swerve's reputation as a bartender, as such most people frequented [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]]'s new bar [["Visages"]]. His only customers were Ratchet and Tailgate. Needing an outlet, he took his anger out on Ten. Swerve later found himself called in for a bogus medical inspection regarding "Super Scraplets". The real reason was so that Ratchet could talk to him. The CMO suggested that Swerve invite Megatron to do a poetry reading, hoping it would revive the bar and help the former Decepticon out of his brooding. Swerve, however, invited Megatron to "Visages", and put the bar out of business before he even finished his second verse. [[Minimus Ambus]] later came into Swerve's with Ten as his guest and overruled Swerve's abuse of the Legislator. {{storylink|Our Steps Will Always Rhyme}}

While conversing with [[Ravage (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ravage]], Swerve remarked that he learned three great things from Earth TV, but was cut off by Rodimus's gong. {{storylink|The Sensuous Frame}} Afterwards, Swerve held an "Indie Disco" featuring Earth music, shortly before his holomatter avatar abruptly cut out as his body began to die. {{storylink|The Frail Gaze}} It was only ''then'' that Skids, to his shame, actually visited his friend's room and found his comatose form. However, Swerve's consciousness survived—peeking into Brainstorm's briefcase had given him the ability to re-route energy indefinitely through his holomatter generator; combined with the lingering effects of meta-bomb radiation, Swerve's mind took refuge on a life-sized holomatter replica of Earth, a "happy place", constructed from his good memories of watching Earth sitcoms. However, the strain of maintaining "[[Swearth]]" began killing his body that much faster. With no time to waste, the ''Lost Light'' crew began searching the 'planet' for him, even at the risk to their own selves.

[[File:Father Ted's Big Bang Community.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.66|''Three little holomatters, one, two, three'' ''Without a home or a Spotlight story'' ''Once they were lost but now they're found'' ''And now we're all just'' ''Swerving Around'']]

After a bewildering trek through background laughter and impractical rooms, a team of Autobots found three bickering roommates in a simulated [[New York City]]: "Ted" the priest, "Sheldon" the dermatologist, and "Jerry" the stand-up comedian—each a fragment of Swerve's mind, fractured along different aspects of his personality. The crew realised what was going on when Tailgate found the recap pages in a [[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|comic]], where "Swerve" explained everything. This allowed everyone to realise the three :humans" were Swerve; after merging them back into a single avatar, Cyclonus revealed that everyone on the ''Lost Light'' cared enough to search for him. A touched Swerve dissolved the illusion, and [[Velocity (G1)|Velocity]] was able to identify and fix his shoulder wound. {{storylink|The One Where They Go to Earth}}

[[File:SilentLight-swerveholdsaprotoform.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8]]

Swerve quickly got over the experience; when he learned his wound had been a data slug by Autobot spy Agent 113, he created a 'Shot in the Shoulder' drink costing 1.13 [[shanix]]. After his recovery, he joined Team Rodimus in journeying to the [[Mortilus|Necrobot]]'s home. As a memory of the experience, he took a photo of himself with the 'bot. {{storylink|The Not Knowing}} Several days later, a moodier-than-usual Cyclonus came into Swerve's, Swerve determining he was looking for Tailgate, and told him where he was, though not before giving Cyclonus a drink as repayment for what he did on "Swearth". {{storylink|The Lopsided Triangle}}

At some point, Swerve compiled a range of music for Ultra Magnus, which contained a large amount of crooning. In late December that year, the ship began to pass into [[Mauler]] territory, and in order to protect the crew from the vicious robophobes, the entire crew was told to hide their spark signatures by entering Biometric Envelopment Devices. However, Swerve, Whirl, and Nautica decided to hang out and get plastered on subspace-filtered engex, utterly unafraid of any potential trouble this would get him into, until they discovered what appeared to be a newborn [[protoform]] inside a crate of engex. Realizing they couldn't keep "her", the three went looking for the subspace hatch, which had been moved to Ultra Magnus's office. Ignoring Swerve's attempts at distraction, Magnus entered his office and found that his armor had apparently come to life. A panicked Nautica knocked Magnus out with her [[Nautica's wrench|wrench]], and the supposed protoform made off with the armor. Taking action, Swerve told Nautica and Whirl to find the armor while he put Minimus in a B.E.D., before presumably putting himself in one too. {{storylink|Silent Light}}

Swerve was one of several crew-members who took advantage of the "time fissures" present in his bar to look back on past events, before joining everyone else in a toast to "surprises". {{storylink|No Guns, No Swords, No Briefcases}} During another movie night, Swerve was one of the Autobots who watched a documentary regarding [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|Sentinel Prime]]'s death. Swerve explained that Sentinel had faked Matrix affinity and was never a true Prime before trying to placate an annoyed Megatron with energon nibbles. {{storylink|The Last Autobot}}

Swerve was one of several Autobots who took part in a battle against some [[Rust Giants]] on [[Millarium]], and in the aftermath was swarmed by the grateful locals. Once back aboard the ship, Swerve was one of several members of the crew who were subjected to a strange psychic attack {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}} —in his case, an auditory hallucination of Ten berating Swerve for his poor treatment. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}} which left a bad enough effect on Swerve he was still recovering even when he joined the team going to find it.The Rodpod wound up first inside, then on the [[Necroworld|Necrobot's planet]], but before they could wonder about that, they came under attack.

[[File:TheSunInFlight-swervefreaksout.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]

Swerve helpfully made a list of who it was that could've wanted them dead ("everyone"). As they tried fleeing to the Necrobot's fortress, their only ship was blown to pieces; inside, they found the Necrobot dead. Getting in contact with the ship revealed that Getaway had been set free by the rest of the crew, who were past fed up with Megatron and his entourage. Swerve was quick to call Getaway out on saying he supported Megatron, only for the 'bot to reveal he'd been going through the crew, determining who would support a mutiny and who wouldn't, then shooting them with a [[nudge gun]] afterwards to cover his tracks. Worse yet, the Decepticon Justice Division was on their way to kill Megatron and the rest of them, and Swerve took the news about as well as could be expected. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light: (1) How Bright Their Frail Deeds|How Bright Their Frail Deeds}}

Fortunately, the D.J.D. kept to their own script, retreating after their initial attack to give everyone time to sweat. As Rodimus told everyone to use the eight-hour window to find an out, Velocity asked Swerve to check Censere's corpse, which had dissolved into [[Living metal|sentio metallico]] and left only a key behind. As they searched for a lock, Swerve explained to Velocity that he'd brought Ten along because of the nature of the psychic attack, before finally finding what the key opened: a room filled with at least sixty bodies inside strange pods. As the Autobots debated whether or to flee or defend the people inside, Swerve suggested stealing the D.J.D.'s starship, smuggling the pods aboard, and legging it. Despite Whirl pointing out the plan was fairly terrible, Ravage said he could probably track it down. Ten left to follow him, though not before leaving a general outline for his own plan of using the residual spark energy in the flowers surrounding the fortress to power up some storm shields. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 2: The Sun in Flight|The Sun in Flight}}

[[File:RageRage-roomyshoulders.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

When Ten returned, much worse for wear, alongside Ratchet and Drift, Swerve tried talking to him, only for Magnus to tell him to give Ten some space. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 3: Your Fierce Tears|Your Fierce Tears}} After that, the gravity of the situation caught up to Swerve, and he felt the need to take a time out with Skids. Six hours later, just before the D.J.D. were about to strike, Swerve summed up the situation and declared it couldn't get worse. Swerve then took part in the group hug before going out to fight. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 4: At Close of Day|At Close of Day}} Temporarily empowered into [[Outlier (group)|Outlier]]s through Skids's self-sacrifice, Swerve and Rewind fought alongside Ultra Magnus using the turrets built into his new "Maximum Ambus" upgrade. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 5: Rage, Rage|Rage, Rage}} By the time that their temporary spark surge had worn off, the three had retreated back to the Necrobot's fortress with the other stranded Autobots. There, Swerve came up with the idea of weaponizing the Necrobot's psychic beacon, forcing Deathsaurus and his Decepticons into a retreat and leaving Megatron to face the DJD alone. {{storylink|The Dying of the Light Part 6: Do Not Go Gentle|Do Not Go Gentle}}

In the immediate aftermath, Swerve adopted a black Autobrand to mark Skids's death, and turned to multiple hits of numbing [[mood suppressant]]. When the "organics" turned out to be shielded Transformers that the Necrobot had rescued from past deaths, Swerve got up to his old tricks fast and started "background checks" on them for a laugh. When new arrival [[Anode]] said Swerve didn't seem too upset about his friend's death, he snapped at her and stormed off. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 1: Some Other Cybertron|Some Other Cybertron}} Later, he volunteered to check the pods for any others waking up like Anode. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|Anomie}}
Down below, Swerve and Ten discovered a massive unopened pod. He wanted Cyclonus and Whirl around in case the occupant was dodgy, but Whirl popped the pod before Cyclonus arrived. Inside was his ultimate nemesis, the bio-locational weapons engineer and [[Warriors Elite]] member known as [[Killmaster]]. The nemeses locked into combat with each other, but Whirl's laser fire only seemed to make him stronger! Swerve was distraught when Ten was blasted by Killmaster's wand and seemingly atomized, only for the next blast to zap ''him'' as well. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 3: A World Misplaced|A World Misplaced}}

[[File:Sardines-sprinklers.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

Fortunately, Cyclonus and Whirl defeated Killmaster and Brainstorm worked out how to use the wand to recover Swerve and Ten from their extra-dimensional displacement. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 5: Modes of Production|Modes of Production}} Having realized that the [[Galactic Council]] had previously shunted the entire Necroworld into [[Functionist Universe|an alternate timeline]], Brainstorm used the wand-tech to restore them to their original reality. {{storylink|Dissolution Part 6: This Machine Kills Fascists|This Machine Kills Fascists}} By [[Size changing|mass-displacing]] the body of [[Skip (IDW)|Skip]], a small Decepticon who turned into a spaceship, Swerve and the crew, sans Megatron, made ready to continue their quest aboard their jury-rigged vessel. {{storylink|After Megatron (A Dissolution Epilogue)|After Megatron}}

Boredom and frustration from being in a confined space for an extended period of time led to a prank war breaking out between Swerve and Anode. When Anode painted up [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]] in Swerve's colors and had her proclaim to be his biggest fan, Swerve retaliated by having Velocity call Anode in for a medical exam and inform her that she had a "second head" in her rear armature. Anode got back at him by having Whirl plant a fake bomb in Swerve's head before waking him up to make it seem like she was using [[magnetizing spray]] to fuse him to his recharge slab. Unaware of the fake bomb, Swerve used Skip's sprinkler system to coat Anode with magnetizing spray before going to see Ratchet, where he discovered that the "bomb" was counting down each word he spoke. To make matters worse, Ratchet suddenly lost his colors, making him appear dead. Swerve then used what he believed to be his "last words" to trick Anode into getting fused to Ultra Magnus. When this resulted in chaos breaking out among the crew, Swerve uses his final words to warn Anode of a furious Cyclonus as he was about to slice her with his [[Great Sword]], only to wound Rewind instead. As chaos continued to unfold around them, Anode revealed to Swerve that the "bomb" in his head had been her doing and declared herself victor of the prank war. Suddenly, as Skip's mass displacement wore off, the shrinking ship threatened to crush them all, until Ten unexpectedly spoke up and ordered everyone to listen to him. {{storylink|Sardines}}

[[File:Metastasis-newmembers.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]

Acting on Ten's instructions, Swerve and the others modified Skip to travel through compressed space and make it to the nearest [[Mederi]] facility. However, when Skip began to shrink in on the crew, they were forced to abandon ship and were seemingly killed by the ravages of compressed space. Upon awakening, the crew converged on Rodimus's position, where he was standing over Ten's deactivated body. After mourning over his departed friend, Swerve professed that they had ended up in the [[Transformer afterlife|Afterspark]]. When Ratchet met this idea with skepticism, Swerve was seemingly proved correct when the deceased Trailcutter and Pipes suddenly appeared before them. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}}

Overjoyed by being reunited with their departed friends, {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (2): The God War|The God War}} Swerve and the others eventually gathered under the giant Matrix that loomed over the Afterspark and prepared to ascend. However, when the Matrix, along with Trailcutter and Pipes, suddenly faded away, the crew realized that the "Afterspark" had in fact been an illusion generated by the Mederi program intended to euthanize them. Moreover, Mederi was in fact "Cyberutopia" itself, therefore bringing the Knight Quest to a conclusion. Before Swerve and the others could enjoy their happy ending, they were attacked by the mutineers of the ''Lost Light'', whom Getaway had mutated into ravenous sparkeaters. {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (3): You Are Here|You Are Here}}

Forced to team up with the misfit Decepticon [[Scavengers (G1)|Scavengers]], Swerve and [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] quickly bonded over their love of wordplay as they barricaded themselves in Mederi's medical center. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 1): A Dance Before Dying|A Dance Before Dying}} Inside the med center, [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] discovered a concussive treatment that would return the afflicted Autobots to their old selves. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 2): Lūstrāre|Lūstrāre}} As everyone regrouped on the recovered ''Lost Light'', the [[Adaptus|Grand Architect]] opened a rift in space and drew the ship back into the [[Benzene Cluster]]. Swerve and Anode confirmed that the Grand Architect had used a mold to forge ''five'' duplicate Cybertrons relatively recently. Once the Grand Architect himself brought Rodimus and the others aboard his ship, the God Gun blasted open a hole in reality... allowing the inhabitants of [[Functionist Universe|another dimension]] to invade their own. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 3): Farsickness|Farsickness}}

[[File:ASparkAmongEmbers SwerveMisfireOpenMatrix.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.4]]

Help arrived in the form of Megatron, who'd returned from the Functionist Universe in the ''[[Last Light (ship)|Last Light]]'', but he was pursued by that reality's [[Functionist Council]], who'd reformatted their own Cybertron into an enormous transforming robot. On the ''Last Light'', Swerve caught up with Megatron and criticized his taste in decor. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 4): The Return of the King|The Return of the King}} Once everyone reunited aboard the original ''Lost Light'', Swerve was present as everyone as Rung—now revealed as [[Primus]] himself, the original Transformer—announced a plan to incapacitate the false Primus by creating twelve Matrices and firing them at different [[hot spot (phenomenon)|hot spot]]s, moments before the false Primus robot annihilated the last of the five Cybertrons. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 5): The Unremembering|The Unremembering}}

As reinforcements from Luna One arrived and forced Primus back into his planet mode by striking his neural cluster, Swerve, Misfire, and Grimlock travelled to [[Warrior's Gate]]—however, Swerve couldn't bypass the Matrix's [[morality lock]] alone, but after losing an arm to the onrushing [[Functionary|Functionaries]], an encouraging transmission from Rodimus allowed him and Misfire to successfully open the artifact together. Despite having saved the universe, after they regrouped on the ''Lost Light'', Swerve pointed out that they weren't quite done yet. {{storylink|Crucible (Part 6): A Spark Among Embers|A Spark Among Embers}}

After bargaining with [[Prowl (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Prowl]], Rodimus reached a deal: after one last cruise around the neighboring system, the ''Lost Light'' would be decommissioned and its engines removed to provide for a fresh wave of sparks birthed by the Matrix pulse. On the way, Rodimus hit upon the idea of recreating the quantum jump that had originally duplicated their ship when they first set out; against all odds, they created a copy of themselves in some new universe, who set out to continue their quest indefinitely. Although they'd never know if their experiment had been successful, the crew held one last party in Swerve's bar... but, even as a despairing Swerve swore that their quest couldn't end like this, automated cranes began stripping the ship down to its components. As the Scavengers left, Swerve lamented that he'd forgotten to get Misfire's number.

In the years that followed, Swerve reopened his bar on New Cybertron and eventually tried to turn his business into a franchise. Although at one point he owned [[113 (disambiguation)#James Roberts, 2005 IDW continuity|113 locations]] across the planet, the chain went bust; by the time that [[Ratchet (G1)/2005 IDW continuity|Ratchet]] had passed away, Swerve had been reduced back to just one bar. {{storylink|How To Say Goodbye And Mean It: Part 2}}

{{--}}

===Legends World===
Sleeping next to his ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' [[#Legends|LG-08 Swerve and Tailgate]] caused [[Rattrap (Legends)|Rattrap]] to dream he was in the [[#Legends comic|G1 World]] meeting them and learning a lesson about how size didn't matter. {{storylink|LG08 Swerve & Tailgate}} They were still there when he woke up. {{storylink|LG09 Brainstorm}} The Swerve and Tailgate toys were actually ''in'' his bed on the morning [[Arcee (Legends)|Arcee]] contracted [[Transformers sickness]]. {{storylink|LG10 Arcee}}

===Velocitron Speedia 500===
[[File:VelocitronSpeedia1-SwerveNightbird.jpg|left|thumb|150px|How does Swerve keep finding Blurr when Blurr keeps giving him wrong phone numbers?]]
Swerve was one of the spectators for the [[Speedia 500]], {{Storylink|Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 1}} and cheered as the race neared its end. {{storylink|Velocitron Speedia 500 Part 2}}
{{-}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
[[File:TFLegends-Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Swerve was assigned to [[Pipes (G1)|Pipes]]'s team, guarding some researchers at a coastal town when they were attacked by [[Overbite (G1)|Overbite]] and [[Nautilator]]. {{storylink|The B-Team Part Deux}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:BattleTacticsSwerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|If we can't equip him with a "My First Blaster", we can just move on.]]
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Swerve-(Gen).jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|He's smiling because...]]
Swerve participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He appeared in two different bodies:
*''Swerve''—This Common character could be recruited by collecting 20 units of Cybermetal.
*''Swerve (Gen)''—This Epic character first appeared in the "Transform and Roll Out!" event, and could be recruited by collecting 650 units of Cybermetal, 350 Units of Transmetal, 150 exclusive cores, and 50 cores of this character.
{{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

===''Transformers Roleplaying Game''===
Swerve was a fun-loving, irreverent ‘bot; in his role as a public relations specialist, he helped keep battlefield morale high wherever he went. {{storylink|Transformers Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook|Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook}}

==Toys==
===''The Transformers''===
{{anchor|Generation 1}}
[[File:G1-toy Swerve.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Elbows. I no has them!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Mini-Vehicle, [[1986]])}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Werve'''
:*''Takara ID number:'' '''C-58'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hideaki Yoke]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Part of the third year of [[Hasbro]]'s ''[[The Transformers (toyline)|The Transformers]]'' [[Mini Vehicle]] assortment, Swerve is a [[retool]] of the ''[[Micro Change]]'' toy originally used to make [[Gears (G1)#Toys|Gears]], transforming into a pickup truck of indeterminable model with robot kludge in the cargo bed. He is largely maroon and white, with squarer legs and a more elaborate face than Gears.

: The initial releases of all Mini Vehicles and [[Special Teams]] in 1986 were part of a promotional campaign that featured reflective [[iron-on patch]]es as part of a contest. Later in the year, packages without bonus patches were released.

: In Japan, "Werve" was sold in the second year of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and 2010)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' line, packaged in a small box with a collector's card rather than the Hasbro version's bubble-card.

::*''[http://www.transformerland.com/wiki/toy-info/transformers-g1-mini-vehicles-swerve/1175/ Patent info, price guide, and further reading on Swerve at Transformerland.com]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Swerve/swerve.htm More information on Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{G1GearsMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|IGA}}
[[File:Mexican IGA Swerve.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Soy demasiado sexy para mi cabeza.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Mini Vehicle, [[1987]])}}</ul>

: In the Mexican ''Transformers'' line produced by [[IGA]], Swerve was released as a straight [[redeco]] of Gears, sold on Swerve cards. He was cast in metallic-maroon with white robot parts, which is pretty close to the Hasbro/Takara Swerve colors. Unlike most of the second-series IGA Mini Vehicles, he does not appear to have been sold in a second color scheme (at least, that we know of so far).

: IGA appears to have done this old-mold-new-colors move with the other third-year retools ([[Hubcap (G1)#IGA|Hubcap]], [[Outback (G1)#IGA|Outback]], [[Pipes (G1)#IGA|Pipes]], and [[Tailgate (G1)#IGA|Tailgate]]), though so far Tailgate and Swerve are the only ones that have been confirmed with carded samples.

: IGA Transformers also eventually made their way to a variety of European markets, slightly decreasing their rarity.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1986/Autobot/MexicanSwerve/swerve.htm More information on IGA Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Alternators''===
[[File:Alternator Swerve Toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|A new head. We were so spoiled...]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Swerve''' (Alternator, [[2004]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''15'''
:*''Accessories:'' Engine/blaster

: Released in the thirteenth wave of Hasbro's ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' line (and the only new item in said wave), Swerve is a new-head retooling of [[Tracks (G1)/toys#Alternators|Tracks]], and transforms into a red {{w|Chevrolet Corvette C5|Corvette Z06}} featuring opening doors and hood, as well as a realistic interior. Swerve is armed with a double-barreled engine gun formed from his engine, two pairs of double-barreled slide-out wrist blasters, and two shoulder-mounted (non-firing) rocket launchers, making him one of the most heavily armed ''Alternators'' toys.

: Even though the head sculpt is directly based on his Generation 1 version, the deco designer apparently only knew about the original toy (which had sported an entirely red head and face) and wasn't aware of the more diverse colors for the head from Swerve's appearance in the cartoon episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]", so the ''Alternators'' toy was given a completely original color scheme for the head.

: He also came with an optional customer-applied flame hood decal reminiscent of the flames on the [[Tracks (G1)/toys#The Transformers|original Tracks toy]], which was originally available with the Takara ''Binaltech'' Tracks release (and obviously intended by Hasbro for that toy). Applying this to Swerve really makes him resemble [[Road Rage (G1)|Road Rage]] in vehicle mode.

: Swerve's golden-colored joints have the tendency to snap off, which occasionally leads to him being labelled as a [[Gold Plastic Syndrome|gold plastic syndrome]] sufferer — however, given the lack of swirly plastic, the issue here is most likely not with the plastic but rather with the construction of the joints themselves, which appear to have been assembled in an excessively tight manner. In either case, it is advisable to be careful when handling him.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/AltSwerve/swerve.htm More information on Alternators Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{AlternatorsTracksMold}}

===''Encore''===
[[File:Encore Swerve toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Weird—I crashed into a paint-sprayer, and for some reason, I can see better.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Bumble & Minibots''' (Multi-pack, [[2008]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''10'''

:In 2008, "Werve" was reissued in Takara's ''[[Transformers Encore|Encore]]'' line, bundled with [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys#Encore|Bumblebee]], [[Pipes (G1)#Encore|Pipes]], [[Tailgate (G1)#Encore|Tailgate]], and [[Outback (G1)#Encore|Outback]]. As with his pack-mates, his face paint was given more detailing to better resemble his cartoon model.
{{G1GearsMold}}
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
====GDO====
[[File:Generations china import deluxe swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|He's scowling because he still doesn't have his own mold.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Deluxe Class, [[2012]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Rifle

:''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' Swerve is a [[Retool#Gang-molded alternate parts|pretool]] and [[redeco]] of [[Kup (G1)/toys#Generations|Sergeant Kup]], using the planned-in alternate head for the mold.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-generations-classics-30-35/transformers-generations--movie-series-asia-exclusives-174569/ Transformers Generations & Movie Series Asia Exclusives]</ref> He transforms into a pseudo-retro-styled pickup truck of indeterminate, probably-made-up model, and is covered in 3mm rungs that are compatible with [[C joint]] clip-on weapons. There are two rungs on his backpack, plus two rungs each on his forearm [[kibble]], and two on his lower back. The blaster can either be hand-held or plugged into the underside of the truck to form a second exhaust pipe or clip onto the roof via a C joint. Interestingly, due to his transformation, Swerve's truck mode features a working tailgate.

:While the instructions correctly advise facing the forearm panels sideways or outwards and rotating the truck panels in robot mode. You can rotate them backward to make the forearms look more presentable, and the doors can remain untransformed for a better appearance. Although not mentioned in the instructions or the prototype/stock photos, Swerve's windshield and front hood can be pushed down further (as long as the hood is folded correctly) for a cleaner silhouette. Be aware that the joints holding the wheel may bump against the panels due to their somewhat limited clearance.

:Swerve was originally only to be released as part of a big block of toys developed [[exclusive]]ly for release in China and other Hasbro Asia markets. However, [[Toys"R"Us]] picked up Swerve as part of a ''massive'' group of ''Transformers'' exclusives for US market release, just in time for the 2012 holiday shopping season.

:This mold was retooled into ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' [[Hoist (G1)/toys#Timelines|Hoist]] and [[Electro#Timelines|Autobot Electrons]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/GDOSwerve/swerve.htm More information on ''Generations'' Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{GenerationsKupMold}}
{{anchor|Thrilling30}}
{{-}}

====''Thrilling 30''====
[[File:Generationstoy-Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Sound chip not included. World breathes sigh of relief.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve & Flanker''' (Legends Class, [[2014]])}}</ul>
:*''Series / Number'': '''2 / 005'''
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (Hasbro)}}

:Part of the fifth wave of [[2012]]-onwards ''Generations'' [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends Class]] toys, ''[[Thrilling 30]]'' Swerve is roughly the size of a ''[[Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' Commander Class toy. His [[robot mode]] is styled after his appearance in ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'', but transforms into a mostly red, modernized four-wheel drive pickup truck of made-up model. He comes with <s>a tray of drinks</s> <s>a ''My First Blaster''™</s> [[Sky High (Micromaster)#Generations|Flanker]], a small bot who transforms into either a blue jet or a weapon for Swerve to wield via its 5mm handle.

:The package art for Swerve mistakenly depicts him with ''five'' fingers on each hand instead of the usual four.

:Swerve was retooled into ''Generations'' [[Gears (G1)#Generations|Gears]] and redecoed and given a shell as [[BotCon 2015]] [[Oilmaster#Timelines|Oilmaster]]. In turn, that was retooled into [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#TFSS|Double Pretender Optimus Prime]].

:This tooling also served as the basis of the non-toy ''Shattered Glass'' incarnation of [[Swerve (SG)|Swerve]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Autobot/GenSwerve/swerve.htm More information on ''Thrilling 30'' Swerve at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:TF-Legends-LG-08-Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Why is the bartender packed with the ''baby'', again?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve & Tailgate''' (Multi-pack, [[2015]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''LG08'''
:*''Release date'': [[January 24]] 2015

: Released in the fourth wave of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' line, Swerve is a redeco of the above ''Generations'' Legends Class Swerve, made to closer resemble his original toy. Changes including a darker shade of red plastic, additional white paint on his legs/truck bed and a black square on his hood.

: He now comes with [[Phaser (G1)#Legends|Phaser]], a redeco of Flanker who is colored to resemble Swerve's [[My First Blaster]] in gun mode.

: Swerve and Phaser were only available in a multi-pack with [[Tailgate (G1)#Legends|Tailgate]] and [[Groundshaker (Legends)#Toys|Groundshaker]].
{{-}}

===''Vintage G1''===
[[File:VG1-toy Serve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Suave.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' ("Legion Class" reissue, [[2018]])}}</ul>

: Part of the first wave of the ''[[Vintage|Vintage G1]]'' line, Swerve's first US re-release is very similar to his ''Encore'' "Werve" release, complete with a multicolored face, but there are a few small but significant differences. His chest sticker has been applied upside-down, his [[rubsign]] is an all-new type with a mirror-level reflective silver border and a symbol that only turns red rather than the mood-ring multicolor of older rubsigns, plus he has production information tampographed onto his inner right foot.

: Like all ''Vintage G1'' figures, Swerve was [[exclusive]] to [[Walmart]] in the United States and Canada; he debuted on the Walmart website in the US months before hitting retail in December of 2018. He was also available at general retail in Hong Kong, and exclusive to the website of Australian fashion chain Cotton On. Oddly, the Australian release came in [[multilingual packaging]] intended for the European market, a rare but not entirely unheard of occurrence. Due to the limited space on the back, this, unfortunately, means the [[Tech Spec]] card is omitted, replaced by parental warnings in ''twenty-four'' languages about the possibility of breakage due to excessive force, and that parts are not designed to reattach.

: Although originating from the 1986 range of Mini-Vehicles, ''Vintage G1'' Swerve's [[package art#Back of the box art|back-of-card artwork]] features the original 1984 mural, rather than the 1986 "Metroplex" mural present on ''Vintage G1'' [[Hot Rod (G1)/toys#Vintage G1|Hot Rod]]'s box.
{{G1GearsMold}}
{{-}}

===''Age of the Primes''===
[[File:AOTP Deluxe Swerve.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Miscolorings based on the Generation 1 cartoon#War for Cybertron Trilogy Bailiff|Two bucks we get a "correctly-colored chest" redeco of this guy...]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Deluxe Class, [[2026]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Blaster
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Tomoki Tatsumi]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy, original tooling)}}<ref>[[February 3]], [[2026]]'s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzWSj4wlnqM Transformers Age of the Primes Deep Dive | In-Hand Look at the New Wave | February 2026] on YouTube, with [[Evan Brooks]], [[Mark Maher]] and [[Nate Purswell]].</ref>

: Part of the second 2026 wave of ''[[Transformers: Age of the Primes]]'' Deluxe figures, Swerve is a retool of ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: United]]'' [[Gears (G1)#Legacy|Gears]], featuring a new head, chest, front of the truck and shoulders with molded faux-part wheels and fenders to replicate his [[Sunbow Productions|Sunbow]] animation model. Curiously, he has also been retooled to have his rear wheels attach to his fenders and fold behind the leg for robot mode, rather than fold into the robot mode chest. He also comes with the same blaster accessory as Gears and retains his sculpted chest interior.

: Unfortunately, Swerve's new head sculpt and chest details are based on the poorly traced "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]" screencap that was published in [[The Ark series|''The Ark'' series]] books in place of an ''actual'' [[character model]] (see [[#Notes]] below), with [[Miscolorings based on the Generation 1 cartoon|the coloration]] of the made-up chest details being solely based on the [https://www.transformers.kiev.ua/g1/swerveg1.html Transformers.kiev.ua] fan coloring that shows up instantly in a simple Google Search.

: Interestingly, Swerve's chest panel comes uninstalled just like Gears even though ''Age of the Primes'' packaging comes with plastic windows which prevent easy theft, unlike Gears' window-less packaging.

: Swerve's vehicle mode roof, which unfortunately forms the bottom of his feet, is white plastic painted red and black. As such, care should be taken when handling him to avoid scratching the paint.
{{--}}
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===Blokees===
[[File:Blokees-Wheels-TF-C01-Swerve.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Swerve''' (Blokees Wheels, 2025)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Blokees Wheels Transformers 01 - Roll Out!'''
:*''Pull rate:'' 1/12
:*''Accessories'': My First Blaster

:Part of the first wave of the [[Blokees]] Wheels series of blind-boxed 1/64-scale vehicles, this Swerve model kit is based on his Cybertronian car mode designed by [[Alex Milne]] for [[IDW Publishing]]'s ''[[The Transformers: More than Meets the Eye]]'' comic series, and also comes with "[[My First Blaster]]"; a piece at the rear of the vehicle can be removed to allow the gun to be mounted instead, but the weapon is also compatible with most other Blokees kits that use the same 3.4 mm connection (sadly, even the slightly thicker bit at the top isn't [[5 mm post|5 mm port]]-compatible). While everything else is molded in ABS plastic, the rear vehicle shell is made out of "2.5x density" Solidex to evoke the feeling of die-cast cars like [[Hot Wheels]], and he uses the same universal Chassis Connector as the rest of the lineup. While the windshield can pivot up backwards to reveal a driver's seat, it's not possible for the Blokees Driver figures to mount into it.

:Swerve was retooled into his wavemate [[Gears (G1)#Blokees Wheels|Gears]].
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:G1-Swerve-model-comparison.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|'''Left:''' Poorly drawn Swerve from the cartoon. '''Center:''' Made up character model found in ''The Ark''. '''Right:''' ''Actual'' finalized model found among original cartoon production material.]]
* Swerve's [[robot mode]] [[character model]] used in [[The Ark series|''The Ark'' series]] books is actually not a model at all, rather it is a poorly traced episode screencap of the character from the episode "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5]]"—which itself, was a poorly drawn attempt at a [[Character model#Model sheet poses used in fiction|model sheet pose insert in a fictional setting]]. His vehicle mode on the other hand, is a photoshopped tracing of [[Gears (G1)|Gears]]'s final vehicle mode model flipped 180° degrees. Gears's finalized vehicle mode model is more of a rough sketch, with not many solid lines, so what this photoshop job did was make the lines somewhat crisper for Swerve, and also adds additional details that didn't exist on the original model, like the "M" on the hood, which is present on the ''real'' Swerve model, but not on Gears's. Needless to say, Swerve's ''actual'' models look pretty different in comparison.
* Swerve and [[Hubcap (G1)|Hubcap]] are curiously absent from 1986's ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|The Transformers Universe]]'' profile book. The only other missing characters were the two [[Deluxe Vehicle]]s and the four [[Insecticon (G1)|Deluxe Insecticons]], whose absence might be explained by their toys' origins with companies in competition with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Swerve and Hubcap's omissions, however, appear to be errors; all the other toys in their wave and subgroup were included. The extended, unused TFU entry was eventually revealed by [[Jim Sorenson]] on [http://boltax.blogspot.com/2010/12/extended-bios.html his blog "Disciples of Boltax".]
* Given the lack of appearance in any [[Marvel Comics|Marvel]] fiction, including the profile books, it appears that the comic department at Marvel never received the model sheets for Swerve at all.
* According to [[James Roberts]]'s notes in his ''MTMTE Notebooks'', IDW Swerve's personality is based on {{w|Guy Gardner (character)|Guy Gardner}}, but "less of an ass".

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Werve''' (ウェーブ ''Wēbu'', ウエーブ ''Uēbu''), '''Swerve''' (スワーブ ''Suwābu'')
*''French:'' '''Embardo''' (Canada)
*''Mandarin:'' '''Bèi Lí''' (China, 背离, "Swerve")

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

[[Category:Age of the Primes Autobots]]
[[Category:Alternators Autobots]]
[[Category:Bartenders]]
[[Category:Encore]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 toy Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:IDW (2005) Autobots]]
[[Category:Legends Autobots]]
[[Category:Lost Light crew]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Mini Vehicles]]
[[Category:Scientists]]
[[Category:Transformers Roleplaying Game Autobots]]

Ocean Software

2026-04-04T06:46:49Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

[[Image:Ocean Software logo.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Mmm, gradienty]]'''Ocean Software''' was a computer game developer and publisher based in Manchester, [[United Kingdom|England]]. They were founded in 1984 and made their name by publishing licensed games sourced from television, movies and arcade games.

One of these licensed games was ''[[The Transformers (Commodore 64)|The Transformers]]'' for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.

Ocean Software was purchased for £100 million by [[Atari, Inc.|Infogrames]] in 1996, and through a series of renamings, mergers, and acquisitions, eventually ended up in the hands of [[Bandai Namco Entertainment]].
[[Category:Video game companies]]

The Transformers (G1 PS2)

2025-10-01T16:11:31Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{disambig3.5|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game based on G1|the English PlayStation 2 game based on Armada|Transformers (Armada PS2)|Transformers}}
{{cleanup|August 2009|Decepticon story section needs general cleanup.}}
{{nav-fsrltf}}
{{videogame
|title=''The Transformers''
|image=TF tatakai.jpg
|caption=My CG cinematic sequences are only as good as [[Transformers (Armada PS2)|your]] in-game graphics!
|japanese=トランスフォーマー
|romaji=Transformer
|developer=[[Winkysoft]]
|publisher=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] [[Atlus]] (''The Best'' re-release)
|date=[[October 30|30 October]] 2003
|platform=PlayStation 2
|rating=CERO: All Ages (re-release)
|credits=The Transformers (G1 PS2)/credits
}}

'''''The Transformers''''' is a Japanese video game for the Sony PlayStation 2 based on the [[The Transformers (franchise)|original]] [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Transformers'' series]]. It was developed by [[Winkysoft]] and published by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] on [[October 30]], 2003. The game features [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] campaigns, with the player able to control squads of three Transformers on action missions, gathering numerous new troops along the way.

Despite all of the game's spoken dialogue being in English with an option to display English text, this game was never released in America. Almost a year before release, [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] announced that they were finalizing details regarding the game with a US publisher.<ref>[https://tformers.com/transformers-new-transformers-video-game-pictures/652/news.html New Transformers Video Game Pictures], TFormers, October 14, 2002</ref> Ultimately, three months before the game's release in Japan, Takara announced that the game would not see release in the US, remaining exclusive to Japan.<ref>[https://tformers.com/transformers-no-transformers-tatakai-for-the-usa/1566/news.html No Transformers Tatakai for the USA], TFormers, July 9, 2003</ref>

{{TOCclear}}

==Plot==
[[File:Ps2tatakai shockwave2.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Shockwave's reign of terror and destruction!]]
In the year 2010, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], who has grown disgruntled with Galvatron's abusive leadership, discovers the [[Zel Quartz]] on [[Zel Samine]]. Realizing that it is a power source even greater than the [[Heart of Cybertron]], Shockwave implants the Quartz into himself. He stages a one-robot coup and becomes the leader of the Decepticons...until the surging power load fries his systems and he malfunctions, running amok. He destroys much of both the Autobot and Decepticon armies and eventually destroys [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself before setting out to raze many innocent planets.

Unable to stop Shockwave in the present, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] allies with the [[Quintesson]]s to send an elite cadre back in time to destroy the Quartz before Shockwave discovers it.

In 2003, both the Autobots and Decepticons detect an explosion caused by the arrival of visitors from the future over Zel Samine and send teams to investigate. Both sides lose contact with their teams. The Autobots send another team consisting of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] to investigate, but their shuttle crashes, and Wheeljack learns that an abnormality in Zel Samine's sun causes electromechanical systems to malfunction and drains them of their power. The Decepticons likewise send [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] arriving later by [[space bridge|Space Bridge]] after a very bumpy ride).

The Space Bridge malfunctions, causing significant damage to the Decepticon ship. The Decepticons lure the Autobots away from their own shuttle in order to steal their supply of [[energon]] and use it to repair their own shuttle. Afterwards, both sides skirmish over a series of local power sources, including the wind-power facility on [[Mount Jaad]], the [[Ranpas Geothermal Power Plant]], and the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]]. Along the way, both sides encounter members of their missing reconnaissance teams.

Both sides also encounter their counterparts from the future: the Autobots Rodimus Prime, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]; and the Decepticons [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Galvatron reveals his identity to Megatron, but lies to him about the Zel Quartz, claiming he rules the universe in the future and it is part of an Autobot doomsday weapon that must be destroyed.

Pursuing stories of items that may be the Zel Quartz, both sides clash over the [[Jewel of Mystery]] at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], a superhard mineral in a drill bit at [[Karzite mine]], and a giant crystal formation at the [[Atalstan gem mine]]. None of those leads pay off, but the planet's central archive includes reference to a "Zel Stone" which is part of the [[ELTA]] power transmission array, matching descriptions of the Zel Quartz exactly.

Both sides stage a climactic confrontation at ELTA (which is either destroyed or kept intact, depending on the winner) to capture the Quartz. After the battle is done, Starscream, who has overheard Galvatron and Cyclonus discussing the Quartz's true nature, rushes in to steal the Quartz for himself, jetting off into space with it.

Unbeknownst to Starscream, the physical structure of the quartz requires the atmospheric and electromagnetic properties of [[Zel Samine]] to maintain its integrity. Because he has fled into space rather than installing the Quartz on the planet as Shockwave had (and thus protecting it), the Quartz immediately degrades and becomes powerless. Outside of the atmosphere, exposed to the effects of Zel Samine's star without the Quartz's power to protect him, Starscream drifts powerless, left to contemplate his mistakes.

Their own timeline averted, the future Autobots and Decepticons vanish into sparkles of light, and Optimus Prime and Megatron are left to contemplate what they've learned from the experience.

===Autobot Story===
====Stage 1====
Wheeljack loses control of a shuttle and crash-lands on Zel Samine. There, Optimus Prime, Jazz, and himself attempt a rescue mission to find several missing Autobots that disappeared here a few days prior when they receive an SOS signal. Seeing it close by, the Autobots head out to investigate, but all they find is Soundwave. Just then, Megatron is heard from a transmitter, revealing the signal was a trap to lure them away from their shuttle and steal the energon on it. As Soundwave leaves, Wheeljack mourns about not staying behind to protect the shuttle, knowing that it wouldn't last long against Megatron's [[fusion cannon]].

As the Autobots get into formation, they notice an invisible barrier blocking them that only goes down when they defeat waves of Decepticon foot soldiers. After braving through Soundwave, several waves of enemies, and even a deadly minefield, the Autobots return to the shuttle to find it severely damaged, but Megatron still here. Optimus defeats Megatron but feels a strange feeling. He questions Megatron about the recent events on this planet, but is shocked to discover that Megatron himself is investigating these very same events.

Though not totally destroyed, their shuttle is really damaged from the Decepticon attack and will not be able to lift off for some time. Wheeljack establishes contact with the [[Paradius United Government]], whose power plants are under attack by the Decepticons and aren't able to handle them on their own. Jazz suggests contacting [[Cosmos (G1)|Adams]] to help bring the supplies, but Wheeljack reveals that he discovered that the system's sun emits electromagnetic waves that are harmful to Transformers. While the rays are not fatal, they will increase their consumption of energon and going into space or flying at high altitudes carries the risk of losing most of their energy and becoming stranded in space. The government's high official is an understanding person and will provide the Autobots with the necessary equipment needed to fix the ship, provided they help get rid of the Decepticons. Prime gratefully accepts and orders his men to prepare for battle.

====Stage 2====
Wheeljack tells Prime they are near ready for departure, but Optimus is more concerned of the events that were unfolding behind the missing Autobots and the UFO that happened a few days ago. He first thought that the space-time continuity event was some sort of accident, but when asking the Paradius home planet, they revealed that Zel Samine was used mainly for energy and resource mining, leaving this planet with few inhabitants, so no clues about the UFO or the missing Autobots. Wheeljack assumed that it may be a new Decepticon weapon but Optimus reminds him that Megatron is investigating it too. For now, though, their goals are set on keeping the planet safe from the Decepticons.

Jazz says that they are now fully ready for battle, and their first destination was [[Mount Jaad]], a wind power plant with harsh conditions. Wheeljack finds the stuff the Paradius system builds to be quite interesting. The Paradius people live in harmony with both nature and technology. Energy is developed onto this planet and sent to the Paradius home planet, allowing them to live in a way to protect the environment without polluting it on Zel. Wheeljack was about to do a history lesson, but Jazz reminded them of the Decepticons attacking the mountain, and Prime proceeds to select the team and formation.

As they reach the plant, they encounter heavy Decepticon resistance and some autogun cannons at the plant that don't seem to recognize the difference between friend and foe. They also encounter the Decepticon Headmaster, Mindwipe, determined to send them to their ancestors, but is soundly defeated. Optimus contemplates that with the [[Matrix of Leadership]], they will always have the wisdom and knowledge of their ancestors by their side. They continue forth to the main station and have another encounter with Soundwave and defeat him. As the Autobots reach the main station, they encounter the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]] Blitzwing, who finds his comrades to be totally worthless for letting them get so far. The Autobots manage to beat him and drive him and the Decepticons away.

As they prepare to return to base, they find their old yellow friend, Bumblebee, and he is recruited back into the mission. When they return, Optimus and Jazz talk about how well they did against the enemy. Optimus wants to leave quickly, finding that he and his comrades are only doing more harm than help, until Wheeljack shows up and informs him that the Paradius government thanks the Autobots for help and that they aren't just contaminants.
{{note|If the player goes through a second time, instead of Bumblebee the Autobots will meet up with the Headmaster Brainstorm, ready to track down the Decepticons until his engines overheat.}}
====Stage 3====
Their next stop on their Decepticon hunt was the [[Ranpas Geothermal Power Plant]]. Fortunately, the facility is underground, which gives the Autobots a distinct advantage as they will not have to worry about any ambushes. The Decepticons were stealing energy from the main turbine, destabilizing the underground magma. This could result in a massive explosion. Optimus was determined to stop them now, selecting carefully the members and formation, even if it is an evil trap.

Optimus does note that it will get hotter as they move closer, and take on head-on hordes of Decepticon soldiers. Along the way, they encounter the Horrorcon, Snapdragon, and soundly defeat him. Optimus was not impressed, claiming that he lost his will to fight. Eventually, they came over a lava floor where the magma began to severely damage them if continuously traversing over it. When they reach the main turbine, they discover Megatron's faithful servant, Shockwave, in charge of the energy conversion. The Autobots manage to beat him and save the planet from crisis.

As they prepare to leave, they meet the Autobot scout and naturalist, Hound, who is ready to join the battle despite the tranquility on Zel Samine. The Autobots contemplate on how tough the battle was and wonders if it has hindered their ability to transform. Optimus suggests a full maintenance inspection when they return to Cybertron. Wheeljack isn't worried and doesn't seem the temperatures to be a big deal. The gang then begin joking around about their friendly bouts, but Optimus sadly has to cease the happy time as more of Zel Samine needs their help.
{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter the Headmaster, Chromedome instead of Hound.}}

====Stage 4====
Their next destination is the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]], where the Decepticons are using the generator at full speed to steal the most energy from it. Jazz realizes that if it keeps up, the generator could break down or even self-destruct, and break apart the dam. The plant is in the middle of a forest, so getting there won't be a problem. It is also a simplistic designed building so they will not get lost. Jazz recalls the time they woke up on Earth, when the Decepticons were stealing from the [[Sherman Dam]]. Optimus commands to go forth and select the right members to stop the Decepticons.

The forest was foggy and perfect for ambushes, but the Autobots had no time to lose and would not let this stop them. Making their way through the forest, they encounter the Decepticon Headmaster Weirdwolf, who Prime saw as nothing short of being a nuisance. They are able to barely defeat him, as Prime mocks how even his claws and fangs cannot hurt a heart filled with justice. They soon make it to the plant with incredible numbers of Decepticon minions, including Blitzwing and some autoguns that are unable to tell friend from foe. When they reach the generator, they encounter Blitzwing's partner-in-crime and Decepticon Astrotrain, asked to deliver the energy to Megatron. The Autobots manage to drive him away and save the dam.

On their way out, they meet up with the Autobot Headmaster Highbrow, who rejoins his comrades. Back at base, Wheeljack jokes on how he didn't want to swim if they failed. Jazz then boasts about surfing a tidal wave when Cybertron was close to Earth. This infuriated Optimus, who didn't want to joke about such war-like situations. He does admit that he does feel fear about falling, but as long as he remembers he is fighting for peace, his fear is no more. Jazz and Wheeljack apologize for their behavior.
{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter their chief medic, Ratchet instead of Highbrow.}}

====Stage 5====
Thanks to the efforts of the Autobots, the Decepticons had stopped their evil deeds for the time being. But Optimus knew that this moment of peace wouldn't last for long and must stay vigilant. According to the Autobots they recovered, there were two UFO's, but could not gain any information other than that as they were scattered out by the electromagnetic waves and the Decepticons found them, trying to defend themselves until help could arrive.

Just then, the Autobots received another SOS signal, asking for help. Optimus was opted to go and help, but Wheeljack asks for an investigation in case it was another Decepticon trap. Optimus still felt responsible for putting his comrades in danger before though, and decides not to send an investigation and head straight to the SOS signal, and prepare for departure. The shuttle's sensors indicates the presence of both Autobots ''and'' Decepticons. The team beats through several Decepticons and conveniently placed autoguns, as well as Shockwave and Snapdragon, and reaches the signal destination.

{{note|In this stage, the boss and end story cutscene will be totally different if playing through a second time. As such, two separate sections have been made dealing with both scenarios.}}

=====Normal Scenario=====
When they arrive, they encounter a mysterious new Decepticon who shares the same face as Megatron and recognizes Optimus Prime. The bot introduces himself as Galvatron, the leader of the "future Decepticons". Through a tough battle, the Autobots are somehow able to defeat Galvatron, but the new guy acts like a poor loser, transforming into cannon mode and blasting the team down before retreating. As the Autobots prepare to leave, they encounter...Hot Rod? No, he looks like him, and accompanied by an elderly war veteran and a lovely female. To add more confusion and surprise, "Hot Rod" introduces himself as Rodimus Prime, even though Optimus is the true Prime.

Optimus and his team takes Rodimus and his allies—Kup and Arcee—back to the shuttle to answer some questions. They are revealed to be from the future and that the UFO's they were chasing were shuttles they were in, and Galvatron is the future leader of the Decepticons. Jazz begins pushing Rodimus by asking what happens to Optimus and how he became from Hot Rod to Rodimus, but Optimus stops him, as he knows that time travel is possible, they don't need to know so much about their futures, and that he could feel the same Matrix of Leadership he carries within Rodimus, proving that it was true. The true story would be revealed the next day after a well-earned rest...

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have allied themselves with their future counterparts and allies, where it is revealed that Galvatron is Megatron's future self, much to the surprise of Starscream, but Megatron could feel the same metal impulse. Galvatron decides to lie to his former self by telling of how he is the new ruler of the entire universe, but the Autobots plan to use a doomsday device to destroy them. This was a conversation for the future...

The next day, Optimus becomes shocked by the news that Megatron's most faithful servant, Shockwave, had turned on him in the future. This is because after he became Galvatron, he became more violent and began losing his own authority. Observing his new leader, Shockwave deems himself a better choice as Decepticon leader and began a one-robot mutiny with an item known as [[Zel Quartz]] as Rodimus begins to tell the story of how this all happened...

''"'Zel Quartz was an energy mineral that Shockwave discovered. If the Quartz is set into the body of a being born on Cybertron—for example a Transformer—that being will experience a prodigious increase in power and strength. So, blessed with an inexhaustible supply of energy and destructive power, Shockwave made himself leader of the Decepticons. But he could not bear the extra power loads, his circuitry malfunctioned, and he began to run amok.

''"Of course, both the Autobots and the Decepticons tried to stop him, but fueled by the near infinite power resources of the Zel Quartz, Shockwave was unstoppable. Both sides suffered massive losses. Eventually, the planet Cybertron itself was destroyed! Rodimus Prime knew that Shockwave would not stop until the Earth and all other planets were bathed in fire. Rodimus sought help from the Quintessons, who were also under threat. They provided technology, which would enable Transformers to travel back in time through a timeslip, where they planned to stop Shockwave from ever unearthing the Zel Quartz!"''

The elite of the survivors boarded a shuttle and threw themselves into the timeslip. Unfortunately, the Decepticons discovered the Autobots' plans and secretly followed them through the timeslip to steal the Quartz for themselves. Because of this, a space energy destabilization occurred and both sides' groups were scattered, with no way to contact their friends, which explains everything that's happened. Realizing the danger the universe was in, Optimus and his Autobots agreed to help Rodimus find the Quartz and destroy it! But there was a problem...

No one knows where it is, because the mineral is called by another name in this timeline. What's even worse, the Decepticons are planning to steal the Quartz and fooling Megatron and his Decepticons into believing the doomsday weapon nonsense and the Zel Quartz was the power source of this weapon. Wheeljack contacts the Paradius United Government and discovers three possible locations as to where the Zel Quartz may be and begin to roll out.

=====Alternate Scenario=====
Unsurprisingly, it was another trap after all made by Megatron. Optimus simply laughs in relief, knowing that his Autobot comrades aren't in any sort of danger. However, his laughter turns to shock when Megatron unveils four [[Optimus Prime clone]]s, in case of an emergency. However, much to his surprise, Optimus and his Autobots are able to defeat them. Optimus tells Megatron that imitations are nothing without a heart and soul. Irritated, Megatron quickly retreats, vowing not to forget this humiliation and smash Optimus to bits.

Returning to base, Jazz was quite angered at Megatron's actions, but Optimus and Wheeljack were not so bothered by it, as there is and always will be on Optimus Prime in this universe. But now that the Decepticons were back and active, they were going to be busy. Just then, Rodimus and his allies appear, ready to help fight by their side again. Just then, Wheeljack takes out a small capsule which he picked up from one of the Decepticons they fought. Wheeljack begins examining it as everyone else rests up for the day.

Wheeljack urgently announces he discovered something. The capsule is actually a message from the future, explaining the UFO's that landed here. Though the message is low quality, Wheeljack surmises that the message came from the Quintessons. In the message, it says that in the future, the Decepticons had obtained the Zel Quartz and wiped out their entire race. Kup is quite shocked as he thought that it existed in stories. The Quartz exists on certain planets and if a Transformer installs it in his body, his body will increase to monstrous proportions. The senders obviously sent this in hoping that people of the past would find it, and the message encourages the receivers to destroy the Quartz.

Unfortunately, Wheeljack had already scoured through the database but found no record of the Zel Quartz. Rodimus assumes that the mineral is named something else in this timeline. Wheeljack did also find three minerals that may be the Quartz. Knowing the Decepticons had heard this message too, the Autobots hurried up and prepared to search for Zel Quartz and destroy it!

====Stage 6====
The first destination is the [[Lazalt Ruins]], which were just recently discovered. The Autobots arrived there personally for the briefing. These ruins were said to have been the remains of an ancient alien civilization, that arrived here before the first settlements of Zel Samine. Deep within the ruins is a temple where a magical [[Jewel of Mystery]] is enshrined, thought to be the Zel Quartz. Jazz tried warning Kup about the dangers of the jungle, but Kup began recalling a time on [[Floron III]], surrounded by a horde of mech-eating plants. However, Optimus had to stop him, as the Decepticons were already ahead of the Autobots, and Arcee prepared to choose the team and formation.

Optimus was correct, as the Decepticons were lurking and ready to strike in the jungle, including the Decepticon Headmaster Skullcruncher. Although they defeat him, the Autobots learn that without a key to a large door, they are unable to proceed. Realizing that Skullcruncher has the key, they pursue him and battle again. This time, they made sure to obtain the key needed to move forward. Continuing, they eventually run into the Horrorcon Apeface. They are able to take him down and eventually discover the Jewel of Mystery. However, unlucky for the Autobots, it was guarded by the Decepticon combiner, Predaking. After an extremely tough battle, Predaking is defeated and the Autobots obtain the Jewel of Mystery.

As they prepare to leave, the team encounters the Autobot Wrecker, Springer, who gladly joins the battle. After they analyze the Jewel of Mystery, it's sad to say that it wasn't Zel Quartz. Jazz makes sure that the jewel is returned to the ruins. Optimus tries questioning Wheeljack, but he is so wrapped up in Kup's stories that he doesn't hear him until Arcee screams at them. Though Kup and Wheeljack apologize, Optimus reflects on how valuable is a warrior with entertaining stories to share, but is as great an honor to be scolded by quite a beautiful woman like Arcee. This leaves Optimus thinking and remembering about his significant other [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-One]]....
{{note|If the player goes through the game a second time, they will meet up with the Autobot Headmaster, Hardhead instead of Springer.}}

====Stage 7====
The next candidate is a drillbit in the [[Karzite mine]], a mine in the middle of the desert like Earth's oilfields. The mineral was an incredible specimen that is made of great materials. Even though it is a survey mission, Optimus knows the Decepticons will most likely be there and prepares to pick a team and formation. Out of nowhere, Rodimus asks Optimus what he would need to do to become a great leader like him. Optimus and the others were taken aback by this, but Optimus said he would gladly answer his question after the mission is completed.

When they arrive, they encounter Decepticons in the desert. Although the sand made it hard for the team to maneuver, the Decepticons had the same exact trouble. The team also encountered more autoguns that once again did not discriminate. They would encounter and defeat Blitzwing once again as well as a small army of Sharkticons. No sooner than that, they find Octane, gathering energy for himself to usurp Galvatron as Decepticon leader. Rodimus isn't too impressed. The Autobots manage to defeat him and he runs away like a "thin-fuelled coward", as Rodimus puts it. However, when they finally find the drill, they have a nasty encounter with Trypticon, who is guarding the drillbit. After an extremely tough battle, Trypticon is defeated and the drillbit is obtained.

As they head back, they run into the speedy messenger Blurr, who joins up with the team. When they analyze it, the drill bit doesn't appear have any special effect on Transformers, meaning no Zel Quartz. Optimus orders his Autobots to return the drill bit back and then get their filters cleaned form the sand. Wheeljack has a new cleaner, but he can't find it in the storage—or ''anything'', for that matter—since the incident, so most of the others go to help. This leaves Optimus and Rodimus to have their private talk mentioned earlier. Rodimus asks again what he needs to do to be a leader. Optimus answers by reminiscing of the mission in the desert. The desert is scorching hot in the day, yet freezing cold in the night. If Rodimus is to be a great leader, he must remember the desert, not measure things by strictness, and believe in the justice in his heart and the answers will come naturally. Rodimus now feels much more confident and would be okay even after returning to the future.

{{note|If the player goes through the game a second time, they will meet the Monsterbot Grotusque instead of Blurr.}}

====Stage 8====
The final possible location of the Zel Quartz is the [[Atalstan gem mine]], where energy is extracted and several jewels and fossils are situated there as well. When something out of the ordinary is found, a new shaft is created and mining begins there, and because of this the mine has grown to an enormous size. The final gem is a giant crystal recently discovered and polished up, much to Arcee's excitement. An investigation team was already sent, but Optimus asks Jazz to inform the civilians of the danger and evacuate immediately. Optimus begins the preparations.

Optimus already knew the Decepticons were here and the crystal was only half-buried. This meant they needed to hurry. Going through the mine, they found Mindwipe and beat him once again, before encountering Galvatron's right-hand-bot, Cyclonus. In a noble and heroic effort, the Autobots defeat him and progress forward even when knowing the Decepticons were waiting. As they made it through, they encountered the Sweep leader, Scourge, who first sends out his minions to deal with the Autobots. Even with the numbers game, he is unable to take them down and they finally arrive at the crystal. Unfortunately, it's here that the Autobots meet the six-changing ninja, Sixshot, guarding it. Through a rough and difficult battle, they defeat him and obtain the large crystal.

As they prepare to leave, they encounter the brave and honorable commander, Ultra Magnus, who gladly joins the group. But after they analyze it, guess what—it's not the Zel Quartz either! Although it is a new crystal and an amazing specimen, Arcee is quite upset it's not the Quartz and must be returned immediately. Optimus decides to return it, and Arcee volunteers to accompany him. Just then, Rodimus gives her a jewel that was mixed in with the dirt while carrying the crystal. Rodimus would have hoped she would like it and that it would help him get a better reputation with the ladies, but instead she scolds her commander for taking the jewel out without permission, much to Rodimus' embarassment and dismay. As a punishment, Optimus made Rodimus take his place in returning both gems to the mine.

{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will meet the Monsterbot Doublecross instead of Ultra Magnus, reuniting the entire Autobot squadron in both timelines.}}

====Stage 9====
Even though the Autobots have been keeping the Decepticons from plundering Zel Samine, they still haven't found the Zel Quartz and they are fresh out of good leads. Just then, Wheeljack and Arcee come back from looking at the old archives with good news. When the planet was first pioneered, a strange and powerful mineral was found, which would be the namesake of the planet: Zel Rock! It was no-doubt the Zel Quartz and it is located at the [[ELTA]], short for the "Enormous Laser Transmission Array", a facility where they convert the energy cultivated on Zel Samine into a laser beam for transmission back to the home planet of Paradius and is located at the central core. Unfortunately, as they prepare for departure, they learn from the Paradius United Government that the Decepticons beat them to ELTA already. The Autobots carefully began choosing the team. The final battle has begun....

As anticipated, the Decepticons were ready for the Autobots and also set up a mine field as well, but they were not willing to give up so soon. As they moved on, they had an encounter with Megatron's treasonous second-in-command, Starscream. A tough battle arose, but the Autobots came out on top, forcing Starscream to retreat, claiming discretion is the better part of valor. As the Autobots proceeded, they were forced to deal with minefields and automated guns that ''still'' do not know allies and enemies. After all that, they end up fighting both Scourge and Cyclonus together, but the team is able to win again. But just as they leave, the Decepticon combiner Abominus appears to stop them. After a tough-winded battle, they defeat Abominus and continue on. After defeating Snapdragon, Apeface, and Astrotrain one last time, they finally reach ELTA.

====Stage 10====
As they arrive inside, the alarm has sounded and the Decepticons have already breached the ELTA central core and an explosion is imminent. In a hurried rush, the Autobots quickly hurry to the core where after dashing through the halls they encounter Trypticon again but defeat him once more. As they reach the center, they are greeted by Trypticon's partner, Full-Tilt, Soundwave, and Soundblaster. The trio are soundly defeated and the team encounters the Decepticon leaders, Megatron and Galvatron, now in possession of the Zel Quartz and bet the Quartz on a final battle. Within an arena surrounded by electric barriers, the final battle commenced!

It was a truly heart-stopping and difficult battle, but somehow, the Autobots pull through and finally obtain the Zel Quartz. However, ELTA was ready to self-destruct. Optimus commanded his Autobots to evacuate immediately and leave the Primes to handle the situation. Optimus realized that even if the Quartz was put back in place, it would still blow up and kill every Transformer here. Because of the energy concentrated on ELTA, a global catastrophe would occur with nothing left to do about it. Not even the Decepticons would be able to escape this, and all the talk of justice was all empty. It was then that Optimus realized how it could be stopped. He and Rodimus unveil their respective Matrixes and unleash their powers, stopping the energy flow and saving Zel Samine, much to the surprise of Megatron and Galvatron. The Decepticon leaders leave the planet, swearing revenge one day.

Reuniting with their Autobots, they learn that the Decepticons used the Space Bridge to return home, and Kup knows they will return one day, as the Decepticons were like cockroaches that don't die no matter how many times they're stepped on. With the full agreement and cooperation of the United Government, Optimus reaffirms his decision to destroy the Zel Quartz. In exchange of this, Wheeljack will help re-engineer ELTA's core apparatus. As they discuss a way to destroy the Zel Quartz, Starscream suddenly swoops in and swipes the Quartz, lying in wait for them to slip up. With the Quartz in his possession, Starscream flies away from the planet to install it somewhere he won't be interrupted. Optimus laughs, as Wheeljack reveals that the Quartz needs the planet's electromagnetic waves to be powerful and can only be properly installed in the planet's atmosphere. As the Autobots laugh about Starscream's incompetence, the shuttle had finally been repaired, but the future Autobots begin to disappear. Now that the Zel Quartz is gone, history has been remade and Rodimus and his friends were now returning to their era. Both sides salute each other and the Autobots roll on home as Starscream floats powerless and helplessly in space.....

{{gamestub}}

===Decepticon Story===
====Stage 1====
In a Decepticon shuttle that crashed in a cave on Zel Samine, Starscream and Soundwave finish making modifications to the Space Bridge to send their leader there, so that they could try an investigation of a mysterious flying object that landed there and the disappearance of the Decepticons sent to investigate before them. Though Soundwave was sure it would work, the Space Bridge backfires during transport and becomes severely damaged. But Megatron was being transported, and Starscream decides to lead Soundwave to his estimated location of arrival. But when they arrive, no one is around, leading them to believe he was destroyed in the transport.

Just as Starscream was about to name himself new leader, he was blasted back by none other than Megatron, alive and quite well. Soundwave apologizes for the inconvenience of the space bridge not working. However Megatron reveals that the Autobots—most notably Optimus Prime, Wheeljack, and Jazz—had also crash-landed on Zel Samine to investigate the mysterious flying object that landed here. They detected the space bridge signature, just as Megatron called Optimus, challenging him to a battle right in front of Prime's shuttle, which Optimus gladly accepted, though Wheeljack noted he wouldn't get past him. Starscream pondered why Megatron alerted them to their attack, with Megatron stating that the Autobots are merely "play-acting as heroes", and wondered if he could put in a good word for Starscream to [[Starscream (Armada)|become an Autobot]]. Starscream shouted he'd rather die and brushed off his previous claim, as the Decepticons prepared to select their mission team.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Megatron Surrounded.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Starscream looked suspiciously enthusiastic to join the beating of Megatron.]]
As they were about to move forward, however, they were stopped by an invisible wall which only goes down after defeating waves of Autobot troops. After dealing with hordes of enemies, Wheeljack, and even a deadly minefield that Wheeljack put up himself, Megatron and his troops finally reach Optimus Prime. After a long and hard-fought battle, Prime drives off in the opposite direction of his own shuttle. Megatron looks on frustrated, but nonetheless, the Decepticons take all the Energon aboard the shuttle.

Soundwave considers the mission still considered the battle a victory for the Energon they stole, but Starscream notes that the shuttle is inoperable due to the accident and they are unable to use the space bridge. Soundwave explains that the planet Zel Samine produces multiple energy sources for it to be transported to other planets within the Paradius system. Megatron devises a plan to steal the energy sources of Zel Samine to repair their shuttle and then investigate the truth behind the UFO's. Starscream wondered about the missing Decepticons, but Megatron knows they would join if they smelled a fight as the trio prepare for the battle ahead.

====Stage 2====
Megatron and Soundwave spoke of the mysterious UFO and the mystery behind everything that has been happening. According to sensors, the UFO appeared after an explosion in a space-time discontinuity event, and landed on Zel. The Decepticons sent to investigate mysteriously vanished, leading Soundwave to believe it was no mere accident. Megatron believes that Optimus Prime may be creating a new weapon, similar to the Immobilizer and Solar Tower. However, Soundwave reveals the dangerous electromagnetic rays emmitted from the planet's sun, Paradius, which are harmful to Transformers, most notably in high altitudes and in space, which was the cause of the Space Bridge's malfunction in the first place. This meant they were stuck on the planet and needed to get more energy so that the repairs could be done.

The first target is the wind power plant on Mount Jaad, though Starscream was not sure, as the outputs were quite feeble and gathering power over a wide area would be tedious. Soundwave notes that the energy outputs are much higher here than on Earth, and Megatron reveals the main target is the main power station, where the turbine energy is collected and stored. However, the Autobots were occupying the area, but Starscream notes he could destroy them all with one shot, as Megatron prepares to select the team and formation.

As they reach the power plant, they encounter heavy Autobot resistance and automated defense cannons, getting in the way of their progress. They also encounter the Autobot Headmaster, Brainstorm, who they soundly defeat, with Megatron finding him to be "all bark and no bite". As they continue towards the main station, they breach more defenses and defeat Wheeljack yet again. Finally reaching the main station, they are encountered by Hound, determined to keep "the beauty of this place". Needless to say, he was defeated and the Decepticons prepared to suck the plant dry.

As they prepared to leave, they encounter the Horrorcon Headmaster, Snapdragon, who rejoins the Decepticons on Zel. Returning to the shuttle with all the energy, they prepare to use it to repair the shuttle. As Starscream ponders to himself about how pointless the complexity of the operation was and that Megatron is not fit to lead, but his leader interrupts his train of thought with claiming to know about Starscream's thoughts, but revealed not to. Naivity like that was how Starscream would "never catch [Megatron] sleeping".

{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter the Headmaster Weirdwolf, instead of Snapdragon.}}

====Stage 3====
Their next stop is a Geothermal Power Plant, but once again, Starscream scoffs at the primitive resources that the planet has until Soundwave mentions the large volume of the energy. But Starscream also brings up that the facility is underground, making it difficult for him to fly. This gives Megatron an excuse to laugh at the one Decepticon who has constantly tried undermining him, for being unable to fly with a roof above him, but Starscream recomposes himself. Just then, Laserbeak returns and reports the Autobots taking up defensive positions, making the Decepticons prepare.

Megatron is astounded by the marvelous atmosphere of the plant as they move on, taking down any Autobots that get in their way. Along the way, they encounter the Mosterbot Grotusque and soundly defeat him. Megatron commented he was "as useless as he was ugly". Continuing their way, they encounter a hot magma panel floor that damages them if stayed on there for prolonged periods. As the reach the main power station, they are greeted by another Monsterbot Doublecross. They defeat him and take the energy.

As they get ready for departure, they encounter the Triple Changer, Blitzwing, who scolded his fellow Decepticons for being so late, but joined the party nonetheless. Returning to the shuttle with the energy, the Decepticons contemplate the mission's success and the Autobots uselessness and inability to stop them. However, they were unable to gain the necessary amount of energy. Megatron knew that Soundwave was not responsible, though. Instead, it was Starscream, having been told by Laserbeak that he was pilfering the Energon cubes. As Megatron contemplates having Laserbeak to replace him, Starscream immediately goes to return them and Megatron has him work on the shuttle as punishment, and quietly plans to have him face Optimus Prime as well.

{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter the Headmaster Skullcruncher, instead of Blitzwing.}}

{{gamestub}}

==Characters==
Below is a list of some of the characters that appear in the game. Not all characters are unlocked when you beat a storyline for the first time. This encourages the player to go back and try again to get the rest. There are also some changes made to the story after beating it the first time.

[[File:Doublecross mb.jpg|right|upright=1.2|thumb|Doublecross as seen in the video game.]]
[[File:Ps2tatakai full-tilt.jpg|right|154px|thumb|I failed to transform in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]].]]
{{featuredcharacters|nonumbering=true
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]†
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]
*[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Grotusque]]
*[[Doublecross]]

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]†
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]†
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
*[[Octane]]†
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]
*[[Full-Tilt (G1)|Full-Tilt]]
*[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]
*[[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]]
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]†
*[[Apeface]]†
*[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]†
*[[Dark Hot Rod]]

|h3=Non-player characters|c3=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
'''Autobots'''
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
*[[Computron (G1)|Computron]]
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Skylynx]]
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]
*[[Punch (G1)|Punch]]
*[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]
*[[Pointblank]]
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]
*[[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]]
*[[Raiden]]
*[[Shouki]]
*[[Yukikaze (G1)|Yukikaze]]
*[[Suiken]]
*[[Kaen]]
*[[Megatron Clone]]

{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
'''Decepticons'''
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnell]] {{sic}}
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]]
*[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]
*[[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]]
*[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]]
*[[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]]
*[[Misfire (G1)|Missfire]] {{sic}}
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]]
*[[Wingspan]]
*[[Pounce]]
*[[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]]
*[[Flywheels]]
*[[Optimus Prime clone]]
{{!}}}
}}

†Characters with multiple alternate modes (such as [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and the [[Triple Changer]]s) are presented as multiple characters, each having different alternate modes.

==Quotes==
"Dessert will be served after I take care of the main course... Optimus Prime!"
:—'''Megatron''' says a terrible metaphor.

"Lens-headed sneak!"
:—'''Starscream''' doesn't trust Laserbeak.

"Sheesh... It's easier to fight Decepticons than get along with a woman."
:—'''Rodimus''' stating [[Transformer romance#Orientation|his preference for the same sex]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:Ps2tatakai gamemechanics.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb]]
{{bigquote|The invisible wall seems to have disappeared. Looks like we can't get rid of that wall unless we take care of all of them.|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]}}

Gameplay consists of punching and kicking your way through canyons, hillsides, and roadways where legions of cloned opponents await you. There's very little variance in gameplay, and everything gets very repetitive very fast. The environments are all small and closed in, so don't expect a lot of exploration. You're there to duke it out with the enemy, and that's it. However, some environmental objects such as windmills and power coils can be interacted with, by attacking them, even though all you're doing is turning them off. Some levels offer multiple paths that can be taken, but thanks to the game's repetitive nature, the player will end up in very similar situations no matter which road they choose.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Optimus Button Sequence Gameplay.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|You don't say.]]

Players can perform different attacks and combos by using different combinations of the basic punch and kick buttons. A charge attack be performed by holding the punch or kick button until the charge meter is filled. Releasing the button in front of an enemy will trigger a button mashing sequence, requiring the player to hit the punch or kick button repeatedly in order to deal more damage before delivering a finishing blow. Pushing both buttons simultaneously will unleash a special attack; for example [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] will perform a three-hit combo using his [[Energon-axe|Energon Axe]], while [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] will eject [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who will fly straight into enemies.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Optimus Truck Attack.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|Should we play "[[The Touch]]", or the [[The Headmasters (song)|Headmasters theme song]]?]]
Players can transform their character at will during gameplay. While in their alternate modes, characters have two attacks that require energy to use. While characters that transform into vehicles are able to move around more quickly, characters like [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] instead move slower in their [[alternate mode]]s, though their attacks deal more damage.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Optimus Upgrade Screen.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Fallen opponents will drop power-ups, including red health refills, blue energy refills, and tiny Energon cubes. These Energon cubes can be collected by the player and spent in the Garage sub-menu between levels. Spending Energon on ''Machine Production'' will upgrade the characters' stats, while ''Equipments Upgrade'' will upgrade their weapons. However, the characters' stats will also be upgraded automatically when they earn a level-up on their own as the game progresses.
{{-}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Ps2tatakai callofthefuture.jpg|right|thumb]]
The game's story, titled '''''The Transformers: Call of the Future''''', takes its cue from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]], even specifically referring to the events of several episodes. It is (presumably) set in 2003, the year it was released, but, via [[time travel]], also features characters from an alternate future which branched off from cartoon continuity in late 2010 (after the events of "[[Webworld]]", but before "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]"). It does not seem to be officially considered part of the [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]], however; it features several anachronistic appearances by characters who are ''not'' time-travelling (the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], for instance, are shown to be working with their respective factions, when they will not leave their homeworld to do so until 2011), and its events were not included in the painfully comprehensive [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon timeline|2007 timeline]].

===Transformers References===
For all its flaws, this game comes with a whole lotta fanwank. Besides the sheer number of characters, both Autobots and Decepticons occasionally reference episodes of the original [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'' cartoon]].
*Considering the possibility that the Autobots were developing a new weapon, Megatron was initially dismissive, but recalled the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]] and [[Solar Power Tower]] from the episodes "[[The Immobilizer]]" and "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" as proof it was not out of the Autobots' capabilities.
*When learning they will have to battle the other faction at the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]], which generates energy through dams, Jazz and Megatron remarked it was just like when they woke up on Earth. They referred, of course, to the battle at [[Sherman Dam]] in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
*Jazz claimed he surfed a giant tidal wave back when Cybertron came really close to the Earth, recalling the events in the episode "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]".
*Obviously, the Transformers who travel back from the future make numerous references to the events that transpired during ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*The Quintessons are said to have created the means for the future Transformers to reach the past, which would seem based on their creation of the [[Time Window]] in "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]".
*Upon hearing that Rodimus Prime, Arcee and Kup are from the future, Optimus Prime talked about Spike traveling back in time when he entered old ruins and a time machine on Cybertron that saved his life. These are references to the episodes "[[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court]]" wherein [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] traveled through time by means of the [[Dragon Mound]], and "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" wherein the [[Kronosphere]] brought the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to the past where they saved Optimus's previous persona Orion Pax.
*Wishing to illustrate he could take care of himself, Kup began recalling a story of when he and some others went to [[Floron III]] and encountered a horde of [[Morphobot|mech eatin' plants]]. This story deals with concepts introduced in the episode "[[Quest for Survival]]", but not events that actually happened in the cartoon.
*Considering the story of the Jewel of Mystery, a stone of great power that lied within a recently discovered jungle temple, Megatron was reminded of the [[Crystal of Power]] which he had found within a temple on Earth in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
*During Wheeljack and Kup's talk of the old days, they talked about a battle against a giant black Decepticon{{fact|Who?}} and the beauty of [[Crystal City]]. Crystal City appeared in "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]".
*While sort of flirting with Arcee, Optimus Prime thought back on [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]], that he hadn't seen her in a long time and that he missed her. Elita One is Optimus Prime's life partner who appeared in the episodes "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]" and "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]".
*At one point, Cyclonus noticed that Galvatron had been acting a lot saner ever since coming to Zel Samine and wondered if it was due to Paradius's radiation. It made him think back on times he had visited other places to 'cure' Galvatron, including the planet [[Torkulon]] which they visited in "[[Webworld]]".
*At another point, Cyclonus was able to restrain his temper against Starscream's insult by telling himself he would "turn into a pathetic ghost eventually," as per the events of "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" and "[[Ghost in the Machine (G1)|Ghost in the Machine]]".
*Soundwave compared the abilities of the Zel Quartz to the [[Heart of Cybertron]], the gem that powered the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' and was temporarily retrieved in "[[Microbots]]".

===Trivia===
*Those who preordered this game received a special ''The Transformers: The Matrix Disk 01'' DVD containing all the Japanese toy [[commercial]]s for ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and 2010)|Transformers 2010]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Transformers: The Headmasters|The Headmasters]]'', along with the recap episodes for each of those series that were previously compiled in ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Heroic Legend Compilation]]''.
* The game's original [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRnKwY_YeWk CG promotional video] was later used as the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUnHAjOezY opening cinematic], albeit with several minor alterations between the two.
** The "A.D. 2003" date in the trailer was changed to the more generic "A New Era" in the opening.
** While the trailer uses English character names and terminology such as "Optimus Prime" and "Decepticons", the intro version instead uses their Japanese counterparts such as "Convoy" and "Destrons". This is an especially strange choice, as the rest of the game exclusively uses English names.
** During the cast spotlight sequence, the intro version adds spotlights for Chromedome and Weirdwolf that were not present in the trailer.
** In the trailer, the brief montage after the "A battle without an end" text features sequences of Jazz and Wheeljack transforming, Soundwave deploying his cassettes, and Rodimus pulling the Matrix apart and holding it aloft. The intro version significantly changes this, however, by removing the Rodimus scene entirely, shortening the other two sequences, and interspersing new segments of Chromedome's headmaster unit attaching and powering up, Weirdwolf slashing the camera, and Weirdwolf attempting to sneak attack Chromedome. Combined with the above change and the Headmasters being second-playthrough recruits not relevant to the larger plot, it seems plausible that the post-Season 3 characters were late additions during development.
*The opening cinematic and main menu theme sample [[Lion]]'s [[The Transformers (Theme)|theme]] from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
*The voice cast is made up of English-speaking actors based in Japan, similar to games like ''{{w|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night}}'' and the original ''{{w|Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil}}'', and features many of the same actors. For instance, Optimus Prime is played by [[Robert Belgrade|Alucard's voice actor]], while Ultra Magnus is [[Barry Gjerde|Barry Burton's]]. The resulting performances are...about what you'd expect. (You know things are messed up when [[Jeff Manning|''Megatron's'' voice actor]] pulls off a better [[Peter Cullen]] than the actor who plays Optimus.)
*Being produced for the Japanese market, the characterizations used for the Generation 1 characters largely reflect their personalities from the Japanese dub of the original cartoon, such as Wheeljack being recognized as an "old man", a trait absent from his typical western depictions.
*The CG scenes and rendered stills used for character portraits are derived from [[Studio OX]] artwork, whereas the game models themselves are largely based on stylized versions of the original animation models. This can be a little jarring when Megatron's entire head or Optimus' wheel placement abruptly change during scene transitions from in-game scenes to CG versions.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20100124003405/http://www.atlus.co.jp/cs/game/takara/gameinfo/charactor/transformer.html ''The Transformers'' game page at Atlus.co.jp] (archive copy)
*Video game site ''IGN'' did a [https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/01/transformers-vs-transformers humorous comparison] between this game and the later [[Melbourne House]]-developed [[Transformers (Armada PS2)|''Armada'' game]] as a "battle between Japan and Australia". Australia won.
*[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/917923-transformers-japan/faqs/27448 Move List and Guide (incomplete) via GameFAQs]

{{gamestub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (PS2)}}
[[Category:Generation 1 video games]]

Atlus

2025-09-30T17:22:04Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

[[Image:Atlus_logo.png|thumb|right|240px|DIE, ATLUS]]
'''Atlus Co., Ltd.''' (株式会社アトラス ''Kabushiki-gaisha Atlus'') is a Japanese video game developer and publisher, best known for developing the ''Megami Tensei'', ''Persona'', ''Etrian Odyssey'' and ''Trauma Center'' series. Their western branch, Atlus USA, deals strictly in publishing, and is known for localizing titles like ''Disgaea: Hour of Darkness'', among others. Atlus was acquired by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] in [[2003]], but fell into the hands of Index Holdings later in [[2006]], which itself fell into the hands of [[Sega]] in [[2013]].

==Games==
*''[[The Transformers (G1 PS2)|The Transformers]]'' (2003, ''The Best'' re-release)

==External links==
*[http://www.atlus.com/ Atlus USA]
*{{w|Atlus|Atlus at Wikipedia}}

[[Category:Video game companies]]

The Transformers (G1 PS2)

2025-09-30T17:21:20Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Atlus' logo only appears on the budget release; it's a Takara game otherwise.

{{disambig3.5|the Japanese PlayStation 2 game based on G1|the English PlayStation 2 game based on Armada|Transformers (Armada PS2)|Transformers}}
{{cleanup|August 2009|Decepticon story section needs general cleanup.}}
{{nav-fsrltf}}
{{videogame
|title=''The Transformers''
|image=TF tatakai.jpg
|caption=My CG cinematic sequences are only as good as [[Transformers (Armada PS2)|your]] in-game graphics!
|japanese=トランスフォーマー
|romaji=Transformer
|developer=[[Winkysoft]]
|publisher=[[TakaraTomy|Takara]] [[Atlus]] (''The Best'' re-release)
|date=[[October 30|30 October]] 2003
|platform=PlayStation 2
|rating=
|credits=The Transformers (G1 PS2)/credits
}}

'''''The Transformers''''' is a Japanese video game for the Sony PlayStation 2 based on the [[The Transformers (franchise)|original]] [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''Transformers'' series]]. It was developed by [[Winkysoft]] and published by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] on [[October 30]], 2003. The game features [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] campaigns, with the player able to control squads of three Transformers on action missions, gathering numerous new troops along the way.

Despite all of the game's spoken dialogue being in English with an option to display English text, this game was never released in America. Almost a year before release, [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] announced that they were finalizing details regarding the game with a US publisher.<ref>[https://tformers.com/transformers-new-transformers-video-game-pictures/652/news.html New Transformers Video Game Pictures], TFormers, October 14, 2002</ref> Ultimately, three months before the game's release in Japan, Takara announced that the game would not see release in the US, remaining exclusive to Japan.<ref>[https://tformers.com/transformers-no-transformers-tatakai-for-the-usa/1566/news.html No Transformers Tatakai for the USA], TFormers, July 9, 2003</ref>

{{TOCclear}}

==Plot==
[[File:Ps2tatakai shockwave2.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Shockwave's reign of terror and destruction!]]
In the year 2010, [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], who has grown disgruntled with Galvatron's abusive leadership, discovers the [[Zel Quartz]] on [[Zel Samine]]. Realizing that it is a power source even greater than the [[Heart of Cybertron]], Shockwave implants the Quartz into himself. He stages a one-robot coup and becomes the leader of the Decepticons...until the surging power load fries his systems and he malfunctions, running amok. He destroys much of both the Autobot and Decepticon armies and eventually destroys [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] itself before setting out to raze many innocent planets.

Unable to stop Shockwave in the present, [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] allies with the [[Quintesson]]s to send an elite cadre back in time to destroy the Quartz before Shockwave discovers it.

In 2003, both the Autobots and Decepticons detect an explosion caused by the arrival of visitors from the future over Zel Samine and send teams to investigate. Both sides lose contact with their teams. The Autobots send another team consisting of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] to investigate, but their shuttle crashes, and Wheeljack learns that an abnormality in Zel Samine's sun causes electromechanical systems to malfunction and drains them of their power. The Decepticons likewise send [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (with [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] arriving later by [[space bridge|Space Bridge]] after a very bumpy ride).

The Space Bridge malfunctions, causing significant damage to the Decepticon ship. The Decepticons lure the Autobots away from their own shuttle in order to steal their supply of [[energon]] and use it to repair their own shuttle. Afterwards, both sides skirmish over a series of local power sources, including the wind-power facility on [[Mount Jaad]], the [[Ranpas Geothermal Power Plant]], and the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]]. Along the way, both sides encounter members of their missing reconnaissance teams.

Both sides also encounter their counterparts from the future: the Autobots Rodimus Prime, [[Kup (G1)|Kup]], and [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]; and the Decepticons [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]], [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]], and [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]. Galvatron reveals his identity to Megatron, but lies to him about the Zel Quartz, claiming he rules the universe in the future and it is part of an Autobot doomsday weapon that must be destroyed.

Pursuing stories of items that may be the Zel Quartz, both sides clash over the [[Jewel of Mystery]] at the [[Lazalt Ruins]], a superhard mineral in a drill bit at [[Karzite mine]], and a giant crystal formation at the [[Atalstan gem mine]]. None of those leads pay off, but the planet's central archive includes reference to a "Zel Stone" which is part of the [[ELTA]] power transmission array, matching descriptions of the Zel Quartz exactly.

Both sides stage a climactic confrontation at ELTA (which is either destroyed or kept intact, depending on the winner) to capture the Quartz. After the battle is done, Starscream, who has overheard Galvatron and Cyclonus discussing the Quartz's true nature, rushes in to steal the Quartz for himself, jetting off into space with it.

Unbeknownst to Starscream, the physical structure of the quartz requires the atmospheric and electromagnetic properties of [[Zel Samine]] to maintain its integrity. Because he has fled into space rather than installing the Quartz on the planet as Shockwave had (and thus protecting it), the Quartz immediately degrades and becomes powerless. Outside of the atmosphere, exposed to the effects of Zel Samine's star without the Quartz's power to protect him, Starscream drifts powerless, left to contemplate his mistakes.

Their own timeline averted, the future Autobots and Decepticons vanish into sparkles of light, and Optimus Prime and Megatron are left to contemplate what they've learned from the experience.

===Autobot Story===
====Stage 1====
Wheeljack loses control of a shuttle and crash-lands on Zel Samine. There, Optimus Prime, Jazz, and himself attempt a rescue mission to find several missing Autobots that disappeared here a few days prior when they receive an SOS signal. Seeing it close by, the Autobots head out to investigate, but all they find is Soundwave. Just then, Megatron is heard from a transmitter, revealing the signal was a trap to lure them away from their shuttle and steal the energon on it. As Soundwave leaves, Wheeljack mourns about not staying behind to protect the shuttle, knowing that it wouldn't last long against Megatron's [[fusion cannon]].

As the Autobots get into formation, they notice an invisible barrier blocking them that only goes down when they defeat waves of Decepticon foot soldiers. After braving through Soundwave, several waves of enemies, and even a deadly minefield, the Autobots return to the shuttle to find it severely damaged, but Megatron still here. Optimus defeats Megatron but feels a strange feeling. He questions Megatron about the recent events on this planet, but is shocked to discover that Megatron himself is investigating these very same events.

Though not totally destroyed, their shuttle is really damaged from the Decepticon attack and will not be able to lift off for some time. Wheeljack establishes contact with the [[Paradius United Government]], whose power plants are under attack by the Decepticons and aren't able to handle them on their own. Jazz suggests contacting [[Cosmos (G1)|Adams]] to help bring the supplies, but Wheeljack reveals that he discovered that the system's sun emits electromagnetic waves that are harmful to Transformers. While the rays are not fatal, they will increase their consumption of energon and going into space or flying at high altitudes carries the risk of losing most of their energy and becoming stranded in space. The government's high official is an understanding person and will provide the Autobots with the necessary equipment needed to fix the ship, provided they help get rid of the Decepticons. Prime gratefully accepts and orders his men to prepare for battle.

====Stage 2====
Wheeljack tells Prime they are near ready for departure, but Optimus is more concerned of the events that were unfolding behind the missing Autobots and the UFO that happened a few days ago. He first thought that the space-time continuity event was some sort of accident, but when asking the Paradius home planet, they revealed that Zel Samine was used mainly for energy and resource mining, leaving this planet with few inhabitants, so no clues about the UFO or the missing Autobots. Wheeljack assumed that it may be a new Decepticon weapon but Optimus reminds him that Megatron is investigating it too. For now, though, their goals are set on keeping the planet safe from the Decepticons.

Jazz says that they are now fully ready for battle, and their first destination was [[Mount Jaad]], a wind power plant with harsh conditions. Wheeljack finds the stuff the Paradius system builds to be quite interesting. The Paradius people live in harmony with both nature and technology. Energy is developed onto this planet and sent to the Paradius home planet, allowing them to live in a way to protect the environment without polluting it on Zel. Wheeljack was about to do a history lesson, but Jazz reminded them of the Decepticons attacking the mountain, and Prime proceeds to select the team and formation.

As they reach the plant, they encounter heavy Decepticon resistance and some autogun cannons at the plant that don't seem to recognize the difference between friend and foe. They also encounter the Decepticon Headmaster, Mindwipe, determined to send them to their ancestors, but is soundly defeated. Optimus contemplates that with the [[Matrix of Leadership]], they will always have the wisdom and knowledge of their ancestors by their side. They continue forth to the main station and have another encounter with Soundwave and defeat him. As the Autobots reach the main station, they encounter the Decepticon [[Triple Changer]] Blitzwing, who finds his comrades to be totally worthless for letting them get so far. The Autobots manage to beat him and drive him and the Decepticons away.

As they prepare to return to base, they find their old yellow friend, Bumblebee, and he is recruited back into the mission. When they return, Optimus and Jazz talk about how well they did against the enemy. Optimus wants to leave quickly, finding that he and his comrades are only doing more harm than help, until Wheeljack shows up and informs him that the Paradius government thanks the Autobots for help and that they aren't just contaminants.
{{note|If the player goes through a second time, instead of Bumblebee the Autobots will meet up with the Headmaster Brainstorm, ready to track down the Decepticons until his engines overheat.}}
====Stage 3====
Their next stop on their Decepticon hunt was the [[Ranpas Geothermal Power Plant]]. Fortunately, the facility is underground, which gives the Autobots a distinct advantage as they will not have to worry about any ambushes. The Decepticons were stealing energy from the main turbine, destabilizing the underground magma. This could result in a massive explosion. Optimus was determined to stop them now, selecting carefully the members and formation, even if it is an evil trap.

Optimus does note that it will get hotter as they move closer, and take on head-on hordes of Decepticon soldiers. Along the way, they encounter the Horrorcon, Snapdragon, and soundly defeat him. Optimus was not impressed, claiming that he lost his will to fight. Eventually, they came over a lava floor where the magma began to severely damage them if continuously traversing over it. When they reach the main turbine, they discover Megatron's faithful servant, Shockwave, in charge of the energy conversion. The Autobots manage to beat him and save the planet from crisis.

As they prepare to leave, they meet the Autobot scout and naturalist, Hound, who is ready to join the battle despite the tranquility on Zel Samine. The Autobots contemplate on how tough the battle was and wonders if it has hindered their ability to transform. Optimus suggests a full maintenance inspection when they return to Cybertron. Wheeljack isn't worried and doesn't seem the temperatures to be a big deal. The gang then begin joking around about their friendly bouts, but Optimus sadly has to cease the happy time as more of Zel Samine needs their help.
{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter the Headmaster, Chromedome instead of Hound.}}

====Stage 4====
Their next destination is the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]], where the Decepticons are using the generator at full speed to steal the most energy from it. Jazz realizes that if it keeps up, the generator could break down or even self-destruct, and break apart the dam. The plant is in the middle of a forest, so getting there won't be a problem. It is also a simplistic designed building so they will not get lost. Jazz recalls the time they woke up on Earth, when the Decepticons were stealing from the [[Sherman Dam]]. Optimus commands to go forth and select the right members to stop the Decepticons.

The forest was foggy and perfect for ambushes, but the Autobots had no time to lose and would not let this stop them. Making their way through the forest, they encounter the Decepticon Headmaster Weirdwolf, who Prime saw as nothing short of being a nuisance. They are able to barely defeat him, as Prime mocks how even his claws and fangs cannot hurt a heart filled with justice. They soon make it to the plant with incredible numbers of Decepticon minions, including Blitzwing and some autoguns that are unable to tell friend from foe. When they reach the generator, they encounter Blitzwing's partner-in-crime and Decepticon Astrotrain, asked to deliver the energy to Megatron. The Autobots manage to drive him away and save the dam.

On their way out, they meet up with the Autobot Headmaster Highbrow, who rejoins his comrades. Back at base, Wheeljack jokes on how he didn't want to swim if they failed. Jazz then boasts about surfing a tidal wave when Cybertron was close to Earth. This infuriated Optimus, who didn't want to joke about such war-like situations. He does admit that he does feel fear about falling, but as long as he remembers he is fighting for peace, his fear is no more. Jazz and Wheeljack apologize for their behavior.
{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter their chief medic, Ratchet instead of Highbrow.}}

====Stage 5====
Thanks to the efforts of the Autobots, the Decepticons had stopped their evil deeds for the time being. But Optimus knew that this moment of peace wouldn't last for long and must stay vigilant. According to the Autobots they recovered, there were two UFO's, but could not gain any information other than that as they were scattered out by the electromagnetic waves and the Decepticons found them, trying to defend themselves until help could arrive.

Just then, the Autobots received another SOS signal, asking for help. Optimus was opted to go and help, but Wheeljack asks for an investigation in case it was another Decepticon trap. Optimus still felt responsible for putting his comrades in danger before though, and decides not to send an investigation and head straight to the SOS signal, and prepare for departure. The shuttle's sensors indicates the presence of both Autobots ''and'' Decepticons. The team beats through several Decepticons and conveniently placed autoguns, as well as Shockwave and Snapdragon, and reaches the signal destination.

{{note|In this stage, the boss and end story cutscene will be totally different if playing through a second time. As such, two separate sections have been made dealing with both scenarios.}}

=====Normal Scenario=====
When they arrive, they encounter a mysterious new Decepticon who shares the same face as Megatron and recognizes Optimus Prime. The bot introduces himself as Galvatron, the leader of the "future Decepticons". Through a tough battle, the Autobots are somehow able to defeat Galvatron, but the new guy acts like a poor loser, transforming into cannon mode and blasting the team down before retreating. As the Autobots prepare to leave, they encounter...Hot Rod? No, he looks like him, and accompanied by an elderly war veteran and a lovely female. To add more confusion and surprise, "Hot Rod" introduces himself as Rodimus Prime, even though Optimus is the true Prime.

Optimus and his team takes Rodimus and his allies—Kup and Arcee—back to the shuttle to answer some questions. They are revealed to be from the future and that the UFO's they were chasing were shuttles they were in, and Galvatron is the future leader of the Decepticons. Jazz begins pushing Rodimus by asking what happens to Optimus and how he became from Hot Rod to Rodimus, but Optimus stops him, as he knows that time travel is possible, they don't need to know so much about their futures, and that he could feel the same Matrix of Leadership he carries within Rodimus, proving that it was true. The true story would be revealed the next day after a well-earned rest...

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have allied themselves with their future counterparts and allies, where it is revealed that Galvatron is Megatron's future self, much to the surprise of Starscream, but Megatron could feel the same metal impulse. Galvatron decides to lie to his former self by telling of how he is the new ruler of the entire universe, but the Autobots plan to use a doomsday device to destroy them. This was a conversation for the future...

The next day, Optimus becomes shocked by the news that Megatron's most faithful servant, Shockwave, had turned on him in the future. This is because after he became Galvatron, he became more violent and began losing his own authority. Observing his new leader, Shockwave deems himself a better choice as Decepticon leader and began a one-robot mutiny with an item known as [[Zel Quartz]] as Rodimus begins to tell the story of how this all happened...

''"'Zel Quartz was an energy mineral that Shockwave discovered. If the Quartz is set into the body of a being born on Cybertron—for example a Transformer—that being will experience a prodigious increase in power and strength. So, blessed with an inexhaustible supply of energy and destructive power, Shockwave made himself leader of the Decepticons. But he could not bear the extra power loads, his circuitry malfunctioned, and he began to run amok.

''"Of course, both the Autobots and the Decepticons tried to stop him, but fueled by the near infinite power resources of the Zel Quartz, Shockwave was unstoppable. Both sides suffered massive losses. Eventually, the planet Cybertron itself was destroyed! Rodimus Prime knew that Shockwave would not stop until the Earth and all other planets were bathed in fire. Rodimus sought help from the Quintessons, who were also under threat. They provided technology, which would enable Transformers to travel back in time through a timeslip, where they planned to stop Shockwave from ever unearthing the Zel Quartz!"''

The elite of the survivors boarded a shuttle and threw themselves into the timeslip. Unfortunately, the Decepticons discovered the Autobots' plans and secretly followed them through the timeslip to steal the Quartz for themselves. Because of this, a space energy destabilization occurred and both sides' groups were scattered, with no way to contact their friends, which explains everything that's happened. Realizing the danger the universe was in, Optimus and his Autobots agreed to help Rodimus find the Quartz and destroy it! But there was a problem...

No one knows where it is, because the mineral is called by another name in this timeline. What's even worse, the Decepticons are planning to steal the Quartz and fooling Megatron and his Decepticons into believing the doomsday weapon nonsense and the Zel Quartz was the power source of this weapon. Wheeljack contacts the Paradius United Government and discovers three possible locations as to where the Zel Quartz may be and begin to roll out.

=====Alternate Scenario=====
Unsurprisingly, it was another trap after all made by Megatron. Optimus simply laughs in relief, knowing that his Autobot comrades aren't in any sort of danger. However, his laughter turns to shock when Megatron unveils four [[Optimus Prime clone]]s, in case of an emergency. However, much to his surprise, Optimus and his Autobots are able to defeat them. Optimus tells Megatron that imitations are nothing without a heart and soul. Irritated, Megatron quickly retreats, vowing not to forget this humiliation and smash Optimus to bits.

Returning to base, Jazz was quite angered at Megatron's actions, but Optimus and Wheeljack were not so bothered by it, as there is and always will be on Optimus Prime in this universe. But now that the Decepticons were back and active, they were going to be busy. Just then, Rodimus and his allies appear, ready to help fight by their side again. Just then, Wheeljack takes out a small capsule which he picked up from one of the Decepticons they fought. Wheeljack begins examining it as everyone else rests up for the day.

Wheeljack urgently announces he discovered something. The capsule is actually a message from the future, explaining the UFO's that landed here. Though the message is low quality, Wheeljack surmises that the message came from the Quintessons. In the message, it says that in the future, the Decepticons had obtained the Zel Quartz and wiped out their entire race. Kup is quite shocked as he thought that it existed in stories. The Quartz exists on certain planets and if a Transformer installs it in his body, his body will increase to monstrous proportions. The senders obviously sent this in hoping that people of the past would find it, and the message encourages the receivers to destroy the Quartz.

Unfortunately, Wheeljack had already scoured through the database but found no record of the Zel Quartz. Rodimus assumes that the mineral is named something else in this timeline. Wheeljack did also find three minerals that may be the Quartz. Knowing the Decepticons had heard this message too, the Autobots hurried up and prepared to search for Zel Quartz and destroy it!

====Stage 6====
The first destination is the [[Lazalt Ruins]], which were just recently discovered. The Autobots arrived there personally for the briefing. These ruins were said to have been the remains of an ancient alien civilization, that arrived here before the first settlements of Zel Samine. Deep within the ruins is a temple where a magical [[Jewel of Mystery]] is enshrined, thought to be the Zel Quartz. Jazz tried warning Kup about the dangers of the jungle, but Kup began recalling a time on [[Floron III]], surrounded by a horde of mech-eating plants. However, Optimus had to stop him, as the Decepticons were already ahead of the Autobots, and Arcee prepared to choose the team and formation.

Optimus was correct, as the Decepticons were lurking and ready to strike in the jungle, including the Decepticon Headmaster Skullcruncher. Although they defeat him, the Autobots learn that without a key to a large door, they are unable to proceed. Realizing that Skullcruncher has the key, they pursue him and battle again. This time, they made sure to obtain the key needed to move forward. Continuing, they eventually run into the Horrorcon Apeface. They are able to take him down and eventually discover the Jewel of Mystery. However, unlucky for the Autobots, it was guarded by the Decepticon combiner, Predaking. After an extremely tough battle, Predaking is defeated and the Autobots obtain the Jewel of Mystery.

As they prepare to leave, the team encounters the Autobot Wrecker, Springer, who gladly joins the battle. After they analyze the Jewel of Mystery, it's sad to say that it wasn't Zel Quartz. Jazz makes sure that the jewel is returned to the ruins. Optimus tries questioning Wheeljack, but he is so wrapped up in Kup's stories that he doesn't hear him until Arcee screams at them. Though Kup and Wheeljack apologize, Optimus reflects on how valuable is a warrior with entertaining stories to share, but is as great an honor to be scolded by quite a beautiful woman like Arcee. This leaves Optimus thinking and remembering about his significant other [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-One]]....
{{note|If the player goes through the game a second time, they will meet up with the Autobot Headmaster, Hardhead instead of Springer.}}

====Stage 7====
The next candidate is a drillbit in the [[Karzite mine]], a mine in the middle of the desert like Earth's oilfields. The mineral was an incredible specimen that is made of great materials. Even though it is a survey mission, Optimus knows the Decepticons will most likely be there and prepares to pick a team and formation. Out of nowhere, Rodimus asks Optimus what he would need to do to become a great leader like him. Optimus and the others were taken aback by this, but Optimus said he would gladly answer his question after the mission is completed.

When they arrive, they encounter Decepticons in the desert. Although the sand made it hard for the team to maneuver, the Decepticons had the same exact trouble. The team also encountered more autoguns that once again did not discriminate. They would encounter and defeat Blitzwing once again as well as a small army of Sharkticons. No sooner than that, they find Octane, gathering energy for himself to usurp Galvatron as Decepticon leader. Rodimus isn't too impressed. The Autobots manage to defeat him and he runs away like a "thin-fuelled coward", as Rodimus puts it. However, when they finally find the drill, they have a nasty encounter with Trypticon, who is guarding the drillbit. After an extremely tough battle, Trypticon is defeated and the drillbit is obtained.

As they head back, they run into the speedy messenger Blurr, who joins up with the team. When they analyze it, the drill bit doesn't appear have any special effect on Transformers, meaning no Zel Quartz. Optimus orders his Autobots to return the drill bit back and then get their filters cleaned form the sand. Wheeljack has a new cleaner, but he can't find it in the storage—or ''anything'', for that matter—since the incident, so most of the others go to help. This leaves Optimus and Rodimus to have their private talk mentioned earlier. Rodimus asks again what he needs to do to be a leader. Optimus answers by reminiscing of the mission in the desert. The desert is scorching hot in the day, yet freezing cold in the night. If Rodimus is to be a great leader, he must remember the desert, not measure things by strictness, and believe in the justice in his heart and the answers will come naturally. Rodimus now feels much more confident and would be okay even after returning to the future.

{{note|If the player goes through the game a second time, they will meet the Monsterbot Grotusque instead of Blurr.}}

====Stage 8====
The final possible location of the Zel Quartz is the [[Atalstan gem mine]], where energy is extracted and several jewels and fossils are situated there as well. When something out of the ordinary is found, a new shaft is created and mining begins there, and because of this the mine has grown to an enormous size. The final gem is a giant crystal recently discovered and polished up, much to Arcee's excitement. An investigation team was already sent, but Optimus asks Jazz to inform the civilians of the danger and evacuate immediately. Optimus begins the preparations.

Optimus already knew the Decepticons were here and the crystal was only half-buried. This meant they needed to hurry. Going through the mine, they found Mindwipe and beat him once again, before encountering Galvatron's right-hand-bot, Cyclonus. In a noble and heroic effort, the Autobots defeat him and progress forward even when knowing the Decepticons were waiting. As they made it through, they encountered the Sweep leader, Scourge, who first sends out his minions to deal with the Autobots. Even with the numbers game, he is unable to take them down and they finally arrive at the crystal. Unfortunately, it's here that the Autobots meet the six-changing ninja, Sixshot, guarding it. Through a rough and difficult battle, they defeat him and obtain the large crystal.

As they prepare to leave, they encounter the brave and honorable commander, Ultra Magnus, who gladly joins the group. But after they analyze it, guess what—it's not the Zel Quartz either! Although it is a new crystal and an amazing specimen, Arcee is quite upset it's not the Quartz and must be returned immediately. Optimus decides to return it, and Arcee volunteers to accompany him. Just then, Rodimus gives her a jewel that was mixed in with the dirt while carrying the crystal. Rodimus would have hoped she would like it and that it would help him get a better reputation with the ladies, but instead she scolds her commander for taking the jewel out without permission, much to Rodimus' embarassment and dismay. As a punishment, Optimus made Rodimus take his place in returning both gems to the mine.

{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will meet the Monsterbot Doublecross instead of Ultra Magnus, reuniting the entire Autobot squadron in both timelines.}}

====Stage 9====
Even though the Autobots have been keeping the Decepticons from plundering Zel Samine, they still haven't found the Zel Quartz and they are fresh out of good leads. Just then, Wheeljack and Arcee come back from looking at the old archives with good news. When the planet was first pioneered, a strange and powerful mineral was found, which would be the namesake of the planet: Zel Rock! It was no-doubt the Zel Quartz and it is located at the [[ELTA]], short for the "Enormous Laser Transmission Array", a facility where they convert the energy cultivated on Zel Samine into a laser beam for transmission back to the home planet of Paradius and is located at the central core. Unfortunately, as they prepare for departure, they learn from the Paradius United Government that the Decepticons beat them to ELTA already. The Autobots carefully began choosing the team. The final battle has begun....

As anticipated, the Decepticons were ready for the Autobots and also set up a mine field as well, but they were not willing to give up so soon. As they moved on, they had an encounter with Megatron's treasonous second-in-command, Starscream. A tough battle arose, but the Autobots came out on top, forcing Starscream to retreat, claiming discretion is the better part of valor. As the Autobots proceeded, they were forced to deal with minefields and automated guns that ''still'' do not know allies and enemies. After all that, they end up fighting both Scourge and Cyclonus together, but the team is able to win again. But just as they leave, the Decepticon combiner Abominus appears to stop them. After a tough-winded battle, they defeat Abominus and continue on. After defeating Snapdragon, Apeface, and Astrotrain one last time, they finally reach ELTA.

====Stage 10====
As they arrive inside, the alarm has sounded and the Decepticons have already breached the ELTA central core and an explosion is imminent. In a hurried rush, the Autobots quickly hurry to the core where after dashing through the halls they encounter Trypticon again but defeat him once more. As they reach the center, they are greeted by Trypticon's partner, Full-Tilt, Soundwave, and Soundblaster. The trio are soundly defeated and the team encounters the Decepticon leaders, Megatron and Galvatron, now in possession of the Zel Quartz and bet the Quartz on a final battle. Within an arena surrounded by electric barriers, the final battle commenced!

It was a truly heart-stopping and difficult battle, but somehow, the Autobots pull through and finally obtain the Zel Quartz. However, ELTA was ready to self-destruct. Optimus commanded his Autobots to evacuate immediately and leave the Primes to handle the situation. Optimus realized that even if the Quartz was put back in place, it would still blow up and kill every Transformer here. Because of the energy concentrated on ELTA, a global catastrophe would occur with nothing left to do about it. Not even the Decepticons would be able to escape this, and all the talk of justice was all empty. It was then that Optimus realized how it could be stopped. He and Rodimus unveil their respective Matrixes and unleash their powers, stopping the energy flow and saving Zel Samine, much to the surprise of Megatron and Galvatron. The Decepticon leaders leave the planet, swearing revenge one day.

Reuniting with their Autobots, they learn that the Decepticons used the Space Bridge to return home, and Kup knows they will return one day, as the Decepticons were like cockroaches that don't die no matter how many times they're stepped on. With the full agreement and cooperation of the United Government, Optimus reaffirms his decision to destroy the Zel Quartz. In exchange of this, Wheeljack will help re-engineer ELTA's core apparatus. As they discuss a way to destroy the Zel Quartz, Starscream suddenly swoops in and swipes the Quartz, lying in wait for them to slip up. With the Quartz in his possession, Starscream flies away from the planet to install it somewhere he won't be interrupted. Optimus laughs, as Wheeljack reveals that the Quartz needs the planet's electromagnetic waves to be powerful and can only be properly installed in the planet's atmosphere. As the Autobots laugh about Starscream's incompetence, the shuttle had finally been repaired, but the future Autobots begin to disappear. Now that the Zel Quartz is gone, history has been remade and Rodimus and his friends were now returning to their era. Both sides salute each other and the Autobots roll on home as Starscream floats powerless and helplessly in space.....

{{gamestub}}

===Decepticon Story===
====Stage 1====
In a Decepticon shuttle that crashed in a cave on Zel Samine, Starscream and Soundwave finish making modifications to the Space Bridge to send their leader there, so that they could try an investigation of a mysterious flying object that landed there and the disappearance of the Decepticons sent to investigate before them. Though Soundwave was sure it would work, the Space Bridge backfires during transport and becomes severely damaged. But Megatron was being transported, and Starscream decides to lead Soundwave to his estimated location of arrival. But when they arrive, no one is around, leading them to believe he was destroyed in the transport.

Just as Starscream was about to name himself new leader, he was blasted back by none other than Megatron, alive and quite well. Soundwave apologizes for the inconvenience of the space bridge not working. However Megatron reveals that the Autobots—most notably Optimus Prime, Wheeljack, and Jazz—had also crash-landed on Zel Samine to investigate the mysterious flying object that landed here. They detected the space bridge signature, just as Megatron called Optimus, challenging him to a battle right in front of Prime's shuttle, which Optimus gladly accepted, though Wheeljack noted he wouldn't get past him. Starscream pondered why Megatron alerted them to their attack, with Megatron stating that the Autobots are merely "play-acting as heroes", and wondered if he could put in a good word for Starscream to [[Starscream (Armada)|become an Autobot]]. Starscream shouted he'd rather die and brushed off his previous claim, as the Decepticons prepared to select their mission team.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Megatron Surrounded.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|Starscream looked suspiciously enthusiastic to join the beating of Megatron.]]
As they were about to move forward, however, they were stopped by an invisible wall which only goes down after defeating waves of Autobot troops. After dealing with hordes of enemies, Wheeljack, and even a deadly minefield that Wheeljack put up himself, Megatron and his troops finally reach Optimus Prime. After a long and hard-fought battle, Prime drives off in the opposite direction of his own shuttle. Megatron looks on frustrated, but nonetheless, the Decepticons take all the Energon aboard the shuttle.

Soundwave considers the mission still considered the battle a victory for the Energon they stole, but Starscream notes that the shuttle is inoperable due to the accident and they are unable to use the space bridge. Soundwave explains that the planet Zel Samine produces multiple energy sources for it to be transported to other planets within the Paradius system. Megatron devises a plan to steal the energy sources of Zel Samine to repair their shuttle and then investigate the truth behind the UFO's. Starscream wondered about the missing Decepticons, but Megatron knows they would join if they smelled a fight as the trio prepare for the battle ahead.

====Stage 2====
Megatron and Soundwave spoke of the mysterious UFO and the mystery behind everything that has been happening. According to sensors, the UFO appeared after an explosion in a space-time discontinuity event, and landed on Zel. The Decepticons sent to investigate mysteriously vanished, leading Soundwave to believe it was no mere accident. Megatron believes that Optimus Prime may be creating a new weapon, similar to the Immobilizer and Solar Tower. However, Soundwave reveals the dangerous electromagnetic rays emmitted from the planet's sun, Paradius, which are harmful to Transformers, most notably in high altitudes and in space, which was the cause of the Space Bridge's malfunction in the first place. This meant they were stuck on the planet and needed to get more energy so that the repairs could be done.

The first target is the wind power plant on Mount Jaad, though Starscream was not sure, as the outputs were quite feeble and gathering power over a wide area would be tedious. Soundwave notes that the energy outputs are much higher here than on Earth, and Megatron reveals the main target is the main power station, where the turbine energy is collected and stored. However, the Autobots were occupying the area, but Starscream notes he could destroy them all with one shot, as Megatron prepares to select the team and formation.

As they reach the power plant, they encounter heavy Autobot resistance and automated defense cannons, getting in the way of their progress. They also encounter the Autobot Headmaster, Brainstorm, who they soundly defeat, with Megatron finding him to be "all bark and no bite". As they continue towards the main station, they breach more defenses and defeat Wheeljack yet again. Finally reaching the main station, they are encountered by Hound, determined to keep "the beauty of this place". Needless to say, he was defeated and the Decepticons prepared to suck the plant dry.

As they prepared to leave, they encounter the Horrorcon Headmaster, Snapdragon, who rejoins the Decepticons on Zel. Returning to the shuttle with all the energy, they prepare to use it to repair the shuttle. As Starscream ponders to himself about how pointless the complexity of the operation was and that Megatron is not fit to lead, but his leader interrupts his train of thought with claiming to know about Starscream's thoughts, but revealed not to. Naivity like that was how Starscream would "never catch [Megatron] sleeping".

{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter the Headmaster Weirdwolf, instead of Snapdragon.}}

====Stage 3====
Their next stop is a Geothermal Power Plant, but once again, Starscream scoffs at the primitive resources that the planet has until Soundwave mentions the large volume of the energy. But Starscream also brings up that the facility is underground, making it difficult for him to fly. This gives Megatron an excuse to laugh at the one Decepticon who has constantly tried undermining him, for being unable to fly with a roof above him, but Starscream recomposes himself. Just then, Laserbeak returns and reports the Autobots taking up defensive positions, making the Decepticons prepare.

Megatron is astounded by the marvelous atmosphere of the plant as they move on, taking down any Autobots that get in their way. Along the way, they encounter the Mosterbot Grotusque and soundly defeat him. Megatron commented he was "as useless as he was ugly". Continuing their way, they encounter a hot magma panel floor that damages them if stayed on there for prolonged periods. As the reach the main power station, they are greeted by another Monsterbot Doublecross. They defeat him and take the energy.

As they get ready for departure, they encounter the Triple Changer, Blitzwing, who scolded his fellow Decepticons for being so late, but joined the party nonetheless. Returning to the shuttle with the energy, the Decepticons contemplate the mission's success and the Autobots uselessness and inability to stop them. However, they were unable to gain the necessary amount of energy. Megatron knew that Soundwave was not responsible, though. Instead, it was Starscream, having been told by Laserbeak that he was pilfering the Energon cubes. As Megatron contemplates having Laserbeak to replace him, Starscream immediately goes to return them and Megatron has him work on the shuttle as punishment, and quietly plans to have him face Optimus Prime as well.

{{note|If the player goes through a second time, they will encounter the Headmaster Skullcruncher, instead of Blitzwing.}}

{{gamestub}}

==Characters==
Below is a list of some of the characters that appear in the game. Not all characters are unlocked when you beat a storyline for the first time. This encourages the player to go back and try again to get the rest. There are also some changes made to the story after beating it the first time.

[[File:Doublecross mb.jpg|right|upright=1.2|thumb|Doublecross as seen in the video game.]]
[[File:Ps2tatakai full-tilt.jpg|right|154px|thumb|I failed to transform in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|cartoon]].]]
{{featuredcharacters|nonumbering=true
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]]
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]]
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]]
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]]
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]]
*[[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]]
*[[Kup (G1)|Kup]]
*[[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]
*[[Springer (G1)|Springer]]†
*[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]
*[[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]]
*[[Brainstorm (G1)|Brainstorm]]
*[[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]
*[[Highbrow (G1)|Highbrow]]
*[[Grotusque]]
*[[Doublecross]]

|c2=
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]
*[[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]†
*[[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]]†
*[[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]]
*[[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]]
*[[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]]
*[[Octane]]†
*[[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]]
*[[Full-Tilt (G1)|Full-Tilt]]
*[[Weirdwolf (G1)|Weirdwolf]]
*[[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]]
*[[Mindwipe (G1)|Mindwipe]]
*[[Snapdragon (G1)|Snapdragon]]†
*[[Apeface]]†
*[[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]†
*[[Dark Hot Rod]]

|h3=Non-player characters|c3=
{{{!}}border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:transparent"
{{!}}-
{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
'''Autobots'''
*[[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]]
*[[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]]
*[[Swoop (G1)|Swoop]]
*[[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]]
*[[Computron (G1)|Computron]]
*[[Scattershot (G1)|Scattershot]]
*[[Nosecone (G1)|Nosecone]]
*[[Strafe (G1)|Strafe]]
*[[Sky Lynx (G1)|Skylynx]]
*[[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]]
*[[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]
*[[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]]
*[[Punch (G1)|Punch]]
*[[Repugnus (G1)|Repugnus]]
*[[Pointblank]]
*[[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]
*[[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]]
*[[Raiden]]
*[[Shouki]]
*[[Yukikaze (G1)|Yukikaze]]
*[[Suiken]]
*[[Kaen]]
*[[Megatron Clone]]

{{!}}style="background:transparent; border-right: 0px" valign="top"{{!}}
'''Decepticons'''
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Kickback (G1)|Kickback]]
*[[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]
*[[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnell]] {{sic}}
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]
*[[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]]
*[[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]]
*[[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]]
*[[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]]
*[[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]
*[[Razorclaw (G1)|Razorclaw]]
*[[Divebomb (G1)|Divebomb]]
*[[Headstrong (G1)|Headstrong]]
*[[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]]
*[[Hun-Gurrr (G1)|Hun-Gurrr]]
*[[Rippersnapper (G1)|Rippersnapper]]
*[[Cutthroat (G1)|Cutthroat]]
*[[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]]
*[[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]]
*[[Misfire (G1)|Missfire]] {{sic}}
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundblaster]]
*[[Wingspan]]
*[[Pounce]]
*[[Battletrap (G1)|Battletrap]]
*[[Flywheels]]
*[[Optimus Prime clone]]
{{!}}}
}}

†Characters with multiple alternate modes (such as [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and the [[Triple Changer]]s) are presented as multiple characters, each having different alternate modes.

==Quotes==
"Dessert will be served after I take care of the main course... Optimus Prime!"
:—'''Megatron''' says a terrible metaphor.

"Lens-headed sneak!"
:—'''Starscream''' doesn't trust Laserbeak.

"Sheesh... It's easier to fight Decepticons than get along with a woman."
:—'''Rodimus''' stating [[Transformer romance#Orientation|his preference for the same sex]].

==Gameplay==
[[File:Ps2tatakai gamemechanics.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb]]
{{bigquote|The invisible wall seems to have disappeared. Looks like we can't get rid of that wall unless we take care of all of them.|[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]}}

Gameplay consists of punching and kicking your way through canyons, hillsides, and roadways where legions of cloned opponents await you. There's very little variance in gameplay, and everything gets very repetitive very fast. The environments are all small and closed in, so don't expect a lot of exploration. You're there to duke it out with the enemy, and that's it. However, some environmental objects such as windmills and power coils can be interacted with, by attacking them, even though all you're doing is turning them off. Some levels offer multiple paths that can be taken, but thanks to the game's repetitive nature, the player will end up in very similar situations no matter which road they choose.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Optimus Button Sequence Gameplay.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|You don't say.]]

Players can perform different attacks and combos by using different combinations of the basic punch and kick buttons. A charge attack be performed by holding the punch or kick button until the charge meter is filled. Releasing the button in front of an enemy will trigger a button mashing sequence, requiring the player to hit the punch or kick button repeatedly in order to deal more damage before delivering a finishing blow. Pushing both buttons simultaneously will unleash a special attack; for example [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] will perform a three-hit combo using his [[Energon-axe|Energon Axe]], while [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] will eject [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]], who will fly straight into enemies.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Optimus Truck Attack.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.1|Should we play "[[The Touch]]", or the [[The Headmasters (song)|Headmasters theme song]]?]]
Players can transform their character at will during gameplay. While in their alternate modes, characters have two attacks that require energy to use. While characters that transform into vehicles are able to move around more quickly, characters like [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] instead move slower in their [[alternate mode]]s, though their attacks deal more damage.

[[File:Transformers Tatakai Optimus Upgrade Screen.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Fallen opponents will drop power-ups, including red health refills, blue energy refills, and tiny Energon cubes. These Energon cubes can be collected by the player and spent in the Garage sub-menu between levels. Spending Energon on ''Machine Production'' will upgrade the characters' stats, while ''Equipments Upgrade'' will upgrade their weapons. However, the characters' stats will also be upgraded automatically when they earn a level-up on their own as the game progresses.
{{-}}

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
[[File:Ps2tatakai callofthefuture.jpg|right|thumb]]
The game's story, titled '''''The Transformers: Call of the Future''''', takes its cue from the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]], even specifically referring to the events of several episodes. It is (presumably) set in 2003, the year it was released, but, via [[time travel]], also features characters from an alternate future which branched off from cartoon continuity in late 2010 (after the events of "[[Webworld]]", but before "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1]]"). It does not seem to be officially considered part of the [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity]], however; it features several anachronistic appearances by characters who are ''not'' time-travelling (the [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmasters]], for instance, are shown to be working with their respective factions, when they will not leave their homeworld to do so until 2011), and its events were not included in the painfully comprehensive [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon timeline|2007 timeline]].

===Transformers References===
For all its flaws, this game comes with a whole lotta fanwank. Besides the sheer number of characters, both Autobots and Decepticons occasionally reference episodes of the original [[The Transformers (cartoon)|''The Transformers'' cartoon]].
*Considering the possibility that the Autobots were developing a new weapon, Megatron was initially dismissive, but recalled the [[Wheeljack Instant Immobilizer|Immobilizer]] and [[Solar Power Tower]] from the episodes "[[The Immobilizer]]" and "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]" as proof it was not out of the Autobots' capabilities.
*When learning they will have to battle the other faction at the [[Monogan Hydroelectric Power Station]], which generates energy through dams, Jazz and Megatron remarked it was just like when they woke up on Earth. They referred, of course, to the battle at [[Sherman Dam]] in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]".
*Jazz claimed he surfed a giant tidal wave back when Cybertron came really close to the Earth, recalling the events in the episode "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 3]]".
*Obviously, the Transformers who travel back from the future make numerous references to the events that transpired during ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.
*The Quintessons are said to have created the means for the future Transformers to reach the past, which would seem based on their creation of the [[Time Window]] in "[[Forever Is a Long Time Coming (episode)|Forever Is a Long Time Coming]]".
*Upon hearing that Rodimus Prime, Arcee and Kup are from the future, Optimus Prime talked about Spike traveling back in time when he entered old ruins and a time machine on Cybertron that saved his life. These are references to the episodes "[[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court]]" wherein [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] and [[Hoist (G1)|Hoist]] traveled through time by means of the [[Dragon Mound]], and "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]" wherein the [[Kronosphere]] brought the [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]] to the past where they saved Optimus's previous persona Orion Pax.
*Wishing to illustrate he could take care of himself, Kup began recalling a story of when he and some others went to [[Floron III]] and encountered a horde of [[Morphobot|mech eatin' plants]]. This story deals with concepts introduced in the episode "[[Quest for Survival]]", but not events that actually happened in the cartoon.
*Considering the story of the Jewel of Mystery, a stone of great power that lied within a recently discovered jungle temple, Megatron was reminded of the [[Crystal of Power]] which he had found within a temple on Earth in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
*During Wheeljack and Kup's talk of the old days, they talked about a battle against a giant black Decepticon{{fact|Who?}} and the beauty of [[Crystal City]]. Crystal City appeared in "[[The Secret of Omega Supreme (episode)|The Secret of Omega Supreme]]".
*While sort of flirting with Arcee, Optimus Prime thought back on [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]], that he hadn't seen her in a long time and that he missed her. Elita One is Optimus Prime's life partner who appeared in the episodes "[[The Search for Alpha Trion]]" and "[[War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn]]".
*At one point, Cyclonus noticed that Galvatron had been acting a lot saner ever since coming to Zel Samine and wondered if it was due to Paradius's radiation. It made him think back on times he had visited other places to 'cure' Galvatron, including the planet [[Torkulon]] which they visited in "[[Webworld]]".
*At another point, Cyclonus was able to restrain his temper against Starscream's insult by telling himself he would "turn into a pathetic ghost eventually," as per the events of "[[Starscream's Ghost]]" and "[[Ghost in the Machine (G1)|Ghost in the Machine]]".
*Soundwave compared the abilities of the Zel Quartz to the [[Heart of Cybertron]], the gem that powered the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' and was temporarily retrieved in "[[Microbots]]".

===Trivia===
*Those who preordered this game received a special ''The Transformers: The Matrix Disk 01'' DVD containing all the Japanese toy [[commercial]]s for ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'', ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (toyline)#1986 (Scramble City and 2010)|Transformers 2010]]'' and ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers (franchise)#Transformers: The Headmasters|The Headmasters]]'', along with the recap episodes for each of those series that were previously compiled in ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Heroic Legend Compilation]]''.
* The game's original [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRnKwY_YeWk CG promotional video] was later used as the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQUnHAjOezY opening cinematic], albeit with several minor alterations between the two.
** The "A.D. 2003" date in the trailer was changed to the more generic "A New Era" in the opening.
** While the trailer uses English character names and terminology such as "Optimus Prime" and "Decepticons", the intro version instead uses their Japanese counterparts such as "Convoy" and "Destrons". This is an especially strange choice, as the rest of the game exclusively uses English names.
** During the cast spotlight sequence, the intro version adds spotlights for Chromedome and Weirdwolf that were not present in the trailer.
** In the trailer, the brief montage after the "A battle without an end" text features sequences of Jazz and Wheeljack transforming, Soundwave deploying his cassettes, and Rodimus pulling the Matrix apart and holding it aloft. The intro version significantly changes this, however, by removing the Rodimus scene entirely, shortening the other two sequences, and interspersing new segments of Chromedome's headmaster unit attaching and powering up, Weirdwolf slashing the camera, and Weirdwolf attempting to sneak attack Chromedome. Combined with the above change and the Headmasters being second-playthrough recruits not relevant to the larger plot, it seems plausible that the post-Season 3 characters were late additions during development.
*The opening cinematic and main menu theme sample [[Lion]]'s [[The Transformers (Theme)|theme]] from ''The Transformers: The Movie''.
*The voice cast is made up of English-speaking actors based in Japan, similar to games like ''{{w|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night}}'' and the original ''{{w|Resident Evil (1996 video game)|Resident Evil}}'', and features many of the same actors. For instance, Optimus Prime is played by [[Robert Belgrade|Alucard's voice actor]], while Ultra Magnus is [[Barry Gjerde|Barry Burton's]]. The resulting performances are...about what you'd expect. (You know things are messed up when [[Jeff Manning|''Megatron's'' voice actor]] pulls off a better [[Peter Cullen]] than the actor who plays Optimus.)
*Being produced for the Japanese market, the characterizations used for the Generation 1 characters largely reflect their personalities from the Japanese dub of the original cartoon, such as Wheeljack being recognized as an "old man", a trait absent from his typical western depictions.
*The CG scenes and rendered stills used for character portraits are derived from [[Studio OX]] artwork, whereas the game models themselves are largely based on stylized versions of the original animation models. This can be a little jarring when Megatron's entire head or Optimus' wheel placement abruptly change during scene transitions from in-game scenes to CG versions.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20100124003405/http://www.atlus.co.jp/cs/game/takara/gameinfo/charactor/transformer.html ''The Transformers'' game page at Atlus.co.jp] (archive copy)
*Video game site ''IGN'' did a [https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/06/01/transformers-vs-transformers humorous comparison] between this game and the later [[Melbourne House]]-developed [[Transformers (Armada PS2)|''Armada'' game]] as a "battle between Japan and Australia". Australia won.
*[https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps2/917923-transformers-japan/faqs/27448 Move List and Guide (incomplete) via GameFAQs]

{{gamestub}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers (PS2)}}
[[Category:Generation 1 video games]]

July 13

2025-07-13T20:46:31Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|7|13}}</noinclude>

* '''[[1941]] —''' [[Robert Forster]] (voice of [[Bryce|General Bryce]] on ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'') is born.
* '''[[1942]] —''' Comic inker [[Tom Palmer]] is born.
* '''1942 —''' [[Pádua Moreira]] (Brazilian voice of [[Walter Cronkite]] and [[Matsumoto]]) is born.
* '''[[1949]] —''' [[Caterina Rochira]] (Italian voice of [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]] and [[Neederlander]]) is born.
* '''[[1953]] —''' [[Ron Halder]] (Voice of [[Brian Jones]], [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]], [[Primus]] and [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]]) is born.
* '''1953 —''' [[Gil Birmingham]] ([[Sherman]] in [[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|Transformers: The Last Knight]]) is born.
* '''1953 —''' Italian singer [[Silvio Pozzoli]] is born.
* '''[[1962]] —''' [[Tom Kenny]] (voice of ''[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Animated]]'' [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] and [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]], ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Skids (ROTF)|Skids]], and others) is born. Are ya ''ready'', kids?!
* '''1962 —''' [[Paul Mercier]] (Additional Voices in [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Xbox 360/PS3)|''Transformers: Dark of the Moon'': The Game]]) is born.
* '''[[1963]] —''' [[Sandy Fox]] (voice of [[T-AI]]) is born.
* '''[[1969]] —''' [[Ken Jeong]] ([[Jerry Wang]] from ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'') is born. Yay!
* '''[[1975]] —''' [[Erika Rendón]] (Mexican voice of [[D. Greene]]) is born.
* '''[[1976]] —''' [[Alessandro Bevilacqua]] (French voice of [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] in the ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' series, and also another [[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] in ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Cyberverse]]'') is born.
* '''[[1977]] —''' [[Kari Wahlgren]] (voice of ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (franchise)|War for Cybertron]]'' [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]], ''[[Transformers: Titans Return (cartoon)|Titans Return]]'' [[Victorion]] and [[Karen Croft]]) is born.
* '''1977 —''' [[Mariko Nagahama]] (Japanese voice of [[Dorie Dutton]], [[Bridget|Doctor Bridget]] and [[Carl (RID)|Carl]]) is born.
* '''[[1979]] —''' [[Alexis Tomassian]] (European French voice of [[Leo Spitz]] and ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|EarthSpark]]'' [[Bumblebee (ES)|Bumblebee]]) is born.
* '''[[1985]] —''' The ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2|Secret of the Ruby Crystals]]" premieres in Japan.
* '''[[1988]] —''' [[Chris Sheffield]] ([[Jack Whitley]] in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark Of The Moon]]'') is born.
* '''[[1996]] —''' Second day of [[BotCon 1996]].
* '''[[2001]] —''' [[BotCon 2001]] opens in Durham, North Carolina.
* '''[[2007]] —''' ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'' — Special Edition is released on DVD in [[New Zealand]] by [[Madman Entertainment]].
* '''[[2009]] —''' [[The Transformers: The Movie|Transformers - Der Film]] is released on DVD in [[Germany]] by [[Carol Media]]
* '''[[2015]] —''' The ''[[Q-Transformers (cartoon)|Q-Transformers]]'' episode "[[The Road to Easy Identification]]" first premieres.
* '''[[2016]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Deviations|Deviations]]'' TPB is released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''2016 —''' [[Boulder Media Studio]] was purchased and owned by [[Hasbro]].
* '''[[2017]] —''' [[TakaraTomy]] releases ''[[Transformers Movie The Best|Movie The Best]]'' [[Laserbeak (DOTM)#Movie The Best|MB-EX Laserbeak]] at Wonder Festival 2017 Summer.
* '''2017''' — The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'' episodes "[[Road Trip]]", "[[Sky Forest (episode)|Sky Forest]]", "[[Spellbound]]", "[[One for the Ages]]" and "[[Tip of the Iceberg]]" premieres in [[Italy]].
* '''[[2017]] —''' ''[[Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|Transformers: The Last Knight]]'' is released in [[Uruguay]].
* '''[[2018]] —''' Entertainment Weekly reveals [[Angela Bassett]] and [[Justin Theroux]] will voice new Decepticons [[Shatter]] and [[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] respectively.
* '''[[2019]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (cartoon)|Cyberverse]]'' episodes "[[Matrix of Leadership (episode)|Matrix of Leadership]]" and "[[Siloed]]" premieres in [[Japan]].
* '''[[2022]] —''' ''[[Transformers: Best of the Beasts]]'' is released by [[IDW Publishing]]
* '''[[2024]] —''' The Transformers [[Optimus Prime (G1)/merchandise#Ornaments|Holiday Optimus Prime]] 2024 [[Hallmark]] Keepsake Ornament is released.
* '''2024 —''' At the 2024 [[Nickelodeon|Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards]] a sneak peak preview of [[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]] is shown as well as the first tv spot for the film airs.
* '''2024''' — The ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|EarthSpark]]'' episode "[[Control Alt Delete]]" premieres in [[France]] and [[Turkey]].

Mindy Sterling

2025-07-11T13:18:45Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

'''Mindy Lee Sterling''' (born [[July 11]], [[1953]]) is an American actor, known for her role as Frau Farbissina in the ''Austin Powers'' movies and the voice of Lin Bei Fong in [[Nickelodeon]]'s ''The Legend of Korra''.

==Roles==
===''Dark of the Moon''===
* [[Martha]]

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0827565/ Mindy Sterling at the Internet Movie Database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sterling, Mindy}}
[[Category:DreamWorks]]
[[Category:On-camera actors]]

Meet Ballpoint!

2025-07-10T13:51:27Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Quotes */

{{comicstory|seriesissue=''Transformers: Worst Bot Ever''
|prev=
|next=
|title=Meet Ballpoint!
|image=Worst Bot Ever - Meet Ballpoint!.jpg
|caption=“You don’t understand! I was gonna write ‘mightier than the sword’ at the end, honest!”
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment|Skybound Comet]]
|date=[[July 9]], [[2025]]
|written by=[[Brian "Smitty" Smith]]
|pencils by=[[Marz Jr.]]
|colors by=Marz Jr.
|letters by=Marz Jr.
|editor=[[Alex Antone]]
|logo design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|procuction=[[Richard Mercado]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 continuity family]]
}}
'''After being kicked out of the Decepticons, Ballpoint decides to win their favor by destroying all the Autobots single-handedly.'''

==Synopsis==
===Chapter 1===
''[[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Home of the [[Transformer|Transformers]]. The [[Autobot|Autobots]] and [[Decepticon|Decepticons]] have been engaged in war over the planet's [[Energon]] reserves for centuries. And the Decepticon war effort is running smoothly thanks entirely to [[Ballpoint]], "The PEN who's mightier than the SWORD!" He's an incredible fighter, spy, tactician, pilot, mechanic, and [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'s best friend. When the Autobots departed Cybertron aboard the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'', the Decepticons followed and boarded the vessel, before crash landing on [[Earth]]. It was Ballpoint who brought everyone back online, with the other Decepticons singing his praises all along the way...''

Ballpoint's story to his best friend, the blender, is interrupted by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], who sneeringly informs Ballpoint and "Smoothie" that not only is none of that true, they didn't even know Ballpoint was ''aboard'' the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]'' when they departed Cybertron. Their discussion is interrupted once more by an announcement over the loudspeaker: Megatron is about to give a briefing. The Decepticons assemble in the throne room, with Starscream taking from Ballpoint the report on the solar farm they're about to raid, warning the diminuitive Decepticon that he better not have messed it up. [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] rushes past, holding a piece of paper, which Ballpoint interprets as the cyclops wanting an autograph, and happily obliges. Shockwave flicks Ballpoint across the room.

===Chapter 2===
Megatron demands Shockwave hand over his report on Autobot activity near their target, but finds it illegible due to Ballpoint autographing over it. Starscream seizes the opportunity to suck up to his leader, and proudly inserts the [[Floppy disk]] Ballpoint compiled for him. To everyone's horror, it begins playing a homemade music video featuring Ballpoint's sick moves. Megatron declares everyone incompetent, but reveals he anticipated this and gathered all the intel himself. The Decepticons all hitch a ride on Starscream (plus [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] grabs [[Gnaw (G1)|Gnaw]]) and depart for the solar farm.

Arriving, Ballpoint asks Megatron what his assignment is. Megatron, unsure who Ballpoint is, asks Shockwave if he's capable. The answer is no, so Megatron orders Shockwave to kill him if he gets in the way. Shockwave tells Ballpoint to monitor the energy output and keep lookout for those pesky Autobots.

As the Decepticons siphon Energon from the solar farm, Ballpoint begins telling his story to the computer display he's been tasked with watching, and gets so engrossed in it that he completely fails to notice the Autobots arriving. The Autobots thoroughly ''trounce'' the Decepticons, with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] in particular plowing into Megatron as Starscream leaps out of the way. Megatron orders a retreat, at which point our hero ''finally'' notices what's going on and joins his brethren in running away.

===Chapter 3===
Back at Decepticon headquarters, Ballpoint spins a tall tale about how he was busy trouncing bigger and stronger Autobots, and it's really only thanks to ''him'' that they got out of there. This time, Starscream calls Ballpoint on his BS in front of everyone, which angers the [[Rumble (G1)|rank]] and [[Frenzy (G1)|file]]. While Starscream is pontificating about how unacceptable it is that Megatron was injured, the Decepticon leader himself enters and dresses down Starscream for ''his'' role in one of said injuries. Megatron orders Starscream to fetch him an Energon shake, and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] scrambles away. Megatron then angrily questions why his minions keep failing him. All present unanimously point their fingers at...Ballpoint. Megatron seethes with anger, knocking the Energon shake out of Starscream's hands — and more importantly, Smoothie the blender, whose "death" Ballpoint mourns. Megatron, sick of the tiny bot, banishes him from the Decepticon ranks, having him thrown out to the curb with the rest of the garbage. Ballpoint brainstorms ways to get himself back in Megatron's good graces, and hits upon the idea to destroy all the Autobots by himself. Great plan!

===Chapter 4===
At the crash site of the ''Ark'', the Autobots celebrate and recuperate from their latest victory. Prime laments the need for violence, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] gets repairs from [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], the [[Sideswipe (G1)|Lam]][[Sunstreaker (G1)|Bros]] trash-talk each other, and [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] tries desperately to get ''someone'' to laugh at an epic quip he made during the battle. To get away from Jazz, [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] runs off to relieve [[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] from watch duty. As Prowl settles in, Ballpoint tries to figure out a way to distract him, settling on ordering a whole stack of pizzas. While Prowl argues with the pizza guy, Ballpoint sneaks into the ''Ark'', using his alternate mode to gain access to Wheeljack's office. Ballpoint first decides to try turning the Autobots against each other by leaving a fake note. Wheeljack's just happy someone fixed the printer! Next, he tries to beat up [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], but the [[Mini-Vehicle|Minibot]] doesn't even notice his attacker. After being nonchalantly stepped on by Optimus Prime, Ballpoint realizes this isn't working, and turns to psychological warfare.

===Chapter 5===
First, Ballpoint sneaks into Sunstreaker and Sideswipe's room and doodles mustaches and the like on their faces. They just think it's hilarious and walk into the halls laughing. Ballpoint decides enough is enough, he's going to take out the leader. He sneaks into Optimus' office and pretends to be a dentist, offering the Prime a cleaning. Prime points out that Cybertronians don't have [[Teeth|teeth]], and he himself might not even have a mouth. At that, Ballpoint gives up and comes clean, explaining who he is and why he's here. He begs not to be destroyed, only for Optimus to praise him for his bravery and offer him a chance to join them as the Decepticons begin an assault on the ''Ark''.

===Chapter 6===
As Prime gears up to face Megatron, he tosses Ballpoint to Bumblebee and orders them to stop Starscream from destroying the ''Ark''. Ballpoint freaks out, believing the two of them can't ''possibly'' stand a chance against the [[Air Commander]]. Bumblebee quickly proves his new ally wrong; by grabbing onto Starscream's wing, the seeker loses his stability and begins falling to the ground. Bumblebee jumps off at the last second, but Ballpoint doesn't react in time; bouncing along with Starscream until he's thrown off and lands right between Optimus Prime and Megatron! Megatron stands triumphant over his eternal foe, and sees an opportunity: he orders Ballpoint (calling him "Felt-Tip") to finish off Prime, wanting the irony of Prime falling to the weakest and most worthless Decepticon. Prime nods to Ballpoint, giving him the courage he needs to do the right thing. He clambers up Megatron and squirts ink all over his eyes, enabling Prime to get up and send Megatron careening trough the air. Megatron wearily orders a retreat. As the defeated Decepticons fly off, the Autobots all praise Ballpoint for his contributions, with Prime giving him a brand-new Autobot [[Insignia]].

Optimus suggests Jazz give him a tour; after bonding over Jazz's hilarious battle quips, he spots an old friend: Smoothie! Ecstatic that his old friend survived and is also an Autobot now, he runs over and hugs the Autobot's blender, to the confusion of Jazz and Bumblebee.

Back at the Decepticon base, Megatron paces angrily in front of his troops, unaware that Ballpoint has written "Space Farts" on his butt.

==Featured Characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]] (3)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] (6)
*[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] (8)
*[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] (9)
*[[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (10)
*[[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] (11)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (12)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (13)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (22)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (23)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] (24)
|c2=
*[[Ballpoint]] (1)
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (2)
*[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (5)
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] (14)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (15)
*[[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (16)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (17)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (18)
*[[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (19)
*[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (20)
*[[Gnaw (G1)|Gnaw]] (21)
|c4=
*[[Teletraan I|Teletraan 1]] (25)
*"Smoothie" (26)
*Pizza guy (27)
}}

==Quotes==
"The PEN who's mightier than the SWORD! I totally coined that phrase, BTW...100% copyright Ballpoint."
:—Guess who

"Wow! BALLPOINT, you are like SUPER SMART...and unbelievably BRAVE...I hear you're a FANTASTIC dancer, too!
:—Imaginary '''Starscream'''

"NEVER compare yourself to me again, WORM. We didn't even know YOU were on BOARD when we left Cybertron!"
:—Actual '''Starscream'''

"SQUAWK! MEGATRON IS A MEGA LOSER! SQUAWK!"
:—'''Laserbeak''' parroting Starscream

"Perhaps you could wear name tags?"
:—Even '''Soundwave''' has trouble with [[FIRRIB]].

'''Bumblebee:''' "Can you check this out for me? I think I SPRAINED my ANKLE." 
'''Wheeljack:''' "Wish I could help you out, Bee. I'm a MECHANIC, not a MEDIC. You'll have to wait for RATCHET over there." 
'''Bumblebee''' (to himself): "SERIOUSLY?!? That line will take forever! What if...?" 
(Transforms to vehicle mode) 
'''Bumblebee:''' "Uh... how about taking a look at my FRONT WHEEL AXLE?" 
'''Wheeljack:''' "SURE THING!"

"I dunno, bro. This was a REALLY specific order. Like, HALF of these have BATTERIES on them." 
"Is that even on the menu?"
:—The '''Pizza guy''' argues with '''Prowl'''

"UPTIMAS PRINE STINKS! LOVE BUNDLEBEAN"
:—'''Ballpoint''''s planted note

"I'm DR. POINT from the dental office of DR. POINT DDS, here to discuss the state of your teeth. It seems you HAVEN'T HAD A CLEANING IN the past, let me check...SEVERAL MILLION YEARS.
:—Cut Optimus Prime some slack, "'''Dr. Point'''", everyone gets behind on appointments sometimes.

"While I can't say I AGREE with your plan, I'm impressed by the BRAVERY it took to COME CLEAN. Everyone deserves a chance to shine, Ballpoint."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' being Optimus Prime

"I guess the kid really likes smoothies..."
:—'''Jazz''' watches Ballpoint "reunite" with the blender.

==Notes==
*A few months before the release of this graphic novel, [[Skybound Entertainment]] released the first chapter in a one-shot for [[Free Comic Book Day]].
*Backmatter for this issue includes a "How to draw" segment of, naturally, Ballpoint (narrated by stylized Autobot and Decepticon insignias referred to as 'Aurora' and 'Steve', respectively), a model sheet of (most) of the characters appearing in the book, an "About the Authors" section, and a reading guide with some critical thinking questions for the youngins.

===Transformers references===
*Overall, this graphic novel is a loving tribute to the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|original cartoon]], featuring many themes from and nods to it throughout the whole story. It's deliberately goofy and campy and the action scenes are filled with cheesy quips, but more specifically:
**The basic backstory of the ''Ark'''s departure, crash, and lengthy slumber period, of course, isn't unique to the cartoon, but the stock-plot style Decepticon scheme to raid a solar farm to convert into Energon is typical of a G1 cartoon episode.
**The Decepticons explicitly all having to hitch a ride on Starscream and Laserbeak feels kind of like an ''anti''-reference — in the cartoon, all Decepticons could fly in robot mode, which is evidently not the case here. The specific way this is called out feels very deliberate.
**The Decepticon base is portrayed as a big, honkin' Decepticon insignia, much like their temporary base in the episode [[Enter the Nightbird]].
**Optimus Prime is portrayed less like the [[Thirteenth Prime|stoic demigod]] he's become in the 21st century and more like the friendly fatherly figure that his [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|original cartoon counterpart]] was.
**[[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]] turns invisible in the same way as the cartoon, creating a glowy cube around himself that makes him dissapear.
**The pizza guy is dressed in the same hard hat, tan shirt, and blue pants as [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] and [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]] (and every other background human) in the cartoon (though the pizza guy does not sport the yellow boots that would complete the outfit).
**[[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]] (tries) to sing along to music playing on his headphones; first singing "''You got the clutch!''" and then later "''Dare to be brainless!''" He's, of course, listening to ''[[The Touch]]'' and ''[[Dare to Be Stupid]]'', both featured in [[The Transformers: The Movie|the movie]].
**Optimus Prime's trailer vanishes when he turns to robot mode, and comes out of nowhere when going back to vehicle mode.
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] is decked out in his [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel]] color scheme, with blue trim instead of his usual black.
*In past stories, [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] has been portrayed as both an intelligent, talking bot, and a squawking, feral animal. This comic splits the difference, and makes him into basically a parrot.
*The comic makes a toungue-in-cheek reference to [[FIRRIB]], portraying ''[[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]'' as unable to tell them apart! (For the record, the [[Decepticon Mini-Cassette|cassettes]] make it clear that for this continuity, Rumble is the blue one while Frenzy is red.)
*Energon is shown to be blue, as it was portrayed in most media of the 2010s.
*[[Elita One (G1)|Elita-1]] appears to take design cues from her ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|EarthSpark]]'' [[Elita-1 (ES)|counterpart]].

===Real-world references===
*"No shake for you!" shouts an indignant Megatron, co-opting the memetic catchphrase of the infamous "{{w|The Soup Nazi|Soup Nazi}}" from ''{{w|Seinfeld}}''.
*Fans have often used "LamBros" as an informal term for [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] and [[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]], but this is the first time that term has been used in-fiction, with the brothers having pasted "LAMbros 4EVA" on the door to their quarters.
*Brawn reads a workout magazine called "Muscle Bodies" that features [[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]] characters [[Roadblock (G.I. Joe)|Roadblock]] and [[Lady Jaye]] on the front and back covers, respectively. The magazine even says "G.I. Joe" on the corner!

===Trivia===
*Both Autobot and Decepticon headquarters have great big posters hanging up. The Autobot base's posters are largely motivational-type, while the Decepticon base is decorated with Megatron's athletic accolades (he was apparently Cybertron's world champion thumb wrestler, 1986).
*The [[Cybertronian language#Real-life alphabets|Ancient Autobot]] on Shockwave's paper (or what's legible of it) is just a bunch of random letters.
*The character model sheet in the back includes [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]] and [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], neither of whom appear in the story, and omit [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]], Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, all of whom ''do'' appear.

[[Category:Generation 1 issues]]

The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk

2025-07-07T14:36:41Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Toyline */

{{Nav-Asterisk}}
 
[[File:BTA-toy Junko.jpg|upright=1.4|right|thumb]]
'''''The Transformers: Binaltech Asterisk''''' (バイナルテックアスタリスク) is a spinoff franchise of ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Binaltech]]''.

In late [[2005]] (not too long before it went on "indefinite hiatus"), ''Binaltech'' gained a sub-series, ''Binaltech Asterisk'', using old molds in new decos as previously-unreleased Autobots, but also including small PVC figurines of [[human]] girls, each one inspired by a female human character from a previous ''Transformers'' series. These figurines had alternate arms and lower bodies so they could "drive" the Autobots in car mode. These toys were also packaged in robot mode as opposed to the normal car mode (presumably to encourage transformation to car mode so the girls could drive). Reportedly, the addition of the PVCs was to try and reach a broader market to help the line's flagging sales... though the ''higher price tag'' probably didn't help.

This series only had three releases before it was canceled; a "Black Convoy meets [[Marissa Faireborn|Melissa]]" set was solicited as the fourth set but never released as originally planned. Instead, it was changed for the next incarnation of the 1:24 line: ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]''.

==Fiction==

{{chapters|title=''Binaltech Asterisk''
|prev=
|next=
|content=
<div class="list-header">''[[Asterisk Story]]'':</div>
*[[The Cat and the Medal|BTA-01]]
*[[I'll Show You Some Great Scenery|BTA-02]]
*[[The World's First Disaster Relief Car!?|BTA-03]]
 <div class="list-header">Pack-in prose:</div>
*[[Story with Alert|BTA-01]]
*[[Story with Sunstreaker|BTA-02]]
*[[Story with Broadblast|BTA-03]]
 <div class="list-header">[[Dengeki Hobby Magazine|''Dengeki Hobby'']] [[story page]]s:</div>
*[[Stage 1]]
*[[Stage 2]]
*[[Stage 3]]
*[[Stage 4]]
}}

''Binaltech Asterisk'' received a short series of online comics, collectively titled ''[[Asterisk Story]]'', supplemented with prose stories packed in with the toys themselves. Each chronicled an adventure of a Transformer/human duo participating in the joint diplomatic effort between Cybertron and Earth known as the [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]]. These were at the time largely unconnected to any other ''Transformers'' timeline, being mostly short vignettes free of Decepticon troubles. However, the official [[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon timeline|Japanese Generation 1 timeline]] placed these comics within the same fiction and period of time as ''Binaltech''.

==Toyline==

{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="100%"
<ul class="iconlist">
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 1''' ([[September 29]], [[2005]])
{{Bp-a1|BTA01. [[Red Alert (G1)/toys#Binaltech Asterisk|Alert]] feat. Subaru Impreza WRX meets [[Ai Kuruma#Toys|Ai]]}}
|
<ul class="iconlist">
|width="20%" valign="top"| 
{{Bp-a1|BTA02. [[Sunstreaker (G1)/toys#Binaltech Asterisk|Sunstreaker]] feat. Dodge Viper meets [[Kelly (RID)#Toys|Junko]]}}
|
<ul class="iconlist">
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''Wave 2''' ([[November 18]], 2005)
{{Bp-a1|BTA03. [[Blaster (G1)/toys#Binaltech Asterisk|Broadblast]] feat. Toyota bB meets [[Lumina Hoshi#Toys|Lumina]]}}
|
<ul class="iconlist">
|width="20%" valign="top"|
|
<ul class="iconlist">
|width="20%" valign="top"|[[File:BTA-toy Broadblast.jpg|thumb|200px|Broadblast]]
|}

==References==
*[[:Category:Binaltech Asterisk sources|Complete archive of ''Binaltech Asterisk'' media]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Binaltech Asterisk}}
[[Category:Alternators]]
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk| ]]
[[Category:Japanese franchises]]

Lumina Hoshi

2025-07-07T14:33:59Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{disambig3|Illumina}}
:''Lumina Hoshi is a [[human]] from the [[Binaltech Asterisk]] portion of the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[File:Lumina.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|April O'Neil's Japanese cousin.]]
'''Lumina Hoshi''' (星ルミナ ''Hoshi Rumina'', born [[July 7]]) was raised as part of an affluent family, but when her parents cut her off, she had to get out into the world and find herself a job. The spoiled, selfish attitude her wealthy upbringing imbued her with made that tough, but she eventually got a position as the new news announcer and reporter for the [[TV Bureau]]. She also became a member of Officer [[Clampdown (G1)|Clampdown]]'s [[Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program]], and has been paired with [[Blaster (G1)|Broadblast]] in an attempt to promote goodwill between humans and Transformers. Broadblast helps her get to locations quickly so she can report on breaking news, increasing her professional appearance.

Lumina is a fan of mystery novels, tennis, the color pink, kiwi and steamed ''{{w|Prunus mume|ume}}'', but she's not big on heights, and, for goodness sake, don't let her sit on a horse.

==Fiction==
===Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''Asterisk Story''====
[[File:LuminaHoshiReporting01.jpg|left|thumb|If those cars were any boxier, they'd be actual boxes.]]

While covering an auto show where [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Broadblast]] was operating undercover, Lumina was unfortunately present when a large section of lighting broke free from the ceiling and came hurtling down upon a crowd of people. Luckily, Broadblast was able to transform in time and catch the lights before they could squash everyone. Broadblast was then left to nervously explain his presence to the onlookers as Lumina apologized for the technical difficulties to her viewers. {{storylink|The World's First Disaster Relief Car!?}}

====''Legends'' comic====
Lumina was one of the many women brought to the [[Legends World]] by [[Tigatron]] using the [[10.2 ultra-drill|ultra-drill]] in an attempt to get women who liked him better than [[Springer (G1)|Springer]]. It did not work out, as all of the women brought over eventually swooned over Springer. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 19|Bonus Edition Vol. 19}}

Years after the Interplanetary Personnel Exchange Program, Blaster fondly remembered his time spent as Broadblast with Lumina. {{storylink|Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 27|Bonus Edition Vol. 27}}
{{-}}

===''Kre-O'' online comic===
[[File:Lumina Kreon.JPG|thumb]]
Lumina recorded the inauguration of [[Metroplex (G1)|Autobot City]] with her camera. She was seemingly escorted by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]], who was holding her hand. {{Storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}

Some time later, she was caught by the fad of the new portable music players, unaware that they were clones of [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]], created to brainwash humans. {{Storylink|Soundwave's Trap? Stop Operation Brainwash Humanity!}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Binaltech Asterisk''===
[[File:Alt-toy LuminaHoshi.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Broadblast feat. Toyota cB meets Lumina''' (2005)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''BTA03'''
:*''Release date'': [[November 18]], 2005
:*''Accessories'': Stand, "driving" arms, seated lower body
{{toydesigner|[[Hiroyuki Taiga]] (concept artist)}}

:Lumina is a soft-plastic PVC figurine of a Japanese woman in a TV-style business suit/short skirt combo. She has an extra set of arms and a "seated" lower body so she can be placed in the driver's seat of her partner [[Blaster (G1)/toys#Binaltech Asterisk|Broadblast]]'s vehicle mode. It is unknown how well she fits into the driver's seats of other Alternators.

: She was only available as part of the third ''Binaltech Asterisk'' set with the aforementioned Broadblast (aka Blaster).

::*[[Source:Transformers Binaltech Asterisk bios#3|Archive of ''Binaltech Asterisk'' Lumina's bio and tech specs]]
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/Lumina/lumina.htm More information on Lumina Hoshi at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
* Like all of the ''Asterisk'' girls, Lumina is modeled after a character from a previous series; in this instance, Lumina's inspiration is the ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' character [[Illumina]].
** This makes her the only one of the three ''Asterisk'' girls to not be based on a character from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)|Car Robots]]''.

==External links==
*[http://web.archive.org/web/20070113223436/http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/TF/bt/bta-03.html ''Binaltech Asterisk'' web-manga from Takara's website.] (archive copy)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hoshi, Lumina}}
[[Category:Binaltech Asterisk characters]]
[[Category:Humans]]
[[Category:Japanese-original humans]]
[[Category:Kre-O humans]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends humans]]

So Cool! Our Ally, Star Saber!

2025-07-05T03:59:30Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|Transformers Victory]]'' #1
|prev=The Birth of the Super Life-Forms
|next=Great Reversal! Star Saber
|title="So Cool! Our Ally, Star Saber!"
|japanese=かっこいいぞ! 僕らの味方、スターセイバー!
|romaji=Kakkoii zo! Bokura no Mikata, Star Saber!
|image=VictoryManga01-title.jpg
|coverdate=April 1989
|script=[[Masumi Kaneda]]
|artist=[[Ban Magami]]
|publisher=[[Kodansha]]
|published in=[[TV Magazine]]
|continuity=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity#1984 - TV Magazine comics and story pages|''TV Magazine'' continuity]]
|chronology=[[Japanese Generation 1 cartoon timeline#2025 2|2025]]
}}

'''The Victory War begins as Star Saber and Deathsaurus face-off on Earth!'''

==Synopsis==
On [[Victory (planet)|Victory]], the [[Autobot]]s receive an SOS from [[Earth]]: the [[Decepticon]]s are attacking! The new [[Supreme Commander]], [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] deploys the [[Multiforce]] to battle, ordering the [[Brainmaster]]s to stay behind.

On Earth, the [[Dinoforce]] are laying siege to a city, eventually combining into [[Dinoking]]. Their rampage is cut short when the Multiforce [[combiner]], [[Landcross (G1)|Landcross]], arrives. Declaring his intentions to become the Decepticon's new rival, the two square-off.

With Dinoking indisposed, Star Saber and his [[human]] son, [[Jan Minakaze|Jan]] (who is overwhelmed by the beauty of his home planet, which he had forgotten), take on the Decepticon [[Emperor of Destruction]], [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]], and the "Decepticon Boy", [[Solon Kitakaze (G1)|Solon]]. The fight is a short one, as one good swipe from Star Saber's Saber Blade is enough to severely wound Deathsaurus.

With the arrival of the individual Multiforce robots and the news that Dinoking has been defeated, Deathsaurus and Solon beat a hasty retreat. Jan believes that some day the Universe will be at peace, leaving Star Saber to declare that the battle for that peace begins today.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] (2)
*[[Holi]] (3)
*[[Wingwaver]] (4)
*[[Braver]] (5)
*[[Dashtacker]] (6)
*[[Laster]] (7)
*[[Blacker]] (8)
*[[Machtackle]] (9)
*[[Landcross (G1)|Landcross]] (17)
*[[Wing (G1)|Wing]] (20)
*[[Waver]] (21)
*[[Dash (G1)|Dash]] (22)
*[[Tacker]] (23)
*[[Mach (G1)|Mach]] (24)
*[[Tackle]] (25)

|c2=
*[[Goryu (G1)|Goryu]] (10)
*[[Kakuryu (G1)|Kakuryu]] (11)
*[[Gairyu]] (12)
*[[Yokuryu]] (13)
*[[Rairyu]] (14)
*[[Doryu]] (15)
*[[Dinoking]] (16)
*[[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] (18)

|c3=
*[[Jan Minakaze]] (1)
*[[Solon Kitakaze (G1)|Solon Kitakaze]] (19)

}}

==Notes==
*Wow, this has to be the most ''uneventful'' Transformers story ever written.
*Although [[Holi]] appears for one panel on the second page, he does not act as [[Jan Minakaze|Jan]]'s sidekick/playmate in the manga as he did in the [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|cartoon]].
*Jan's reaction to being on [[Earth]] again would indicate that he's been away from his home planet for a very long time.
*[[Ban Magami]]'s design for Jan is very different (and far more feminine) than the one used in the ''Victory'' cartoon.
*Despite the narration referring to [[Solon Kitakaze (G1)|Solon]] as "Decepticon Boy", you aren't going to find out his deal until "[[Great Reversal! Star Saber]]".
*Deathsaurus sometimes doesn't have his "ear" pieces.

==Reprints==
*2002 — ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: The Comics]]''
*2020 — ''[[Transformers: The Manga Volume 3]]''

[[Category:Victory issues]]

Christopher J. Priest

2025-07-01T13:45:37Z

TheAmazingPoncho: He only did five issues; might as well list them all like on Mike Carlin's page

{{disambigm|James (disambiguation)|Chris (disambiguation)}}

[[Image:Owsley.jpg|thumb|right|In 2008 this was the best picture we could find. Now there are photos.]]
'''Christopher James Priest''' (born '''James Christopher Owsley''' [[June 30]], [[1961]]) is a comic book creator and music producer, and the first Black editor in American comics. He was mentored by [[Larry Hama]] early in his career, and has had several collaborations with [[M.D. Bright]]. He changed his name in about 1993.
__NOTOC__
==Credits==
===Marvel ''The Transformers'' comics===
All issues credited under "Jim Owsley":
* "[[The New Order]]"
* "[[The Worse of Two Evils!]]"
* "[[Warrior School!]]"
* "[[Repeat Performance!]]"
* "[[DIS-Integrated Circuits!]]"

==See also==
{{MarvelEditor nav}}

==External links==
*[http://lamerciepark.com/ Priest's website]
*{{w|Christopher Priest (comics)|Christopher Priest at Wikipedia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Priest, Christopher J.}}
[[Category: Editors]]
[[Category: Marvel Comics]]

DIS-Integrated Circuits!

2025-07-01T13:39:30Z

TheAmazingPoncho: In line with the other articles that use his current name

{{comicstory|seriesissue=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|''The Transformers'' (US)]] #9
|prev=Repeat Performance!
|next=The Next Best Thing to Being There!
|title="DIS-Integrated Circuits!"
|seriesissue2=[[The Transformers (Marvel comic)#Marvel UK|''The Transformers'' (UK)]] #33–34
|prev2=The Wrath of Grimlock!
|next2=The Next Best Thing to Being There!
|image=MarvelUS-09.jpg
|caption=Decepticon sexual harassment violates you. And it violates the law.
|publisher=[[Marvel Comics]]
|date=[[June 25]], [[1985]] ("on sale" [[July 16]], 1985)
|coverdate=October 1985
|writer=[[Bob Budiansky]]
|penciler=[[Mike Manley]]
|inks="[[M. Hands]]"
|colors=[[Nelson Yomtov|Nel Yomtov]]
|letters=[[Rick Parker]]
|editor=[[Christopher J. Priest]]
|continuity=[[Marvel Comics continuity]]
}}
'''The Autobots, now restored, strike a deal with G.B. Blackrock. But one of his former employees has other plans.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Anti-robotphotonicmulti-cannon.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.7|"Jack Kirby's Sybian City Saga" never got the attention it deserved, really.]]
[[G.B. Blackrock]], driving practice laps on a race track, is interrupted by General [[Capshaw]], who expresses concern over Blackrock's plans to unveil a new weapon designed to destroy the [[Transformer]]s. Blackrock shrugs him off, and goes to visit [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Josie Beller]] in her hospital room to update her on the situation. She, in turn, shows Blackrock some technology she's been working on from her hospital bed, causing Blackrock to worry that she may put herself in another dangerous situation in her desire for revenge against the robots who crippled her.

These fears are warranted when Josie escapes from her hospital room, and shows up in Blackrock's office that night, revealing herself as Circuit Breaker, wearing a metal suit designed to compensate for her damaged nervous system and granting her offensive capability against any mechanical form. Blackrock orders her to forget the whole thing and get back to the hospital; Circuit Breaker ignores him and says she's going to do what she has to.

The [[Autobot]]s have been revived after their imprisonment aboard the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]], with [[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] in command. They seek a new solution to their fuel shortage, and [[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] takes [[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] and goes to strike a deal with G.B. Blackrock. Kidnapping the billionaire, Jazz offers to provide him with protection from the [[Decepticon]]s in exchange for fuel. After a few confused moments, Blackrock agrees.

[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] is feeling mutinous after receiving word that the Autobots are online again and that [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] has disappeared. [[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] sends him and [[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] to destroy Blackrock's weapon, allowing them to blow off some steam.

[[File:DisintegratedCircuits buster uses matrix.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
[[Sparkplug Witwicky]]'s customers are also feeling mutinous, as [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster]] can only offer fumbling excuses and delays while his father remains in the hospital. Despite tinkering with the automobiles in for repairs, it's all a mystery to him. But another headache-seizure grips him, and in a flash, everything becomes clear—the structure, the problem, everything. Buster repairs an engine block with merely a thought.

Later that day, the unveiling of Blackrock's [[Anti-Robot Photonic Multi-Cannon]] is sabotaged by Circuit Breaker, in an effort to get him to announce '''her''' as his intended weapon. The Decepticons attack just then. Jazz and Wheeljack transform, intending to make good on their promise to provide Blackrock with protection; but Circuit Breaker, unable to discern between Autobot and Decepticon, severely injures Wheeljack. Between her and Jazz, the Decepticons are driven off, though Jazz is damaged. Although Circuit Breaker spares Jazz at Blackrock's pleading, she destroys his weapon, and severs her ties with him. Blackrock fears she is the only one to have truly lost the day's battle...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (6)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Wheeljack]] (7)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Prowl]] (8)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Jazz]] (9)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (10)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] (11)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ironhide]] (12)
*[[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (13)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (14)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Cliffjumper]] (15)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (16)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Ratchet]] (17)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (18)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]] (19)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Mirage]] (20)
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]] (21)
}}
|c2=
*[[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]] (22)
*[[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]] (23)
*[[Shockwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Shockwave]] (24)
*[[Frenzy (G1)|Frenzy]] (25)
|c3=
*[[Chuck (G1)|Chuck]] (1)
*[[Ames (G1)|Ames]] (2)
*[[Capshaw]] (3)
*[[G.B. Blackrock]] (4)
*[[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]] (5)
*[[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"Getting fuel is a piece of cake!" 
"Cake is fuel?"
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Prowl''' - different strokes, man.

"Now, with your okay, I'm going to pay a visit to Mr. Blackrock. We have a deal to negotiate." 
"As my Special Operations officer, you have my complete trust, Jazz. Permission granted. Take '''Wheeljack''' with you as a back-up. I only wish I knew what I just gave you permission '''for!'''"
:—'''Jazz''' and '''Prowl'''

"Or else... fall before the sonic fury of... '''Frenzy!!''' Ha ha ha!! Ha! Ha-ha-ha! ...An Autobot -- '''here!''' No matter -- you'll be a flaming piece of junk when I'm done with you! Ha ha ha!"
:—'''Frenzy''', smashing stuff and happy as a clam.

==Notes==
===Production notes===
[[File:SecretWarsII-Circuitbreaker.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.75|They lack the "[[spark]]"? How things change...]]
*This issue marks the introduction of Josie Beller's superhuman identity, Circuit Breaker. Conceived and designed by Budiansky to resemble Marvel colorist Janet "Jay Jay" Jackson, Circuit Breaker will go on to become easily the most famous of the comic's original characters, but this would not translate to roles in wider Transformers fiction—because Budiansky and Marvel orchestrated it so that ''they'' would own her, not Hasbro. Hasbro's licensing agreement with Marvel stated that any new characters debuting within ''The Transformers'' would be their property, so, to circumvent this, Budiansky requested that Marvel insert Circuit Breaker into the pages of their crossover event ''{{w|Secret Wars II}}'' prior to her appearance in the comic. So it was that Circuit Breaker debuted in ''Secret Wars II'' #3 (right), released a month before ''The Transformers'' #9, securing Marvel ownership of the character. The issue contained a capsule summary of Circuit Breaker's origin and her hatred of robots (with a footnote directing readers to pick up ''Transformers'' #9 for more); in fact, it was her disgust of such "soulless mockeries of life" that "had no true free will" that convinced the antagonist of the series, {{w|Beyonder (comics)|the Beyonder}}, to release Earth from the mind-control he had placed it under, as he realized he had reduced humanity to a comparable state.

===Continuity notes===
*If the circumstances surrounding Circuit Breaker didn't make it clear enough, this issue was still being written from the perspective that ''The Transformers'' was set within the wider Marvel Universe, as is further evidenced by the newspaper in which [[Capshaw|General Capshaw]] reads about Blackrock's upcoming weapons test: it's the [[Daily Bugle]], the publication that pays [[Spider-Man]]'s bills, which previously appeared in [[Prisoner of War!|issue #3]].
*As footnotes reminds us, Josie Beller was injured by Shockwave in [[The Worse of Two Evils!|issue #6]], and has been working towards her recovery for the last two issues, with additional checks in on her ongoing subplot in the interspersed UK-original stories, "[[Decepticon Dam-Busters!]]" and "[[The Wrath of Grimlock!]]".
*As the Autobots finish their performance examinations, [[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]] is absent from the group. He was blasted point blank by Shockwave in [[The New Order|issue #5]], and next issue is shown to still be inoperative, with Ratchet uncertain of his prospects for recovery.
*It is revealed that the "electric shock" Optimus Prime gave Buster in issue #6 was him transferring the Creation Matrix into the human's mind. Buster has been having "headaches" since [[Warrior School!|issue #7]], in which his control over metal and machines began to manifest. The UK series got out ahead of this subplot, revealing this truth ahead of its reprinting of this story, in "[[The Wrath of Guardian!]]"
*This is the first time US audiences are seeing Blackrock's photonic multi-cannon, but again, the UK reprints of the series got ahead of this plotline and actually seeded it a few issues in advance in "Decepticon Dam-Busters!"

===Real-life references===
*A sponsor logo for the real-life {{w|Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company}} can be seen on the side of Blackrock's racetrack.
*Alluding to then-current political tensions, the general worries that "[[Soviet Union|Communists]]" might behind the ongoing robot plague.
*Jazz likes [[Madonna]], blasting her song "{{w|Material Girl}}" during the Autobots' test drive.
*The guard at Blackrock's offices is totally reading [[Playboy]].
*The "next issue" box reads "CONSTRUCTICONS--PHONE HOME!", quoting the movie ''{{w|E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial}}''.

===Artwork and technical errors===
*The latest change of artists has Josie Beller looking quite a bit different than previous issues. In particular, her hair's wavier, shorter and brighter now (and more in line with the Marvel employee that Budiansky modeled her after.) After she becomes Circuit Breaker, it changes into a ponytailed mullet.
*Prowl's forehead crest is consistently colored white instead of red throughout this issue, and he is lacking in portions of blue-black trim, including on his chest and thighs.
*After settling into his finalized colour scheme last issue, Shockwave goes off-model again with blue shoulders instead of purple.
*Cover: Starscream's helmet is colored white instead of blue, and his cockpit grey instead of orange.
[[File:Autobots-disintegratedcircuits1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.75]]
*Page 4 (pictured at right):
**Panel 3: Huffer is red instead of orange, the red and white on Wheeljack's chest are inverted, and Jazz is missing the blue on his hood.
**Panel 4: Gears's face is red instead of white, while his helmet is blue instead of red; Cliffjumper's face is yellow; Jazz is still missing the blue on his hood; Sideswipe's helmet is white instead of blue. As all the formerly-injured Autobots bar Sunstreaker are supposed to be in this scene, Trailbreaker should be visible, but he's the only one who's missing.
*Page 5:
**Panel 5: The arms and torso of Optimus Prime's headless body are colored white instead of red.
**Panel 6: Ratchet is drawn finishing Prowl's line about rescuing Optimus and acquiring fuel. This leads to the peculiar sight of Ratchet stating that he is in command of the Autobots!
*Page 6, panel 2-3: Wheeljack has a blue-black pelvis and white thighs instead of the other way around. He's missing the red on his torso, the blue-black on his shoulders, and his shoulder-fins are blue-black instead of white.
*Page 6, panel 6: Starscream is missing his shoulder intakes, and his cockpit is red instead of orange. Buzzsaw is colored like Laserbeak.
*Page 7, panel 2: Buzzsaw is still colored like Laserbeak.
*Page 8: Continuing an error introduced by the artist of the previous two issues, Optimus Prime's head is drawn missing its antenna-ears.
*Page 8, panel 7: The sign on Sparkplug's garage reads "Witwicky Auto Repair," but per [[The Transformers (issue)|issue #1]] and [[Power Play!|#2]], it ought to say "'''S.''' Witwicky Auto Repair."
*Page 10, panel 14: The sign on G.B. Blackrock's office door reads "JB BLACKROCK."
*Page 16:
**Panel 7: "You really are a robot" is missing its punctuation.
**Panel 8: Jazz says "If I were a Decepticon I would've let you bounce me a couple of times before scraping you off the ground!" The "me" probably shouldn't be there.
*Page 20: Wheeljack's colored incorrectly again, still missing the red on his torso, and still with a blue pelvis (now in addition to his corrected blue thighs). His shoulder-fins have become red (except in panel 5, where they're colored like part of the background, and panel 6, in which they disappear altogether), and his shoulder-cannon is purple instead of blue. These panels were evidently used as reference for the coloring of the UK strips "The Wrath of Guardian!" and "The Wrath of Grimlock!"
*Page 21:
**Panel 6: The interior of Starscream's shoulder-intake is colored pink like the background. His null ray is colored pale purple. The narration bizarrely refers to Starscream's robot form as his "secret mode".
**Panel 7: Starscream's wings are missing. His one visible null-ray remains miscolored, except for its rearmost segment, but only because the coloring misinterprets it as part of Starscream's shoulder.

===UK printing===
[[File:DIS-Integrated Circuits UK printing error.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|"Jazz, are you all right?"—"Totally not! I'm seeing weird colors, man!"]]
'''Issue #33:'''
*'''Published:''' [[October 26|26th October]], 1985
*'''Cover date:''' [[November 2|2nd November]], 1985
*'''[[Back-up strips]]:''' ''Machine Man'' ("If This Be Sanctuary?!" Part 3), ''[[Robo-Capers]]'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
*'''November calendar:''' Prowl
*A printing error resulted in the magneta and cyan plates of the CMYK printing process being switched for pages 4, 5, and 9, a problem that would continue into the next issue and occur again in [[Fallen Angel|issue #101]] and [[Time Wars|issue #201]] (there with the yellow and cyan plates). The original US printing of this issue used the correct colors.

'''Issue #34:'''
*'''Published:''' [[November 2|2nd November]], 1985
*'''Cover date:''' [[November 9|9th November]], 1985
*'''Back-up strips:''' ''Machine Man'' ("If This Be Sanctuary?!" Part 4), ''Robo-Capers'' and ''Matt and the Cat''
*The printing error continues, with the magenta and cyan plates switched again for pages 5 and 10.

===Other trivia===
[[File:DisintegratedCircuits-JazzBlackrock.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Float like a Jazzerfly...]]
*The inker of this issue is credited as "[[M. Hands]]". This isn't a person, but a pseudonym (short for "Many Hands") used to cover multiple inkers working on a rush-job.
*The presence of Marvel-owned character Circuit Breaker meant that when [[IDW Publishing]] was first reprinting the Marvel comic for their ''[[Classic Transformers]]'' series, this was another issue (like issue #3 before it) that they could not secure the license to reproduce, and were forced instead to replace it with a text summary. This was later resolved and the issue was included in the later reprint volume [[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 1]]—but only in the print copy of the book, not the digital version.
*Judge Reinhold's character is shown reading pages from this issue in the film Vice Versa (1988). Though when the comic is closed issue #8's cover can be seen poking out from the newspaper that was used as a cover.
*As seen at right, this issue is perhaps the only occurrence of Jazz demonstrating the capability to glide using his "rear-mounted ailerons" as he catches Blackrock and gently floats to the bottom of the cliff. This ability is only brought up in Jazz's expanded ''[[The Transformers Universe (Marvel)|Transformers Universe]]'' profile and while it doesn't specify which mode Jazz can utilize it in, the art here seems to portray his car doors as said rear-mounted ailerons.

===Bot Roster===
*Autobots: 21 active, as Ratchet revives all but one of the captive Autobots; Sunstreaker inactive; Optimus Prime held captive. (23 total)
*Decepticons: 10 active; Megatron missing in action. (11 total)

===Courtesy of my...===
*Blackrock unveils the [[Anti-Robot Photonic Multi-Cannon]].
*Starscream once again deploys his [[cluster bomb]]s, this time unloading on Jazz.

===Covers (3)===
*'''US issue #9:''' Circuit Breaker and Starscream, by [[Mike Manley]].
*'''UK issue #33:''' Circuit Breaker, Wheeljack and Frenzy, by [[John Higgins]].
*'''UK issue #34:''' reuse of art from US cover, modified to fit the UK aspect ratio.
<gallery>
File:MarvelUS-09.jpg|'''US issue #9''' - Thanks Marvel. ''Thanks''
File:MarvelUK-033.jpg|'''UK issue #33''' - Introducing: DAVID BOWIE
File:MarvelUK-034.jpg|'''UK issue #34''' - Starscream has a really sweet cycling helmet
</gallery>

===Reprints===
<gallery>
File:Transformers Digest 05-cover.jpg|'''[[The Transformers Comics Magazine issue 5|''The Transformers Comics Magazine'' #5]]''' (Marvel US, 1987)
File:Titan-NewOrderSC.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: New Order]]'' paperback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:Titan-NewOrderHC.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: New Order]]'' hardback''' (Titan Books, 2003)
File:TFClassicsVol1.JPG|'''[[The Transformers Classics, Vol. 1|''The Transformers Classics,'' Vol. 1]]''' (IDW Publishing, 2011)
File:DefinitiveG1Collection v2.jpg|'''''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection]], Vol. 2: New Order''''' (Hachette Partworks Ltd, 2018)
File:HXClassicsVol3.jpg|'''''[[The Transformers Classics#Japanese reprints|The Transformers Classics]], Vol. 3''''' ([[Mediaboy Mook]], 2019)
</gallery>

====IDW ''Transformers Classics'' edits====
[[File:DISintegratedCircuits-WheeljackIDWreprint.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|wheeljack's got green, right, here's some dang green then, wherevs]]
For ''[[The Transformers Classics]]'' series of trade paperbacks, IDW Publishing "remastered" the coloring of the series with varying degrees of success. These changes were sometimes to fix errors, but often to alter characters' color schemes to make them resemble their toy and/or cartoon selves, and were rarely applied with consistency. IDW's recolored version was also used for Hachette's ''[[Transformers: The Definitive G1 Collection|Definitive G1 Collection]]''.
*Cover: Starscream's head is changed from the incorrect white to a cartoon-based grey-black, with cartoon red eyes. His cockpit becomes the correct orange.
*Page 4, panel 4: Cliffjumper's miscolored face is the only error corrected on this page.
*Page 5, panel 5: The colors of Optimus Prime's headless body are corrected.
*Page 6:
**Panels 2-3: Spots of green are added to Wheeljack to emulate his toy/cartoon model.
**Panel 6: Shockwave's shoulders are corrected for this panel alone, but his Decepticon insignia and highlights on his chest-nubbins somehow become orange.
*Page 8, panel 1: Shockwave's right shoulder is corrected, but his left shoulder is not.
*Page 20: Green trim is again added to Wheeljack's chest and legs as well, and his blue shoulders are changed to white (pictured at right).

===Advertisements===
*Young Astronaut Program (inside front cover)
*Newtons Fruit Chewy Cookies - between pages 4 & 5
*Twizzlers - between pages 5 & 6
*''The Heavenly Kid'' (live-action film) - between pages 7 & 8
*[[Nestlé]] Quik - between pages 8 & 9
*Tootsie Roll - between pages 16 & 17
*''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' on videocassette - between pages 17 & 18
*Mile High Comics - between pages 19 & 20
*Bullpen Belletins - between pages 20 & 21
*''The West Coast Avengers'' and ''The Vision and the Scarlet Witch''
*Marvel subscriptions
*''Secret Wars II'' #5, ''The [[Thing]]'' #30, ''Dr. Strange'' #74, and ''[[Fantastic Four]]'' #285 (inside back cover)
*Rip-Off's shoes (back cover)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dis-Integrated Circuits!}}
[[Category:Marvel US issues]]
[[Category:Marvel UK issues]]

File:One-Darkwing.jpg

2025-07-01T04:34:17Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{Onecap|[[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]] gets mad at [[Megatron (One)|D-16]] and [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]].}}

June 1

2025-06-01T16:19:40Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Updated link

<noinclude>{{cal-date|6|1}}</noinclude>

* '''[[1942]] —''' [[Patrice Melennec]] (French voice of [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]] in the first two [[Transformers The Game|movie video games]] and [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] in the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' game) is born.
* '''[[1947]] —''' [[Magda Giner]] (Mexican voice of [[Tova Anael Fischer]]) is born.
* '''[[1955]] —''' [[Han Tongsheng]] (Chinese voice of [[Ron Witwicky]] and [[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]) is born.
* '''[[1957]] —''' [[André Beyer]] (German voice of [[Sideswipe (Movie)|Sideswipe]]) is born.
* '''[[1972]] —''' [[Rick Gomez]] (Sheriff in ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'') is born.
* '''[[1980]] —''' [[CNN]] is launched as the first 24 hours new coverage channel in the world.
* '''[[1985]] —''' The original ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Transformers]]'' cartoon series premieres with the episode "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]" in [[France]].
* '''[[1986]] —''' [[Alessio Puccio]] (Italian voice of [[Kicker Jones]]) is born.
* '''[[1989]] —''' [[Teresa Daley]] (Assistant to [[Defense Minister of China|Minister of Defense]] in ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Transformers: Age of Extinction]]'') is born.
* '''1989 —''' [[Kamil Kula]] (Polish voice of [[Sideswipe (RID 2015)|Sideswipe]]) is born.
* '''[[2002]] —''' [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|''Transformers: Robots in Disguise'' (2001)]] premieres in the [[United Kingdom]].
* '''[[2009]] —''' [[General Motors|Chevrolet]] begins taking orders for the [[Bumblebee_(Movie)/merchandise#Chevrolet|"Bumblebee Edition" package]] for the 2009/2010 [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#Chevy Camaro|Chevy Camaro]]... ''and'' their parent company, General Motors, files for government-assisted bankruptcy protection. Huh.
* '''[[2010]] —''' [[TakaraTomy Mall|Toy Hobby Market]] begins taking orders for the [[exclusive]] Generation 1 colored [[Unicron/toys#Transformers 2010|Unicron]].
* '''[[2011]] —''' ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' [[Space Opera Act 2: Out of the Silent Planet|#20]] and [[The Transformers (issue)|100 Penny Press: ''Transformers Classics'' #1]] are released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2012]] —''' First day to submit lottery codes to the [[TakaraTomy]] website's "[[Arms Up Campaign]]" contest, with prizes including [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Golden|Golden Optimus Prime]] and [[Hades#Golden|Golden Hades]].
* '''[[2013]] —''' The last time [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]] aired on [[Vortexx]].
* '''[[2014]] —''' First day of [[Transformers 30th Anniversary Exhibition]] at the Venetian, Macau.
* '''[[2015]] —''' [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)/home video|Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters — Season 3 Volume 2: Race for Salvation]] is released to home media in the [[United Kingdom]] by [[Primal Screen]].
* '''[[2016]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'' episodes "[[Mayor May Not]]" and "[[All Spark Day (episode)|All Spark Day]]" premiere on Pop in the UK.
* '''2016 — ''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'' entire third season premieres in [[Brazil]] on [[Netflix]].
* '''2016 —''' IDW Publishing's ''[[Revolution]]'' and the [[Hasbro Universe]] are announced for the first time.
* '''2016 —''' [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)/home video|"Transformers: Robots in Disguise — "Battlegrounds"]] is released on home media by [[Beyond Home Entertainment]] in [[Australia]].
* '''[[2020]]''' — The [[Generations Selects Special Comic]] [[God Neptune comic 2]] is first published.
* '''2020 —''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (cartoon)|Rescue Bots Academy]]'' episodes "[[Brushfire (episode)|Brushfire]]" and "[[The Ties That Bind (episode)|The Ties That Bind]]" premieres in the [[United Kingdom]].
* '''[[2022]] —''' [[LEGO]] releases [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#LEGO|10302 Optimus Prime]].
* '''[[2023]] —''' Gizmodo.com puts up an article officially revealing the [[Transformers Collaborative]] [[Jurassic Park|Jurassic Park × Transformers]] [[Dilophocon#Toys|Dilophocon]] and [[JP12#Toys|Autobot JP12]] and preorders later go up for them.
* '''2023 —''' [[GAI]] releases his single ''"[[Fighting Side-By-Side]]"''.
* '''2023 —''' First day of the ''[[Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (film)|Rise of the Beasts]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]], [[Optimus Primal (ROTB)|Optimus Primal]] and [[Dino|Mirage]] World Tour in [[Beijing]], [[China]].

S.O.S. Dinobots

2025-05-30T20:30:29Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Trivia */

{{disambig2|the cartoon episode|the mobile game event|S.O.S. Dinobots (Legends)}}
{{episode
|series=G1toon
|ep=8
|series2=SRLFtoon
|ep2=7
|prev2=Divide and Conquer
|next2=War of the Dinobots
|series3=''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Transformers: Generation 2]]''
|ep3=4
|prev3=More than Meets the Eye, Part 3
|next3=Heavy Metal War
|image=SOSDinobots fossilcavern.jpg
|caption=Wheeljack? Consult the Book of Armaments.
|title="S.O.S. Dinobots"
|season=1
|season ep=8
|production code=#700-05
|airdate=[[October 27]], 1984
|written by=[[Donald F. Glut]]
|animation studio=[[Toei Animation|Toei]], [[Ashi Productions]], [[Nakamura Production]]
|production company=[[Sunbow Productions]]
|continuity=[[Generation 1 cartoon continuity]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xOg3uBAL6s
|videosite=YouTube
}}
'''The Autobots create the Dinobots, but can barely control these new powerful warriors.'''

==Synopsis==
As the [[Autobot]]s discuss whether or not the [[Decepticon]]s are behind the tremors they've been experiencing recently, [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] notices the tremors are stronger near one of the rock walls of the Autobot base. [[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]]'s sensors detect something odd behind the wall, so the Autobots break through, finding a cavern. Spike explains to the surprised Autobots that the bones scattered around the cave are [[dinosaur (dinosaur)|dinosaur]] fossils, which pique the curiosity of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]].

Elsewhere, [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] and [[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] stake out the [[Great Falls]] hydroelectric power facility, and return to the Decepticon base once they have enough information.

Spike takes [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] on a tour of a natural history museum to further illustrate his paleontological crash-course. Hound snaps a few holograms of dinosaur bone displays, which he played back for the other Autobots. Wheeljack and [[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] are inspired, believing that they could construct robot versions to use against the Decepticons, and Optimus gives them permission. A laborious construction ensues, based on designs drawn up on [[Teletraan I]], with all of the Autobots taking part.

[[File:SOSDinobots Grimlockwrecks Teletraan.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|left|When the [[television|TV]] no work, Me know how to fix it!]]
Meanwhile [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] announces that the Great Falls constitute a perpetual power source that will let them take over the [[Universe (universe)|universe]] forever. On his order, the Decepticon forces fly out to take the dam.

Wheeljack unveils the three new additions to their ranks: the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]]. Impressed by the giant Dinobots and their ability to transform into dinosaurs, Optimus asks for a demonstration of their other abilities, and Wheeljack has them disintegrate the rubble from the earlier excavation. As Wheeljack explains that he's looking to upgrade the Dinobots' limited intelligence, the trio suddenly start attacking the Autobots. Grimlock heads for the control room, pursued by [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] and Spike, but the pair are unable to prevent the Dinobot from trashing Teletraan I. Bumblebee does manage to lure Grimlock away from the room so Ratchet can start the long repair job. As the fight continues, Optimus orders the Dinobots destroyed, but Wheeljack manages to disable them with his [[magnetic inducer]]. Despite Wheeljack's pleas, Optimus orders them decommissioned, and the three Dinobots are sealed in the rock cavern, never to be activated again.

[[File:SOSDinobots Ravage window.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Holy Hell!]]
The Decepticons arrive at the Great Falls, and the humans try to reach the Autobots via Teletraan I. Their distress signal goes unheard, as Teletraan I is currently offline thanks to the Dinobot rampage. [[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] trashes the humans' communication equipment, and the facility falls under Decepticon control.

With Teletraan I out of commission, it's up to individual Autobot scouts like Hound to be on the lookout for Decepticon activity. Hound's sensors detect the ransacking of the Great Falls plant, and he alerts Optimus. Optimus leaves with a strike force, ordering Bumblebee to stay behind to guard the base.

The Decepticons are gathering energy from the dam as [[energon cube]]s, and Megatron assures [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] that he has a plan for when the Autobots arrive. When the Autobots do arrive on a cliff overlooking the falls, they're unable to detect any Decepticons, but the foe soon pops out of their hiding places and attack. As his warriors keep the Autobots occupied, Megatron connects his [[fusion cannon]] directly into the Great Falls' power output. He blasts the cliff-face where the Autobots stand while [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] bashes at the ground, causing the cliff to crumble and sending the Autobots falling into the raging waters below.

Disobeying orders, Bumblebee arrives at the Great Falls and picks up Spike, as Megatron orders the Autobots retrieved and prepared for destruction. Bumblebee and Spike return to the Ark, informing Wheeljack and Ratchet of the Autobots' failure at the Great Falls. Wheeljack decides to reactivate the Dinobots. He has secretly developed a series of memory components that would upgrade the Dinobots' brains. Despite Bumblebee's protests that it goes against Optimus's orders, they install the new components, and the Dinobots awaken. Still relatively simple-minded, they are now much more intelligent than the mindless monsters that first appeared. Sludge, Slag and Grimlock agree to follow Wheeljack's orders, and blast their way out of the side of the volcano.

[[File:SOSDinobots Megatron falls.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.1|I've warned you about that, mighty Megatron.]]
The Decepticons have the Autobots trussed up with [[energon chains]]. Just as the Decepticons are about to execute the captives, the Dinobots arrive with Wheeljack. Wheeljack takes out Megatron with a [[gyro-inhibitor shell]], resulting in Starscream declaring himself leader on the grounds that Megatron has literally just fallen. The Decepticons take to the air, but even with air superiority, they find themselves being tossed around and battered by the Dinobots. As Megatron transforms and latches onto Starscream's jet mode, Wheeljack spots his fellow Autobots' weapons, and uses them to free his friends. The Dinobots blast Megatron, who finds himself faced with both the Dinobots and the freed Autobots. He quickly calls a retreat, and the Decepticons turn tail. Wheeljack and Bumblebee brace themselves for reprimands for disobeying Prime's direct orders, but Prime concedes he was wrong. He accepts the Dinobots as the newest members of the Autobot forces. The Autobots cheer the decision, and the Dinobots growl their approval.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
{{collist|2|
*[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Sideswipe (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sideswipe]] (2)
*[[Ratchet (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ratchet]] (3)
*[[Ironhide (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ironhide]] (4)
*[[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]] (6)
*[[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]] (7)
*[[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] (8)
*[[Huffer (G1)|Huffer]] (11)
*[[Prowl (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Prowl]] (12)
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (13)
*[[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]] (14)
*[[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (19)
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]] (20)
*[[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] (21)
*[[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]] (22)
*[[Windcharger (G1)|Windcharger]] (23)
*[[Gears (G1)|Gears]] (24)
*[[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] (25)
*[[Slag (G1)|Slag]] (27)
*[[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] (28)
*[[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]] (29)
}}
|c2=
*[[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] (8)
*[[Reflector (G1)|Reflector]] (9)
*[[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Thundercracker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Thundercracker]] (16)
*[[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (17)
*[[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] (18)
*[[Ravage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ravage]] (30)
*[[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (31)
|c3=
*[[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike Witwicky]] (5)
*[[Sparkplug Witwicky]] (26)
}}

==Quotes==
"Well I'll be a Cybertronic [[bolt-bat]]!"
:—'''Sideswipe'''

[[File:SOSDinobots buildingSludge.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|"Heck, robot satanic hellspawn nuclear explosive suicide troops might be useful too. Whip us up some of those while you're at it."]]
"Robot dinosaurs might be useful. You have my authorization."
:—'''Optimus Prime''' gives the okay to make the Dinobots, because sure, why not?

"Maybe Hound's got [[Glitch-mouse|glitch-mice]] in his databanks again!"
:—'''Bluestreak''', mocking Hound's radar accuracy, to the amusement of no one

"Nice shootin', if you were aimin' for the sky!"
:—'''Rumble''' goading Bluestreak

[[File:SOSDinobots-Sludge Insignia.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Rubsigns save lives!]]
"Which ones... friends?" 
"Ones with... face like this... uh, I think." 
"That... good enough for Slag."
:—'''Slag''' and '''Sludge''' determine friend from foe by using faction symbols.

"If on Decepticon turf you happen to tumble, look out robot, 'cause here comes Rumble!"
:—'''Rumble'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s clever combat banter

"Heat seeking missiles seek heat!"
:—'''Skywarp'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s slightly less clever combat banter

==Notes==
===Production information===
* First draft script: 29th June 1984
* Script revised by [[Ron Friedman]]: 7th July 1984
* First draft storyboards completed: 25th July 1984 (Artists: [[David Russell]], [[Doug Lefler]], [[Gerald Moeller]], [[Lindsay Dawson]], [[Bob Smith]], [[Brian Ray]]).
* Returned to the US for telecine: 17th October 1984

===Continuity notes===
*The natural history museum that Spike and Hound visit might be assumed to be in [[Central City (Earth)|Central City]], later shown in "[[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 1]]" to be located near Autobot Headquarters.
*After being almost totally ignored (or completely absent) for the first seven episodes, Windcharger finally gets his first speaking line.
*Wheeljack is shown working on the memory upgrades for the Dinobots before they're even built!
*Flying Autobots:
**Gears takes to the air to attack the Decepticons at the power plant, and Wheeljack flies alongside the Dinobots. These abilities are never explained within the cartoon itself. However, according to the [[Tech Spec]]s, these two (along with Sideswipe) are the original Autobots who are SUPPOSED to be flight-capable; Gears is equipped with compressed air boosters and Wheeljack has solid-fuel rockets in his arms. Gears would never be shown to use his flight capabilities again; Wheeljack, however, will fly again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" and actually use his arm-rockets in "[[The Core]]" and "[[The Autobot Run]]".
**The Dinobots are also shown to be able to fly in robot mode under their own power; they will consistently retain this ability all the way through Season 2 and the Movie.
*"We do... as told... for now." Grimlock's first lines already foretell the trouble that the Autobots will have keeping the Dinobots in line.
*The Dinobots are shown to be incredibly tough and resistant to damage. Nothing the Decepticons do leaves so much as a scratch or scorch mark, not even shots from gun mode Megatron. This too is consistent through Season 2 and the Movie.
**Slag's neck frill can reflect Optimus Prime's laser rifle blast back at him.
[[File:Sosdinos sonadar sensors.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:SOSDinobots Trailbreaker in force field.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
[[File:SOSDinobot Hound radios in.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|As noted [[#Rhino_DVD_release|above]], Hound's glowy bits were bright blue in the original broadcast version.]]
*Powers and gadgets:
**Ironhide is equipped with a [[sonodar]] sensor array that extends from his forearm, capable of penetrating solid rock. The findings of the sensor are displayed in the windshield in his chest.
**Sideswipe is equipped with piston arms, that allow him to punch through stone walls. Here, they are simply heavy protrusions that he slams into the rock to break it up, but when they show up again in "[[A Plague of Insecticons]]" they actually operate like pneumatic jackhammers. His pistons are also misinterpreted as a ''hand-held'' jackhammer in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
**Trailbreaker's force field is rendered as a glowing yellow sphere that comes from the space between his upraised hands. (Well, hand, since the other one is a gun.)
**Wheeljack fires a "magnetic inducer" from his shoulder cannon to stop the rampaging Dinobots, and later nails Megatron with a "[[gyro-inhibitor shell]]", launched from the same. Both of these are weapons Wheeljack's tech spec says he has and fires from his shoulder cannons.
**Per the original script, Thundercracker was intended to use his sonic boom powers in robot mode during the Decepticons' attack on the Great Falls by slamming his fists together. As he was attacking the tourists from earlier - whose other scenes were cut - this scene was excised as well.
**Hound uses a cheekguard-mounted communicator to contact Autobot Headquarters, along with a button on his stomach that lights up parts of his helmet while he's transmitting.
**Optimus has a similar cheekguard communicator, along with little antennae which slide out of the larger antennae on his head.
**Thundercracker attempts to torch the Dinobots with a flamethrower, which shows up again in "[[The Ultimate Doom, Part 2]]". This weapon is probably based on his tech spec's mention of [[incendiary gun]]s.
**Skywarp still packs heat-seeking missiles, per his tech spec bio.
**Starscream drops small bomb-missiles on the Dinobots. These may or may not be from the launchers concealed in his air ducts, which are used in "[[Fire on the Mountain (episode)|Fire on the Mountain]]".
[[File:Sosdinos rumble broken piledrivers.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Megatron actually refers to his [[fusion cannon]] by that name.
*Laserbeak does not appear but is mentioned in this episode, as Megatron credits him for gathering intelligence at the Great Falls.
*Per his tech spec bio, Sludge proves adept in the water. He also uses his seismic stomp to retaliate against Rumble's earthquake power.
*Rumble getting hit by Sludge's quake while using his piledrivers causes them to break off.
*'''[[Transport to Oblivion (episode)|< <]]''' What makes Starscream the leader? Megatron's lost his equilibrium! '''[[Countdown to Extinction (episode)|> >]]'''

===Real-world references===
*Dinosaurs, obviously. And a natural history museum, and a lame joke about "heavy metal" in reference to Hound.
*''[[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]]'' sound effects:
**[[Death Star]] turbolasers are used as the sound of Bluestreak firing at Rumble.
**[[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] repelling Seeker bolts with his [[lightsaber]] is used as the sound of the Decepticons lifting off under Starscream's command.
**Clashing lightsabers are used as the sound of Slag's horns powering up.
**More lightsabers as the Dinobots fire on Megatron and Starscream.

===Animation or technical glitches===
[[File:SOSDinobots-Miscolors.jpg|thumb|center|600px|[[Nelson Yomtov|Yomtov]]-licious!]]
[[File:SOSDinobots bluePrime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Don't even think about [[redeco|it]], [[e-HOBBY]]!]]
[[File:SOSDinobots Soundwave shoots Gears.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*Coloring errors:
**Wheeljack's ears flash orange in this episode, rather than the usual blue. It's a convention that also appeared in "[[Roll for It]]" (an episode which has a similar art style to this one.)
**Ironhide's cheekguards are gray instead of red as he explains his sonodar sensor.
**The exposition-spouting tourist visiting the Great Falls hydroelectric power plant has hair that turns from red to black from one shot to the next.
**In his introductory shot, Slag's head is miscolored, mostly gray instead of all-red. This is the first of many, many, many times that his head and face will get the wrong colors.
**Another frequent coloring error has Sludge with gray on the sides of his dino head, which should be all-gold. It pops up numerous times in this episode.
**When the Decepticons arrive at the Great Falls plant, Rumble is colored like Brawn.
**As Skywarp and another Decepticon land, a foreground Decepticon Seeker's leg is colored a deep yellow (an error, but as close as [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] ever came to appearing on Earth in a Generation 1 cartoon.)
**As Megatron claims control of the dam and the Decepticons strike silly poses, two background Seekers appear to have Bluestreak's colors.
**As Skywarp and Thundercracker strafe the Autobots, ''every single Autobot is miscolored'', including Sideswipe painted as Sunstreaker, Bluestreak as Trailbreaker, Brawn as Hound, Optimus Prime as Sideswipe, Hound as Ironhide, Trailbreaker as Gears, and Mirage as Bluestreak.
**Rumble's pile driver tips are the same blue-purple as the rest of him when he lands, but are red in a close-up shot a second later.
**Sunstreaker's hands are yellow in the shot of him, Jazz, etc. reacting to Rumble's earthquake.
**As Prime rolls toward the falls, his smokestacks are red.
**"Nice shootin'!" Rumble's eyeband is gray instead of red.
**When Gears flies up to Soundwave, his truck roof (on his back) is red instead of blue.
**Optimus's chest is the same blue as his head as he struggles in the water. As the Autobots move past camera, he morphs into his usual red.
**Ratchet's head crest is white instead of gray as he works on Teletraan-1.
**While the Autobots are trapped in Energon Chains, Optimus is colored entirely blue and Trailbreaker is a light grey rather than black.
**Starscream's entire cockpit cowling is yellow after the transforms, rather than just the canopy.
**Rumble's shin is all-yellow as he and the rest of the Decepticon group take off.
**When Skywarp drops bombs on Grimlock, Grimlock's an overly-dark shade of gray.
**Rumble's colors are reversed as Sludge's crevasse knocks him over.
**After they transform to retreat, all three Seekers have entirely gold nosecones. A pan across the three jets shows Starscream, Thundercracker, and a second Starscream in place of Skywarp.
**Sludge's face is black after he returns to [[robot mode]].
*Brawn's lines don't quite time up with the animation; he says "let's clean up this mess" while in the middle of tossing rocks everywhere; and he says "Hey, there's a cavern in there!" while gaping at a huge opening that must have been revealed much earlier in their dig.
*Wheeljack likewise says "Feels like stone" before he's even picked up one of the dinosaur bones. His ears don't flash for the first part of his line. And the top of his chest is colored windshield blue when it should be metal armor white.
*Jazz clearly isn't with the group that enters the cave; yet he abruptly pops up out of nowhere to say his line.
*Only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash for his "I'd sure like to know more about 'em" line.
*Spike identifies a ''Brontosaurus'' during his tour of the museum's dinosaur exhibit, though there does not appear to be a ''Brontosaurus'' on display. Though, to be fair, it may just be Spike's error, or the ''Brontosaurus'' skeleton might be out of the camera's view. (Also, at the time this episode took place, {{w|Brontosaurus|''Brontosaurus'' was a deprecated genus}}, but that's just picking nits, especially since the genus has now been reinstated.)
*Wheeljack's ears are drawn as mishapen white blobs as he and Prime first call up the image of the dinosaurs on Teletraan 1.
*Wheeljack is missing his wings as he works on the helmet-brain units.
*The Decepticon Headquarters docking tower is rather clumsily animated against the background matte, shaking a bit as it lowers. When the tower lowers, the source of the streaming bubbles lowers with it!
*"I suppose you've devised a brilliant plan..." Starscream's intakes are shown behind his shoulders, rather than on top of them.
*The top of the docking tower is missing as the Decepticons fly out it.
*Wheeljack's line of dialogue, "Autobots, meet Dinobots" is delivered by Ratchet.
*As Wheeljack introduces the Dinobots, the foreground characters slide magically against the background scenery due to an error in animation.
*As the Autobots react with shock upon seeing the Dinobots, all three audible lines in the scene—"Look at the size of those things", "Great Cybertron", and "Holy heterodyne"—are animated as being spoken by Bluestreak. The lines were evidently not scripted as belonging to any specific characters, as they are provided respectively by [[Peter Cullen]] (using neither Prime nor Ironhide's voice), [[Dan Gilvezan]] (sounding like himself) and [[Gregg Berger]] (who shouldn't be voicing ''any'' of the assembled Autobots!).
*Wheeljack is missing his wings as he's introducing the Dinobots.
*As Huffer mocks the Dinobots, he says: "Dinobots, huh? I thought you were supposed to make ''dino''saurs!" The emphasis, of course, should be on the "saurs".
*Optimus Prime's line, "Interesting, but what else can they do?" is delivered by Cliffjumper.
*As he opens his mouth to clear the rubble, Grimlock's dinosaur head has whole bunch of extra joint lines, based on his toy's detail. This detail never appears again.
*Bluestreak gets Optimus Prime's laser rifle sound effect for his shoulder launcher blasts.
*As Slag shoots him, Sideswipe cries out in Bluestreak's voice.
*As Grimlock heads into the control room, he just slides across the frame, rather than being animated with leg motion, etc.
*Grimlock clearly destroys the big main screen with the lolipop next to it. Yet as Bumblebee tries to get away, he passes this same screen, totally intact, while the explosion comes from somewhere else (unless there's ''two'' big screens with lolipops?)
*Ratchet rights a tipped-over Bumblebee in the thick of the Dinobot rampage. After Bumblebee drives away, the section of Ratchet obscured by a foreground Bumblebee is still missing.
*As often happens, Prowl has Sideswipe's voice as he asks "Doesn't anything get to this guy?"
*Prime's missing his grille lines as he declares that the Dinobots must be destroyed.
[[File:SOSDinobots magnetic inducer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
*As he fires to deactivate the Dinobots, Wheeljack's missile launcher swings around and clicks into place, pointing forward. Only... it was already pointing forward just a second earlier. In fact, it's never shown pointing in any other direction.
*After standing in front of the cave lamenting the loss of his creations (aw, poor Wheeljack!), Wheeljack moves out of the way as the Autobots open fire to seal the cavern. Yet as the rocks come down, he's back in front of the cave.
*After Optimus signs off from Hound's transmission, his head does a strange little back-and-forth bob. As the view pans out from him, we see Bluestreak, whose headcrest is gray instead of red.
*As the Autobots roll out, they kind of slide sideways across the floor of Autobot Headquarters.
[[File:SOSDinobots Autobots in chains.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|They just left Gears and the others at the bottom of the river.]]
*Appearing/disappearing Autobots:
**Wheeljack is shown in the lineup of Autobots leaving HQ; yet a moment later, it's shown that he stayed behind to continue working on stuff.
**Not nearly enough Autobots are shown in the energon chain lineup.
*"Endless energy, Starscream!" Megatron is missing his waist details.
*When Optimus tells the Autobots to fight, his line is clipped off at the end, telling the Autobots to "fight ba-".
*Just before Gears tumbles into him, Bluestreak is standing there waving a fist in the air. It looks like he was supposed to be shooting, but the laser fire wasn't animated.
*Bluestreak is knocked over by Gears, but is standing and firing in the next shot.
*Megatron is shown laughing, but there's no vocalization to go with it.
*Megatron's missing his insignia as he and Starscream look down from the cliff.
*"We shall retrieve their short-circuited carcasses..." Megatron's slow-moving lip-flap doesn't keep pace with his speech.
*"I've been working on a little research project." Once again, only the front of Wheeljack's ears flash.
*As the Autobots struggle against the chains, Megatron suffers another severe lip-flap malfunction. The energon chains to bounce and move like a single solid object; this is apparently supposed to show the Autobots struggling against their bonds, but it doesn't really work very well.
*Yet another vocal malfunction for Megatron after Wheeljack shoots him; he makes a falling-over "Whauurrrrrr!" sound long after he's already fallen over.
*"And whatever punishment you have in mind..." Bumblebee is missing his insignia, has yellow "cheeks" instead of white, and appears to have borrowed [[Bumper (G1)|Bumper]]'s rectangular chest.
*The closing scene features Optimus announcing that the Dinobots... will stay! And everyone is happy, and everybody cheers! Everybody except the background music, which is a tense, frantic piece normally reserved for cliffhanging crises and catastrophes.

===Continuity errors===
*So, why ''didn't'' Wheeljack just give the Dinobots their cognitive upgrades ''before'' he activated them and showed them off?
*The data gathered by Reflector and Soundwave leads Megatron to conclude with relish that the Great Falls contain enough energy to vanquish the Autobots and control the universe... but that's really nothing new. The Decepticons have targeted hydroelectric power sources before.
*What is it about falling into the river that is so devastating to the Autobots? We've seen that Autobots can deal with being in the water (Hound in "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]", various Autobots in "[[The Ultimate Doom]]", [[Springer (G1)|Springer]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]], and [[Arcee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Arcee]] in ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'', etc.). It's possible that the fall itself damaged them, but the Autobots are clearly shown struggling around in the water. Then again, Optimus Prime needed Jazz's help to escape the rushing river in "More Than Meets the Eye, Part 2".
*It's possible the editorial pace of the show plays with time and space, but taken at face value, the Autobots build three Dinobots in the span of time it takes the Decepticons to decide to attack the Great Falls.
*So... what caused the tremors? Once the Autobots found the dinosaur bones, they completely lost interest in the mystery that kickstarted the whole thing in the first place.

===Rhino DVD release===
[[File:dvd broadcast.jpg|thumb|Pretty colors are more important than things making sense!]]

*The chapter stops for this episode on the Rhino DVD are: Opening / Old Bones / "Dinobots Must Die" / Fusion Power / Permanent Dysfunction / Dinobots Will Stay.
*Though all G1 episodes released on DVD by Rhino were altered in some way, both with additional sound effects and unintentional changes induced by not using the finalized broadcast masters, this one is particularly screwed up:
**The opening zoom on Autobot HQ is different.
**Ironhide's monitor has less detail in the Rhino version.
**As the Autobots walk around the unnamed museum, they pass a pair of street punks looking at a display. While divided into grey and blue parts in the broadcast version, the display was [[:File:SOSDinobotsPunksDisplay.jpg|rendered entirely blue]] in the Kid Rhino version of the episode, making it look a bit like a computer terminal. This random color change was ''not'' undone in the Shout! Factory version. In the same shot, one of the background extras is missing as well.
**Optimus and Wheeljack are missing from one shot where they are supposed to be looking at the screen.
**The montage of the Dinobots being built is rather poorly edited on the Kid Rhino version.
**The Rhino version uses a faulty take for the shot where the Dinobots demonstrate their power by clearing rubble. In the DVD, the blasts from the Dinobots' mouths are missing, and the rubble does not vanish. The broadcast version, though, has both effects, which were reinstated on the Shout! Factory release. (See illustration).
**"Look at the size of those things!" In the shot where Bluestreak speaks the three lines in three different voices, the Rhino version features an additional error: Huffer's mouth is also moving in unison with Bluestreak's for all three lines.
**The soldiers' guns disappear from the ground when they run away. They are also missing in the later shot when the Decepticons land. Shout! corrected the first instance, but not the second one.
** The laser that Starscream fires in one shot is horribly misaligned in the DVD version.
**Not so much a goof, but the Rhino DVD version of this episode has a rainbow visible at the Great Falls when Megatron lands. This is not in the broadcast version and was removed when Shout Factory corrected the scene.
**In the following shot, the Rhino version has Megatron standing in front of a sky instead of rocks.
**The foreground layer of grass is missing when Spike exits Hound.
**When Hound contacts Autobot Headquarters with a recon report, the glowing lights on his chest and forehead are blue in the broadcast version, but red in the DVD version. This was changed back in the Shout! Factory release.
**The Energon cubes have different glow effects in one shot.
**...When Spike says the line "Is it much farther, Hound" the broadcast version has his mouth move with his speech but the Rhino version has his mouth stop at the word "much" with his mouth hanging open in the rest of the sentence and this error is uncorrected in Shout! Factory's version.
**When the Autobots arrive at the Great Falls and they transform from [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] to [[robot mode]], the shot of Bluestreak is reversed, and he is shown transforming from robot to car. The broadcast version used the correct take, as does the Shout! Factory release.
**The laser effects are not properly colored in some shots.
**When Megatron transforms into a gun to attack the Dinobots, the background matte is misaligned, showing only the sky and not the ground.
**And before the shot mentioned in the previous error, the camera pan from the Dinobots to Megatron is jumpy.

===Trivia===
[[File:SOSDinobots Great Falls.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|The rules of Decepticon fashion dictate that no two members of a flying group can use the same arm pose.]]
[[File:Reflector_wrecked.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Reflector's fate - deleted from two episodes]]
*Though the holographic dinosaurs illustrated in the episodes matched some of the concepts of the early ‘80s, their depiction is outdated by today's standards. The dinosaurs in the show are the sluggish, tail-dragging cold-blooded variety not in keeping with more modern theories of warm-blooded, bird-like animals.
**Also when the holographic dinosaurs are shown, a ''Brontosaurus'' is seen living alongside a ''Triceratops'' and a ''Tyrannosaurus''. In reality, ''Brontosaurus'' lived in the Jurassic Period, while ''Triceratops'' and ''Tyrannosaurus'' lived at the end of the Cretaceous Period (to put this into perspective, ''Triceratops'' and ''Tyrannosaurus'' lived closer to the present day than they did to when ''Brontosaurus'' was alive). So basically, they were separated by tens of millions of years, {{w|Fantasia (film)|but apparently}}, {{w|The Flintstones|in a cartoon}}, {{w|The Land Before Time|that doesn't matter}}.
*At one point in the script's development, Megatron was going to proclaim himself "Megatron of Cybertron" when taking over the power plant. This was briefly amended to "Megatron Septimus Five of Cybertron", before being altered to "I, Megatron, declare this facility Decepticon domain!" as the finalized line.
*A scene deleted from the episode storyboards (pictured at right) shows Reflector receiving a brutal beatdown from all three Dinobots. This scene was scripted to be repeated in future episode [[War of the Dinobots]], as the Decepticons watch video footage of their defeat. As the scene was deleted before the episode was animated, its re-use was cut as well.
*This episode shares the slightly stylized artistic style of "[[Roll for It]]". Note the strange poses that the Decepticons strike while flying, Optimus's unusually rounded head, Bumblebee's somewhat flattened head, and the little bits of shading seen on characters's faces in closeup.
*Another deleted scene would have shown a human mother and child at the Great Falls both voiced by [[Mona Marshall]] that was recorded but cut from the final episode.
*This was one of the six episodes featured on the ''[[Revenge of the Fallen (video games)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)|console game]], and the three on the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PSP)|PSP game]], though it is in ''astonishingly'' low quality.
*Prime's characterization is a bit off in this episode; Wheeljack has just created living, sentient beings... and once they show they have free will by attacking the Autobots, he orders them sealed in a cave. Once they wipe the floor with the Decepticons, their brutality is a-okay. Apparently, freedom is the right of all sentient beings that fight on his side.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''S.O.S. Dinobots'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Concerning the European French dub:
:::*Megatron calls Soundwave "Shock".
:::*When Megatron loses his equilibrium, "equilibrium" was not translated in French and kept this way in the phrase, resulting in the equilibrium being a mechanical piece that was damaged by Wheeljack.

'''German'''
:*''Title (Generation 2 dub):'' "'''Die Dinobots'''" ("The Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 21]], [[1994]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title (dub 1):'' "'''La nascita dei Dinorobot'''" ("Birth of the Dinobots")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*Rumble and Slag are called "Scarlet" and "Tricec" in this episode, despite their Italian names being "Tartar" and "Tricex".
::*The heavy metal joke is not well rendered.

:*''Title (dub 2):'' "'''S.O.S. Dinobots'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?
::*The same filter used for Transformers is applied to Spike in two of his lines ("Or maybe he just can't respond!"/"We've got to try to save him and our friends!").

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dinobot Tanjō!'''" (ダイノボット誕生!, "The Dinobots Are Born!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[August 17]], [[1985]]
::*The Dinobots' roars are replaced with library tracks of classic movie kaiju roars (mostly an altered version of Baragon's roar from Toho's ''Frankenstein Conquers the World'').
::*'''Cut:''' Following Spike's line, "There goes an Autobot with guts" and Ratchet charging, the close-up of Spike's head and Ratchet repairing Teletraan-1 have been cut. The sequence resumes at Sludge firing his laser eyes.
::*'''Cut:''' After Prime yells "Roll out!" and transforms, the following footage of the Autobots driving out of the Ark behind him, the pan across the base interior and the footage of Wheeljack working on the Dinobot brain upgrades have all been cut.

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jǐnjí Hūjiào '''" (紧急呼叫, "Emergency Calls")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Brazilian Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''S.O.S. Dinobots'''"
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Russian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Na pomoshch, Dinoboty!'''" (На помощь, Диноботы!, "Help us, Dinobots!")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

'''Serbian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''S.O.S Dinoboti'''" (С.О.С Диноботи, "S.O.S Dinobot")
:*''Original airdate:'' ?

===Toys inspired by this episode===
[[File:MP27-Ironhide.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right]]
*'''''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' MP-27 [[Ironhide (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|Ironhide]] ([[TakaraTomy]], 2016)'''
:Included with ''Masterpiece'' Ironhide is a wrist-mounted sonodar dish, as well as a readout image of dinosaur bones that can be slipped behind his windshield based on the tools he uses in this episode.
{{-}}

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 1985 — ''The Transformers'' — Volume 3: "S.O.S. Dinobots" ([[Family Home Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 1997 — ''The Transformers'' — War of the Dinobots ([[Malofilm]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1994 — ''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers'' — Convoy Set ([[TakaraTomy|Takara]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''The Transformers'' — Autobot Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2001 — ''The Transformers'' — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: The Complete Original Series'' ([[Maverick]])<ref>https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00006JY0B/</ref> 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers: Generation 2'' ([[Maverick Entertainment|Sony Wonder]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Original Series: Volume Three (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2002 — ''Transformers'' — Complete Original Series: Deluxe Edition (Sony Wonder) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — First Season Collector's Edition ([[The Original Transformers|Rhino Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''The Original Transformers'' — Volume Two (Rhino Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2003 — ''Transformers'' — Collection 1: Series 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2004 — ''Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Metrodome]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — The Best of ''The Transformers'' (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2006 — ''Transformers'' — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2007 — ''Classic Transformers'' — Series One: Part One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2007 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of Italy.png|20px|Italy]] 2008 — ''Transformers'' — Volume 01: Stagione Uno Parte Prima ([[Medianetwork Communication]]) — English and Italian audio. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2009 — ''Transformers'' — Season One (Metrodome) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 25th Anniversary Edition ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2009 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of France.png|20px|France]] 2011 — ''Transformers'' — L'Attaque des Autobots ([[UFG Junior]]) — European French audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — The Complete First Season: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''The Transformers'' — Roar of the Dinobots (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2014 — ''Transformers'' — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20200323170910/http://cybertronchronicle.freewebspace.com/cartoon-dossier/season-1/synopses/700-05.html Episode Dossier at The Cybertron Chronicle]
*[https://drive.google.com/open?id=16Dyce43nsYGdqAZshU7s5QszJ8IeT6JG Episode script as revised by Ron Friedman 7th July 1984]
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zMFISMcqEwq0hxHW5S5wr9SANrqUefu5/view?usp=drive_link Model sheets and background layouts]
*[https://sunbowmarvelarchive.blogspot.com/p/the-transformers-mp-700-05-sos-dinobots.html Gallery of first draft storyboards]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sos Dinobots}}
[[Category:The Transformers episodes]]
[[Category:Generation 2 episodes]]

Beast Wars: Uprising

2025-05-06T02:51:25Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

[[File:BWUprising logo.jpg|510px|center]]
{{-}}
[[File:Botcon2016beastwarsuprising.jpg|right|upright=2.5|thumb|''You say you want a revolution'' ''Well, you know'' ''We all want to change the world'']]
'''''Beast Wars: Uprising''''' is a [[2014]]-[[2016]] publishing imprint of the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]]'s [[Transformers Timelines (fiction)|''Timelines'']] fiction that radically re-imagines the [[Beast Era|setting of the various ''Beast Wars'' cartoons]] into an elaborate doorstop sci-fi epic of a [[continuity]] with a cast of thousands chronicling the dramatic fall of the [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] hegemony and rise of the new generation of [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s as related via a fantastically nerdy series of prose stories and comics by Club proprietor [[Fun Publications]].

{{TOCclear}}

==Overview==
{{chapters|title=''Beast Wars: Uprising''|align=center|content=
<div class="list-header">''[[Alone Together]]'':</div>
*[[Alone Together: Prologue|Prologue]]
*[[Paranoia|Chapter 1]]
*[[Perception|Chapter 2]]
*[[Kindred|Chapter 3]]
*[[Delirious|Chapter 4]]
*[[Clarity|Chapter 5]]
 <div class="list-header">''Uprising'' prose:</div>
*"[[Broken Windshields]]"
*"[[Head Games]]"
*"[[Burning Bridges]]"
*"[[Micro-Aggressions]]"
*"[[Intersectionality]]"
*"[[Trigger Warnings]]"
*"[[Identity Politics]]"
 <div class="list-header">''Uprising'' finale:</div>
*"[[Not All Megatrons]]" (Part 1)
*"[[Cultural Appropriation]]" (Part 2)
*"[[Safe Spaces]]" (Part 3)
*"[[Derailment]]" (Part 4)
*"[[The Inexorable March]]" (Coda)
 <div class="list-header">''Uprising'' bonus content:</div>
*"[[A Brush With Infamy–Prologue]]"
*"[[The Predacon Manifesto]]"
*"[[Book of Logos]]"
*"[[Lio Convoy: Unity Through Tyranny]]"
 <div class="list-header">Other:</div>
*"[[A Change to the Agenda]]"
}}
{{-}}
[[File:AloneTogetherP-Dynobot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Evolutionary Revolutionaries]]
''Beast Wars: Uprising'' focuses on a dystopian, late 24th century [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], ages after the conclusion of the [[Great War (G1)|Great War]]. Forcibly disarmed and exiled to their homeworld by the vastly superior [[Human Confederacy]], the decrepit [[Autobot]]s and [[Decepticon]]s have become the immobile [[Builder of Cybertron|Builders of Cybertron]], constructing the [[Maximal]]s and [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s as their successors. In addition to maintaining most of the essential functions of society, the Maximals and Predacons also provide entertainment and preserve the devolved Autobot-Decepticon conflict via [[Games (competition)|gladiatorial matches]]. [[Cybertronian Civil Wars|Unsurprisingly]], however, the planet descends into war as [[Lio Convoy]] launches the [[Grand Uprising]] against the Builders. His [[Resistance (BWU)|Resistance]] battles [[Micromaster]] troops and [[Maximal Command Security Force|Maximal]] and [[Predacon Secret Police|Predacon]] loyalists for control of their homeworld.

The ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' universe was first glimpsed as the backstory for two characters who played significant roles in other ''Timelines'' stories: the profiles for [[Blackarachnia (BW)#Beast Wars: Uprising|"''TransTech''" Blackarachnia]] and [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] released in Collectors' Club magazine issues [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 25|#25]] and [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 49|#49]] (the writers sought to explain why Blackarachnia might side with Alpha "steal people's souls and hang 'em from the ceiling" Trion).<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I would like to hear Jim's answer for how he got his ideas for the universe. The initial initial spark way back in Transtech Blackarachnia's bio came from the idea that we wanted a bit of a sympathetic character. Even if she was working for a guy potentially more evil than SG Optimus Prime (that guy being SG Alpha Trion). So we pondered the idea of why she would go against the Transtech in such a conniving and twisted way - extracting sparks to steal the empty bodies for espionage meant she had to have a VERY good reason to go that far. That all led to the idea that the Maximals and Predacons in her universe were kept as slaves under an unreachable aristocracy. Just as the Transtech sat far above the Lowtech. But why would Maximals and Predacons exist if Autobots and Decepticons were still around? Ah, they're too old to fight and force the other factions to do it for them. The Games then entered into play when Eject was turned into a BWU character. As a guy obsessed with sports - and the chess analogy already in BA's bio - it made sense to make the Maximal/Predacon conflict into a sports thing. Especially with the gladiatorial background in so many TF universes.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360144|name=Jesse Wittenrich|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|link=https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360144|name=Jesse Wittenrich|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15|defunct=y}}</ref> The actual name ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' was first given in a Collectors' Club tweet on [[February 14]] [[2014]]<ref>{{citesocial|link=https://twitter.com/The_TF_Club/status/434375769330958337|name=@The_TF_Club|site=Twitter|year=2014|month=02|day=14|defunct=y}}</ref> and the setting was finally seen in full in that year's magazine comic arc ''[[Alone Together]]'', which promoted their new toys for [[Rampage (BW)#Timelines 2|Rampage]] and [[Transmutate (BW)#Timelines|Trans-Mutate]].

[[File:Beast Wars Uprising - Map of Cybertron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|left|You know you're in for a good nerd book when there's a big map like this in the front.]]

[[Jim Sorenson]] was approached by Fun Publications to develop the world further in a 2015 prose story promoting their [[Eject (G1)#Timelines|Eject]] and [[Lio Convoy#Timelines 2|Lio Convoy]] figures—one which would also serve to continue Blackarachnia's storyline. At first he found the "''Beast Wars'' meets ''{{w|The Hunger Games|The Hunger Games}}''" conceit unappealing, but was inspired by contemporary social movements such as 2014's {{w|Ferguson unrest|Ferguson protests}} to craft a story about a marginalized people rising up against a corrupt authority (and to name individual entries after social phenomena).<ref>{{citesocial|link=http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360155|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15|defunct=y}}</ref> Over the next two years, he and co-writer [[David Bishop]] produced eleven more prose stories, which together cemented the world as one of the darkest interpretations of the ''Transformers'' story.

For the most part, each prose story focused on new sets of cast members drawn not just from the Beast Era but from all across the franchise's history. Many [[Mini-Con]]s appeared as [[Micromaster]]s. Characters with [[beast mode]]s or [[Thunderhoof (RID)|animalistic robot modes]] were [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as new, analogous Maximals and Predacons. As the majority of the stories were set before any characters obtained their more recognisable beast forms, various vehicular figures were given [[Redeco#"Virtual" redecos|"virtual" redecos]] to create Cybertronian forms for most of the cast. To help address the [[Female Transformer|gender imbalance]] typical of ''Transformers'' fiction (particularly at the time), the authors would occasionally establish existing characters (particularly those who had no specified gender) to be female.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=[Why do I sometimes make traditionally male characters female?] I hesitate to say it's random, but there aren't any hard and fast rules. One frustration I have with the TF mythology is the dearth of female characters, so for my stories I try to remedy somewhat. For characters with minimal fiction, I generally feel free to reimagine species and faction and personality and, yes, gender. Characters with no specified gender (Major Altitude comes to mind, as does Spacewarp) I'm especially prone to making female as it's not even genderbending in my head.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360150|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref>

In keeping with the intent of the original 1996 [[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|''Beast Wars'' cartoon]], ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' uses an ambiguous mishmash of the [[The Transformers (Marvel comic)|Marvel comic]] and the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Sunbow cartoon]] for its version of the Great War (for instance, [[Grimlock (G1)#Beast Wars: Uprising|Grimlock]] takes his speech patterns from the cartoon but his personality from the comic) — though it throws in a number of elements from the [[2005 IDW continuity|contemporaneous IDW comics]] (such as [[Conjunx Endura]]e and [[functionism]]) for good measure.

A comic cobbled together out of screenshots from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon, "[[A Change to the Agenda]]", was published in [[Hasbro Transformers Collectors' Club issue 70|the seventieth issue of the magazine]]. It was intended to provide an "origin story" for the ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' universe, but as it was written after the fact many of its details didn't really match up with the lore established by Sorenson and Bishop.

The prose stories are chock-full of geeky minutiae on just about every page — obscure characters and locations from all across the mythos, hidden [[cybertronix]] messages (and even full-blown secret stories), [[GoBot]]s, and numerous pop-culture homages... but when you hire the [[Jim Sorenson|guy]] who penned the [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac|nerdiest thing ever to nerd]], what do you expect?

Sorenson and Bishop have expressed interest in producing revised versions of their prose stories, but—with Fun Publications having lost the ''Transformers'' license and with ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' being arguably one of the least accessible ''Transformers'' stories to date—the future of the continuity remains uncertain.

==Creative team==
''Alone Together'' was written by [[Trent Troop|S. Trent Troop]] and [[Greg Sepelak]], with [[Jesse Wittenrich]] and [[Pete Sinclair]] writing the prologue. Art duties were handled by [[Naoto Tsushima]], with [[Evan Gauntt]] on colors and letters by Jesse Wittenrich.

The prose stories were written by [[Jim Sorenson]] and [[David Bishop]] (starting with "Head Games"), with Jesse Wittenrich, [[Will Mangin|William Mangin]], [[Josh Burcham]], [[Tomoya Hosono|Hosono Tomoya]], [[Christopher Colgin]], [[Dan Perico]], and [[Robby Musso]] providing illustrations.

==Toys==
{| style="margin-left:1em;" width="99%"
|width="100%" valign="top" colspan="8"|
The prose story authors described the ''Uprising'' universe as being populated by characters primarily using toy designs, whether by [[repurposing]] physical figures or coming up with [[Redeco#"Virtual" redecos|"virtual" redecos]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=We usually come up with them as-needed in the story. We all liked the Titans Return Mindwipe and thought he might be neat for someone like Psychobat.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360052|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=It's always my preference to have a preexisting toy design. non-toy designs mostly just slipped though the cracks. The exception to that rule was the Destructons, I wanted to keep their unique aesthetic while introducing the idea of them transforming, as teased at the end of ''Alone Together''.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360052|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref> The latter kind were necessary as a result of the story's focus on ''Beast Wars'' characters, despite the fact that they only [[Beast mode|obtain beast forms]] towards the end of the series—and when they do so, the intent was for them to be [[technorganic]], meaning characters without existing [[Transmetal]] bodies would look different from their original toys anyway.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=In my head, TM for Cheetor. I actually never gave Blackarachnia's body all that much thought. Since they were never depicted in artwork and we didn't write with a specific body and mind, you should imagine them in whatever body you think is most appropriate. It could even be a slightly mechanized version of their non transmetal body, like Ram Horn.|link=http://web.archive.org/web/20201203134006/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/140167-ama-bish-jesse-jim/page-2#entry3512177|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=AMA: Bish, Jesse, & Jim|year=2017|month=05|day=22}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=The original idea was that all of the beast-upgrade characters would take on their TM bodies. Any that didn't have a TM or TM2 toy would become a mechanical version of their beast frame. If I had to tell Jim what toy to use for BA, it would probably be her TM2 toy. Although her Beast Machines toy (since it differed so much from the show model) would be tempting too.|link=http://web.archive.org/web/20201203134006/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/140167-ama-bish-jesse-jim/page-2#entry3512197|name=Jesse Wittenrich|site=The Allspark forums|title=AMA: Bish, Jesse, & Jim|year=2017|month=05|day=22}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=For my part I honestly kind of imagined her as a metallic version of her first BW body - black and gold, kind of small and sleek. I don't think we ever described her in enough detail to really pin it down though.|link=http://web.archive.org/web/20201203134006/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/140167-ama-bish-jesse-jim/page-2#entry3512249|name=David Bishop|site=The Allspark forums|title=AMA: Bish, Jesse, & Jim|year=2017|month=05|day=22}}</ref> As a complete list of repurposed figures and "virtual" redecos would be farcically long, the below list merely includes Collectors' Club figures appearing contemporaneously in ''Uprising'' stories.
|
|width="20%" valign="top" rowspan=3|[[File:TFCC-Lio-Convoy.jpg|200px|thumb|Lio Convoy]]
|-
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Transformers Collectors' Club]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Depth Charge (BW)#Timelines|Depth Charge]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Transmutate (BW)#Timelines|Trans-Mutate]]}}
{{Bp-multi|[[Rampage (BW)#Timelines 2|Rampage]]}}
{{Bp-m1|[[Lio Convoy#Timelines 2|Lio Convoy]]}}
{{Bp-a1|[[Eject (G1)#Timelines|Eject]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Waspinator (BW)/toys#Thrustinator|Thrustinator]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Scorponok (BW)#Combiner_Wars|Scorponok]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[BotCon 2015]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Galva Convoy#Toys|Galva Convoy]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[BotCon 2016]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-p1|[[Megatron_(BW)/toys#Combiner_Wars|Megatron]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Terrorsaur (BW)#Combiner_Wars|Terrorsaur]]}}
{{Bp-p1|[[Tarantulas (BW)/toys#Combiner_Wars|Tarantulas]]}}
|
|width="20%" valign="top"|'''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'''
<ul class="iconlist">
{{Bp-m1|[[Lio Convoy#Legends|Leo Prime]]}}
|}
{{--}}

==Naming conventions==
''Beast Wars: Uprising'' made a point of drawing from characters throughout the ''Transformers'' franchise, not just the presumed G1/BW setting. In order to deal with the prolific name reuse in ''Transformers'', a Cybertronian social convention was invented by the creative team that discouraged Cybertronians from having the same name as a previous Cybertronian.
*Minor differences in spelling were deemed acceptable to distinguish citizens from each other, allowing the existence of [[Blackout (G1)|Blackout]] (based on the G1 Micromaster), [[Black Out]] (based on the [[Blackout (Armada)|''Armada'' Mini-Con]]), and [[Black-Out]] (based on the [[Blackout (Movie)|movieverse Decepticon]]) in ''Uprising''.
*The rule about name reuse was apparently developed as the ''Uprising'' story went on, first mentioned and elaborated upon in "[[Micro-Aggressions]]". Therefore, while it was typical for G1 characters to have the traditional spelling and BW characters to be spelled differently, proto-formers mentioned or introduced early on managed to snag the traditional spelling sometimes, leading to the classic [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]] "[[Skywarp (G1)|Sky Warp]]" and the classic [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]] "[[Scavenger (G1)|Skavenger]]" getting alternate spellings.
*On other occasions, proto-formers were given completely different names based on foreign releases. The Beast Warriors [[Snarl (BW)|Snarl]] and [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]] therefore became "Diablo" and "Formikon" after their Italian toy names, in deference to [[Snarl (G1)|the G1 characters]] [[Inferno (G1)|of the same name]].
*In some instances, a character was split into two distinct versions of themselves when name reuse was not an issue. [[Botanica (BM)|Botanica]] and her preliminary name "[[Binary]]" became separate characters to serve story purposes. A number of Unicron Trilogy Mini-Cons with multiple decoes were split as well (e.g. the aforementioned Black Out is based on ''Armada'' Blackout's [[Blackout (Armada)#Powerlinx|Powerlinx deco]] while Black Out's partner [[Search (BWU)|Search]] takes on ''Armada'' Blackout's [[Blackout (Armada)#Armada|regular deco]] and Japanese market name). The same occurred for some contemporary ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' toys (e.g. [[Apex (BWU)|Apex]], based on the revamped ''[[Titans Return (toyline)|Titans Return]]'' form of [[Hi-Q#Generations|Hi-Q]] was characterized as a separate individual from Hi-Q himself).
*And in a few instances, characters with the same name were merged. Thus, [[Deluge (G1)|Deluge]] the G1 Autobot and [[Deluge (G2)|Deluge]] the G2 Decepticon are the same individual, [[Wideload (G1)|Wideload]] the G1 Autobot and [[Wideload (Classics)|Wideload]] the ''Classics'' Decepticon are as well, and [[Crazybolt (BW)|Crazybolt]] the ''Beast Wars Neo'' Predacon takes on some elements of his [[Crazybolt (RID)|''Robots in Disguise'' counterpart]].
*Only 3 intentional exceptions to this rule are known: [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], who is vainglorious and sees himself as worthy of [[Megatron (G1)|the original Megatron]]'s name; [[Galvatron (BW)|Galvatron]], who is a reincarnation of [[Galvatron (G1)|the original Galvatron]]; and [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]], who has a general disregard for societal norms.

==Notes==
* Despite the title ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' having been assigned to the continuity from the very beginning, there were originally no plans for an actual uprising of any sort to take place—when tasked with fleshing out the universe, Jim Sorenson had to pitch Fun Publications on the idea of a rebellion!<ref>Jim Sorenson in conversation at TFNation 2023</ref>
* Being set in the late 24th century, ''Uprising'' contains a number of references to ''[[Star Trek]]: {{w|Star Trek: The Next Generation|The Next Generation}}''.
* Jim Sorenson revealed the titles of three more prose stories which he might have written had he had more time: "False Equivalencies", featuring [[Immorticon (BW)|Immorticon]],<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Sometimes we start with a character and then build the story around him or her. Immorticon was like that... I liked the name, and eventually a story clicked. (''False Equivalencies'', if I ever have the chance to write it.) Sometimes it's a request from editorial. ''Identity Politics'' came about because FP requested a story to help promote the FSS5 Scorponok figure. Sometimes the idea for the story comes first. ''Intersectionality'' was because I didn't like leaving Transmutate and Rampage hanging in deep space when the main thrust of the action was on Cybertron. The idea of the Beast Wars Neo Predacons as the heroes came from brainstorming.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360052|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref> "Virtue Signaling", featuring [[Maxima]],<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The finale will have some flashbacks and the like about the past, but most of it will be in the here and now. Should the universe continue, I've got plenty of stories ranging from minus eleven million years all the way to the 34th century. That said, I like that the focus of the universe is the Maximals and Predacons, so I'd mostly want to focus on stories that are relevant to them. I think it's neat to get a glimpse of the mythology, but probably wouldn't write a whole story about, say, Jazz vs Starscream in 1985. But the story of Maxima, ''Virtue Signaling'', is set in the past. So was the aforementioned Immorticon tale.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360052|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15|archived=y}}</ref> and "Other Victims", featuring the [[Vok]].<ref>{{citesocial|link=http://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3361191|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=16|defunct=y}}</ref>
* An early idea for [[BotCon 2016]]'s [[Dawn of the Predacus|exclusive comic]] would have involved the ''Uprising'' storyline, depicting [[Magnaboss (BW)|Magnaboss]] as an antagonistic Builder creation.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=VERY early on in the process, I was asked to pitch an idea for what Dawn of the Predacus would have looked like in the BWU universe. It would have been a story where the ghost of Prowl (Prowl II maybe) was acting from beyond the grave to put together a Builder threat, the Magnaboss. In the end, the Tri-Predacus Council itself would have had to intervene to stop the rampage. You can still see the toys solicited as such: https://www.toyarama.com/store/2016-botcon-beast-wars-uprising-dawn-of-the-predacus-five-figure-combiner-wars-boxed-convention-set-non-attending-1-pc-p1414.php In the end, though, FP opted to outsource the comic to IDW, so that story got shelved.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360055|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|link=https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/140167-ama-bish-jesse-jim/?p=3516969|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=AMA: Bish, Jesse, & Jim|year=2017|month=05|day=28|defunct=y}}</ref> For more information, see the page for that comic.
* When asked about a possible ''Uprising'' incarnation of [[Vector Prime]] (star of Sorenson's previous work on [[Ask Vector Prime]]), Sorenson stated there probably wasn't one, but that [[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] was probably a [[Targetmaster (technology)|Targetmaster]] in this universe.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=I don't think there is a Vector Prime analog in this universe. If there is, I haven't found a place for him. Maybe in the distant past or future. Safeguard was probably active during the Great War and, being Targetmaster-y, probably isn't alive anymore.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360151|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref>
* ''Uprising'' sometimes based Cybertronians on franchises adjacent to ''Transformers'', such as [[Vampire_(BWU)|Vampire]] from ''[[M.A.S.K. (franchise)|M.A.S.K.]]'' or [[Battlefennec|Fennec]] from ''[[Beastformers (franchise)|Battle Beasts]]''.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Not as such. Quantum Harmonic Resonance is such that their analogues in this dimension tend to be Cybertronian. We've already seen that with guys like Fennec and will probably continue to do so. The same goes for MASK characters, like Aura and Vampire.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360152|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref>
* Sorenson cited his favorite characters to write as being [[Wolfang (Maximal)|Wolfang]] and [[Longrack (BW)|Longrack]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Oooh, that's a toughie. There's one from the first part of the finale who was really difficult to write for but came out very nicely. Wolfang was a hoot, but Bish did most of the heavy lifting there. Longrack was a lotta fun; I love his officiousness. There's a little bit of Arnold J. Rimmer in there.|link=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218015723/https://www.allspark.com/forums/topic/133737-beast-wars-uprising-ama/?p=3360055#entry3360052|name=Jim Sorenson|site=The Allspark forums|title=Beast Wars Uprising: AMA|year=2016|month=10|day=15}}</ref>
* Early in ''Beast Wars: Uprising'', the term "protoform" is used with its conventional definition as a developmental stage for Cybertronians, sometimes used analogously to "child", or more clinically as the basic form of Maximals and Predacons. "[[Intersectionality]]" introduced the phrase "Proto-races" to refer to these groups, which entered regular usage in "[[Not All Megatrons]]". "[[Cultural Appropriation]]" briefly used the phrase "Proto-Cybertronian". In "[[Safe Spaces]]", the term "proto-formers" first appeared, which by "[[Derailment]]" had become the most common term used to refer to the Maximals and Predacons; presumably to match this new term, "proto-races" was no longer capitalised. Often, "proto-" can just be used as a prefix, as in "proto-sized" (in "[[Trigger Warnings]]"), "Proto point one percenter" (in "Cultural Appropriation"), "proto-scale", "proto-nations", "proto-soldiers", "proto-punks", and the "[[League of Autonomous Proto-States]]" (all in "Derailment").

==See also==
*[[Source:Beast Wars: Uprising translations|''Beast Wars: Uprising'' Cybertronix translations]]

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

==External links==
*[https://sites.google.com/site/goingfullsorenson/beast-wars-uprising ''Beast Wars: Uprising'' annotations] by Jennifer Alexis Carlo

[[Category:Beast Wars: Uprising| ]]
[[Category:Continuities]]

Smokescreen (Armada)

2025-05-05T11:24:54Z

TheAmazingPoncho: The Takara version also has the tampo.

{{picsneeded|In hand Universe toy}}
{{factions|autobot|unicron}}
{{disambigm|Smokescreen (disambiguation)|Hoist (disambiguation)}}
:''Smokescreen is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]] portion of the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family]].''

[[File:Smokescreen-armada-cardart.jpg|upright=2|thumb|Wanna be my friend? I have to smash you with this first.]]

Few Autobots are as tough and steadfast as '''Smokescreen'''. He doesn't believe in giving up, and he's ready to lay down his life to defend the weak, be they Autobot, [[Mini-Con]], or [[human]]. Though he's ironheaded and unshakable in battle (and a little bit careless), showing no mercy to the [[Decepticon]]s, around the base is another matter entirely. He's a kind, friendly bot who always seems to have a good word or good-natured joke ready.

This iron resolve only intensified after Smokescreen fell in battle from a near-fatal encounter with [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]]. Rebuilt entirely and now calling himself '''Hoist''', his jovial moments come less frequently now, and his occasional lapses in judgment are a thing of the past. Even tougher than before, he sometimes quips that nearly dying was the best thing that ever happened to him.

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] contacted him from [[Autobot Headquarters (Armada)|Autobot Headquarters]]. {{Storylink|Armada Volume 2}} He later cheered on Optimus's defeat of [[Megatron (Armada)|Galvatron]] on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. {{storylink|Armada Volume 4}}

===Dreamwave ''Armada'' continuity===
====Dreamwave ''Armada'' comic====
[[File:DreamwaveArmada4 Smokescreen Scavenger.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.95|Smokescreen: "Heroic" Autobot.]]

A million years ago, Smokescreen and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] were guarding the entrance to the [[Loop]] when [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] barged in, demanding to know where [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]. Smokescreen informed him that Prime was in the satellite room and asked if anything was wrong. All Hot Shot would say was that wrong doesn't begin to describe the situation. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 1|Armada #1}} What had happened was that a group of renegade Cybertronians calling themselves "[[Decepticon]]s" were attacking [[Mini-Con]] villages and capturing the inhabitants for some reason. While sifting through the rubble of Village C-52, Smokescreen lost his temper at the plight of the "poor little guys" and couldn't wait to get his hands on these Decepticon aggressors. Unfortunately, he got his wish when the Decepticon leader, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] attacked [[Cyber City]], with his captured Mini-Cons re-engineered to [[Powerlinx]] with [[Bulk]]s, providing them great power. The Autobots were beaten up and forced to retreat. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 2|Armada #2}}

[[File:DreamwaveArmada5 Smokescreen crumbledmountain.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]

For a million years the civil war raged on; the once-proud Autobots struggled to defend themselves against the powerful Mini-Con-augmented Decepticons, who were in possession of Cybertron's only remaining Mini-Cons, the others having escaped at the beginning of the conflict. Hope came in the form of a Mini-Con Reactivation Signal sent from a distant world called [[Earth]] and the Autobots resolved to go there and fight for Truth, Justice and Freedom. Almost immediately after arriving on Earth, Smokescreen was destroying public property and suggesting that they simply smash their way across the planet to find the Mini-Cons, a plan that Scavenger agreed to, as Cybertron was their priority. This callous attitude earned them both a sharp, furious rebuke from Optimus Prime, who refused to stoop down to the level of the Decepticons. However, he also understood their frustration, telling them to save their anger for the Decepticons. Smokescreen apologised, as he was just longing for things to go back to the way they were before. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 4|Armada #4}}

Unfortunately for the Autobots, the Decepticons had already arrived and were chasing after [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]]'s group of Mini-Cons and their human friends, [[Rad White|Rad]], [[Carlos Lopez|Carlos]] and [[Alexis Thi Dang|Alexis]]. While Optimus Prime kept Megatron distracted by trash talking the Decepticon's failure to defeat the Autobots with all of their power, Smokescreen snuck up and demolished the cliff face Megatron was perched upon with his head. This only succeeded in infuriating Megatron, who eventually got the upper hand in his fight with Prime when he Powerlinxed with all of the Decepticon Mini-Cons. Smokescreen tried to assist, only to have Prime thrown into him for his trouble. As things looked grim, [[Jolt (Armada)|Jolt]]'s group of Mini-Cons arrived and Powerlinxed with the Autobots. [[Liftor]] linked with Smokescreen, giving him a mighty shoulder-mounted cannon. At a tactical disadvantage, the Decepticons were forced to flee. {{storylink|Dreamwave Armada issue 5|Armada #5}}

The Autobots attacked the Decepticons after they'd captured Rad and Carlos, with Smokescreen sneaking up on Starscream, and Red Alert tricking him into knocking himself out on Smokescreen's crane. They were ultimately defeated by Megatron and captured, but escaped after the Mini-Con Swindle had a change of heart and turned on the Decepticons. Unfortunately, the Autobots were unable to stop the Decepticons from taking Swindle back with them when they retreated. {{storylink|Armada Free Comic Book Day}}

[[File:DWArmadaFire&Ice Smokescreen Scavenger.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Smokescreen sure knows how to kill a conversation.]]

Soon after establishing their base, Optimus detected unusually high energy readings in the vicinity of Death Valley in [[California]], and sent Smokescreen and Scavenger to investigate. After some time, they reported back that the Decepticons were readying to launch some sort of rocket. Unfortunately, the Autobots were occupied with a Mini-Con rescue operation in [[Alaska]], so [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] brought them orders to do whatever was necessary to stop the Decepticons... about twenty minutes after the rocket had been launched. {{storylink|Fire & Ice}}

After arriving back from Death Valley, Smokescreen and Scavenger found an extensively damaged [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] inside [[Autobase|Autobase: Earth]] and rushed him to the medical bay. When the others returned from Alaska sans ''their'' Optimus Prime, together worked to save this Prime's life and find out what had happened to ''their'' Optimus Prime. Sadly, despite their best efforts, this Prime awakened momentarily to deliver a cryptic warning about the walls of reality crumbling and the coming chaos before dying. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 1 of 4}}

[[File:DWArmada18 TheEnd Autobots Smokescreen.jpg|thumb|upright=0.85]]

When the Decepticons detected the Autobots searching the [[multiverse]] for Optimus Prime, [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] launched an attack on Autobase: Earth, seizing the opportunity to hit the Autobots while their biggest guns was missing. During the battle, Smokescreen and Scavenger were the front-line defense sent to buy time, but were run off the narrow road they were on by [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]. Smokescreen tried to recover, but got blasted in the chest by Megatron's cannon at point-blank range. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 2 of 4}}

Though the blast didn't kill him, it left him in critical condition. {{storylink|Worlds Collide, Part 4 of 4}} He was taken to the Autobase on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] for extensive repairs, though there was a fear he might never recover. During the final battle against [[Unicron]], Hot Shot, Scavenger and Red Alert blasted Megatron into the Chaos Bringer to avenge Smokescreen. {{storylink|The End (Armada)|The End}}

====''Energon'' comic====
[[File:MultiplicityPart3 HoistCoversHotShot.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|left|]]
Ten years later, Smokescreen returned to action with a new body and a new name, "Hoist". When thousands of [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]] clones attacked four Earth cities, Hoist was dispatched to handle the [[Divebomb (Energon)|Divebomb]] clones invading [[Toronto]] as part of Hot Shot's unit. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 2}} Though the Terrorcons weren't built to withstand much punishment, Hoist and his allies found themselves being overwhelmed by their sheer numbers. Then, help arrived in an unlikely form: Megatron, revived in a new, more powerful body. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 3}} Hot Shot was so awestruck by the villain's return that he failed to take note of several Divebomb units gunning for him. Hoist took care of these Terrorcons, and snapped Hot Shot back to reality. He confessed he was just as confused over the situation as Hot Shot was, but Megatron was giving them a fighting chance, which he wasn't about to let slip him by. Megatron was so thorough in his extermination of the Terrorcons that the horde was forced to retreat, allowing Hoist and the rest of the Autobots to live to fight another day. {{storylink|Multiplicity, Pt. 4}}
{{--}}

===''Armada'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Dale Wilson]] (English), [[Katsuhisa Hōki]] (Japanese)|[[Gerhard Acktun]] (German), [[Håkan Skoog]] (Swedish), [[Pauli Virta]] (Finnish), [[Alexandre Gillet]] (French), [[Luis Vicente Ivars]] (Castilian Spanish), [[Luis Lugo]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Eduardo Dascar]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Kim Jun]] (Korean)}}
[[File:Prehistory-Smokescreen takes up gardening.jpg|thumb]]
When the signal released by the reactivation of the Mini-Con panels on Earth reached Cybertron, [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] quickly assembled a small team of Autobots to travel to the planet and investigate. As they were departing through the space bridge, Smokescreen came running through the crowd, intent on joining them. He leapt through the space bridge portal at the last second, just as it was closing, and as a consequence, was separated from his comrades and deposited on a different part of the planet. {{storylink|Underground (episode)|Underground}} {{storylink|Prehistory}}

Smokescreen was first encountered by the kids in a semi-abandoned subway complex, while they were helping the Autobots search for the Mini-Con [[Drill Bit (Armada)|Drill Bit]]. For some reason, Smokescreen did not make verbal contact with the humans, and instead decided to chase after them menacingly in vehicle mode, almost killing them with his crane hook. Only after the mission failed, with [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] securing Drill Bit, did Smokescreen reveal himself, apologizing for scaring the children. {{storylink|Underground (episode)|Underground}}
[[File:Underground-Hug.jpg|left|thumb]]

Smokescreen traveled to the underwater city of [[Atlantis]] with the other Autobots in search of another Mini-Con. They stumbled into a Decepticon ambush, prompting Optimus to divide their forces; Smokescreen and himself pressed forward while Hot Shot and Red Alert dealt with Megatron's goons. After the kids had safely made it inside an air pocket, Smokescreen and Optimus doubled back to help deal with the Decepticons. Once Megatron managed to grab the Mini-Con panel, Smokescreen and the others were forced to leave empty-handed as the entire underwater structure began collapsing on itself. {{storylink|Ruin}}

When the Autobots' alarm sounded, signaling that another Mini-Con had been detected, Smokescreen griped that it seemed to be coming from the middle of the ocean again. Thankfully, the Mini-Con was actually on a small volcanic island. Which erupted in the middle of the retrieval mission. Red Alert tasked Smokescreen to dig a trench to change the path of the lava flow, so the Autobots wouldn't get hit by it as they fought with the Decepticons. With their position secured, the Autobots were able to retrieve the Mini-Con for themselves. {{storylink|Prehistory}}

When the Decepticons managed to invade the Autobots' base, Smokescreen managed to temporarily confound them with a... smokescreen. Each intruder was then split up and taken care of individually. Smokescreen sneaked up on Demolishor and tied him up with his grapple-cable. He then left him hanging until the Decepticons warped away. {{storylink|Swoop (episode)|Swoop}}

[[File:Overmatch Smokescreen Liftor.jpg|thumb|Say hello to my little friend?]]
Smokescreen retrieved a Mini-Con partner for himself while Hot Shot held off the Decepticons with the Star Saber among some rocky peaks. Though he was quite content with having [[Liftor]] at his side, he left him behind during their next confrontation against the Decepticons. At that time, [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]]'s interference cost the Autobots a victory and a Mini-Con. {{storylink|Overmatch}}

When the next Mini-Con was detected, Smokescreen was of the opinion that the children shouldn't continue to accompany the Autobots into the field. He was outvoted, though he let the other Autobots take on the passengers. During the subsequent clash, he took on Cyclonus until the Decepticon ditched the battle to pursue Hot Shot. With no one to oppose him, Smokescreen unearthed [[Spiral]] while Optimus and Red Alert forced Megatron to warp away.{{storylink|Gale}}

Smokescreen and Optimus searched for a Mini-Con panel while Hot Shot held the Decepticons at bay with the Star Saber. The Autobots were left to deal with a more dire situation when Hot Shot and [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] were teleported away alongside the retreating Decepticons. Unable to pinpoint the Decepticons' base on the Moon, Smokescreen and the others had little choice but wait at their own headquarters. Hot Shot eventually returned, without his sword, and Sideways was revealed to be a traitor. {{storylink|Credulous}} Due to the Star Saber being in Decepticon hands, the Autobots were dealt a series of defeats. After their latest beat-down, Smokescreen got himself fixed up by Liftor. The Autobots still trudged forward in their mission though, their next search taking them to a foggy forest. There, Smokescreen and Red Alert came across Starscream, and jumped at the opportunity to take his sword while they had him at a disadvantage. Demolishor turned up and foiled their attempt at recovering the Star Saber. With the sword still in Decepticon hands, the Autobots returned to base empty-handed once more. Afterwards, Scavenger turned up at the Autobots' hq, and Optimus informed his troops that though he had been posing as a Decepticon, Scavenger was really his double-agent. {{storylink|Conspiracy}}

[[File:Trust-Bots Gossip.jpg|thumb|left]]
Smokescreen was the most vocal in voicing his distrust of Scavenger, whom he labeled a no-good traitor, and his overall dissatisfaction over Optimus's trust in the turncoat. He tried to convince fellow Autobots [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] about Scavenger's alleged duplicity and lack of resolve during a battle. However, Scavenger's absence for the majority of the battle was due to a plan that only he, Optimus and Red Alert were privy to, and when Scavenger's involvement proved vital to the subsequent victory, all doubts Smokescreen had as to his teammate's loyalty were erased, forcing him to make an apology. {{storylink|Trust (Armada)|Trust}}

[[File:Vacation-RedAlert joins the fun.jpg|thumb]]
Smokescreen went on a camping trip with the boys and Red Alert to wind down a little. When he saw Rad try his hand at fishing, Smokescreen joined in, and surprisingly managed to catch them dinner. Later, a severe downpour caused a mudslide, which swept over Red Alert while Carlos and [[Shaun|a younger boy]] were trapped inside him. Smokescreen tried digging them out, but it was slow work while he was stuck in vehicle mode; the local news network was filming the scene, and he couldn't risk blowing his cover under the circumstances. He and Scavenger managed to dig them out just as a flash flood came bearing down on their position, and all filmed footage of the Autobots was luckily lost. {{storylink|Vacation}}

When [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]] joined the Autobots' ranks, Smokescreen taunted Hot Shot over it, as the two 'bots clearly did not get along. This eventually caused problems though, as Hot Shot and Blurr fought each other more than the Decepticons when the last member of the [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]] trio activated on his own, and sped away from anyone approaching him. Smokescreen was tasked with helping the two of them capturing the Mini-Con while the rest of the team held the Decepticons at bay. He used Liftor to activate his crane cannon, which brought down both Starscream and Sideways as they tried to grab [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]] themselves. He was unable to bring down Cyclonus unfortunately, who claimed the Mini-Con for the Decepticons. {{storylink|Reinforcement}}

Smokescreen joined Blurr and Hot Shot during a training exercise. Though Blurr told him he wouldn't be able to keep up with them through their obstacle course, Smokescreen proved him wrong by simply muscling his way through the obstacles instead of dodging them. Their training was then interrupted; the Autobots received a message from Megatron, issuing a challenge. They would meet each other in battle in order to bring an end to the war. Though the Decepticons had both the Skyboom Shield and the Star Saber, the Autobots managed to snatch away the former, thanks in part to Smokescreen running interference. Scavenger heaped praise upon him for his contribution to their victory after the Decepticons retreated. {{storylink|Decisive Battle}}

The Autobots began building their battle strategies around the use of the Skyboom Shield, and Smokescreen was given the important task of carrying it, as he could quickly pass the shield on to whoever needed it with his "Long-arm Launcher." The strategy was unfortunately preempted when the bulk of the Autobot forces stepped into a Decepticon trap, which sent them all over the globe through a series of Warp Gates. Worse yet, they couldn't reconvene while their communication system was being scrambled. When they finally managed to get their transmissions sorted out, the Autobots regrouped and Smokescreen pulled off his part in the newly established tactic without a hitch. Thanks to the Autobots' teamwork, Megatron was forced to abandon several of his Mini-Cons into Autobot custody. {{storylink|Vow}}

While Smokescreen and the other Autobots were away, Alexis, Carlos, and Rad traveled into a digital realm and met with an [[Unicron|evil force]]. The Autobots returned to base and safely extricated the kids before said force could do them any harm though. {{storylink|Chase (episode)|Chase}}

Smokescreen henceforth balanced his roles of both carrier of the Skyboom Shield and sniper. Once the Skyboom Shield was launched to whoever needed it most, Smokescreen would supply them with cover fire. The strategy went off without a hitch in the fight for [[Prowl (Armada)|Prowl]]'s Mini-Con panel, where Smokescreen helped Optimus hold his own against both Megatron and Starscream. Smokescreen soon became overconfident, believing the Autobots no longer needed to fear losing the war... Though their strategy nearly failed when the Autobots had to deal with [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]]'s superior tactical prowess. They would have lost had [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] not joined the battle at a crucial moment. {{storylink|Tactician}} However, Optimus Prime was badly damaged in the fight, so Jetfire took over as leader. But Jetfire wound up flying into another one of Thrust's ambushes, prompting Hot Shot, Blurr, and Smokescreen to try and assist the airborne Autobot from a nearby island... only for them to wind up in a secondary ambush set up by the Decepticon tactician! The Decepticons immediately took out Smokescreen's crane-arm, disallowing him from passing the Skyboom Shield over to Jetfire. The three grounded Autobots were forced to crowd behind the shield as their enemies rained fire down upon them. In little time, Megatron overpowered Smokescreen and demanded he hand over the Skyboom to Decepticon custody. Though the situation looked grim, Optimus Prime arrived, repaired, just in time to combine with Jetfire and save the day. {{storylink|Linkup}}

[[File:Smokescreen dies sacrifice.jpg|left|thumb|This isn't the only sad part about this episode.]]

In a rare moment of downtown, Jetfire and Smokescreen relaxed by having an arm wrestling competition. Smokescreen lost several matches in a row, though he tried to play it off as his arm "falling asleep" instead of admitting that Jetfire was the stronger of the pair. Later, Smokescreen and the Autobots squared off against the Decepticons on a beachfront, {{storylink|Detection}} but Smokescreen wasn't able to help out much once [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] joined to conflict. He instead laid down some cover fire while other players tried their hand at taking on the colossal Decepticon. {{storylink|Awakening (Armada)|Awakening}} Tidal Wave, of course, shot back. Though Smokescreen helped by first passing the Skyboom Shield to Hot Shot, and then to Optimus in the sky, he was kept from further interfering with the Decepticons' attempt to eliminate Optimus by a team of Mini-Cons led by Demolishor. The timely appearance of [[Space Mini-Con Team]], and their combination into the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] saved the day for the Autobots; with the weapon in Optimus's hands, the Decepticons were forced to retreat. {{storylink|Desperate}}

The Requiem Blaster was a source of argument for the Autobots, however. With this new weapon, several of them were eager to storm the Decepticon base in the hopes of ending the war. Before a decision could be reached, it was discovered that the Space Mini-Con Team had run off along with the kids. The Autobots went out looking for them, though Smokescreen wound up getting stuck in traffic during the search. He rejoined Optimus later in the day, once the Autobot leader had already found the runaways and dealt with Thrust, who had attacked them. The Autobots all agreed that the Mini-Cons would be free to decide for themselves whether or not they would take part in an attack on the Decepticons. {{storylink|Runaway}}

[[File:Hoist reborn ep 34.jpg|thumb|upright=.75]]

After attempting to have the Autobots bring the Requiem Blaster into the open, only to realize they had purposely left it behind, the Decepticons launched an all-out attack on their enemies' base. There, Smokescreen had been tasked with guarding the Mini-Cons, and had to contend with Megatron on his own. As the Autobots realized they had been outmaneuvered and warped back, Megatron forced the Space Mini-Con Team to form the Requiem Blaster. Then, Megatron prepared to fire the super-weapon at the Autobots, only for Smokescreen to use his towline to pull the Requiem Blaster's barrel away from his friends, toward himself. To everyone's shock, the gun's terrible beam cut straight through Smokescreen, burying him into a wall. Megatron then turned to Optimus Prime, intending to finish what he started, but Smokescreen staggered out of the hole and collapsed to his knees. As the dying Autobot reached out to the Decepticon leader, [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]] suggested that they retreat, and Megatron agreed. Smokescreen collapsed into a heap as Megatron warped away. Optimus Prime cradled his soldier, who reported his failure to protect the Mini-Cons and went into [[stasis lock]]. Optimus Prime led the distressed Autobots into a military salute for their fallen comrade before letting out a cry of anguish. {{storylink|Sacrifice}}

[[File:Hoist-ship-preparations Depart.jpg|thumb|left|"This is my strong hand."]]
Fortunately, despite Smokescreen's body being ninety percent unsalvageable, his spark was left undamaged. Red Alert rebuilt him into a new body and he returned just in time to stop Hot Shot and the recently defected [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] from killing each other (Hot Shot still thought Smokescreen needed avenging until his reappearance). Using data provided by Starscream, the Autobots then opened a warp gate to the Moon to storm the Decepticon camp. {{storylink|Regeneration (Armada)|Regeneration}} The attack on the Decepticon moonbase begun with the Autobots besieging Megatron's throne room, where Smokescreen blocked a shot from the Requiem Blaster with the Skyboom Shield. The battle then spread throughout the Decepticons' base. Smokescreen came across Tidal Wave stuck in a doorway, and managed to take a single potshot at the titan, inadvertently freeing him. Tidal Wave "thanked" Smokescreen by clocking him in the face. The Decepticon-held Mini-Cons were then rounded-up and warped back to the Autobots' base, alongside their rescuers. {{storylink|Rescue}}

When a Mini-Con was detected on [[Mars (planet)|Mars]], Smokescreen handed the Skyboom Shield over to Jetfire, as he and Starscream were the only two capable of traveling to the other planet. {{storylink|Mars (episode)|Mars}}

[[File:Hoist-in-awe Miracle.jpg|thumb|Anime robots cry a lot.]]
Smokescreen helped the Autobots in the construction of a spaceship. The ship was in the final stages of construction when Billy and Fred reported that they had seen Starscream "chase off" Thrust after the Decepticon had asked him to steal the Skyboom Shield. As it turns out, [[Dirt Boss (Armada)|Dirt Boss]], [[Downshift (Armada)|Downshift]], and [[Mirage (Armada)|Mirage]] were nowhere to be found just then. Smokescreen was among those who threw around accusations that Starscream had complied with Thrust's request, but the conversation was cut short when the Decepticons attacked. Smokescreen drove out to meet them, and while he fought, Hot Shot brought him the Skyboom Shield; it turned out the kids had been taking the Mini-Cons for a walk. Making a note to apologize to Starscream later, Smokescreen brought the shield to Optimus to help him against Tidal Wave. But after he had tossed the shield over, Starscream snatched it, and took both it and the Star Saber back with him to the Decepticons' side. {{storylink|Crack (episode)|Crack}} Afterwards, the Autobots scrambled to deal with the Decepticons' new super-weapon, the [[Hydra Cannon]], powered by the stolen Mini-Con weapons. Ultimately, Smokescreen was only able to watch from afar as Optimus gave up his life to block its destructive power from reaching the Earth. {{storylink|Crisis (Armada)|Crisis}} Over the following week, the Autobots tried their best to carry on without Optimus. Though Smokescreen became short-tempered and irritable, Hot Shot was hit hardest by the loss of the Autobot leader, and his outbursts threatened to tear apart the already strained team. Scavenger took it upon himself to knock some sense back into Hot Shot, while Smokescreen and the others watched from afar. Though it took the Mini-Cons stepping in, Hot Shot's temper eventually cooled. Smokescreen then watched as Jetfire handed over command of the Autobots to Hot Shot. With their morale renewed, the Autobots redoubled their efforts to finish the ''[[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]'' and catch up to the Decepticons. {{storylink|Remorse}} Smokescreen watched confusedly as the Mini-Cons protested Hot Shot's decision to leave the children behind while the Autobots pursued the Decepticons. Hot Shot eventually relented, and the Autobots, Mini-Cons, and children all boarded the newly completed ''Axalon'' and begun their journey to Cybertron. {{storylink|Depart}}

[[File:Smokescreen now goes by Hoist-Miracle.jpg|left|thumb|"You better have those papers on my desk by Friday, Hoist!" "Yeah, yeah, I'm working on it."]]
Smokescreen eventually decided to go by the name "Hoist," feeling the new name suited his new body. A space-battle against the Decepticons ensued shortly afterwards, during which Optimus was revived by the Mini-Cons through the Matrix. {{storylink|Miracle (episode)|Miracle}} No sooner had the Autobots welcomed their leader back than their ship was pulled through a worm hole to a dead planet, where they were menaced by a twisted clone of Optimus named [[Nemesis Prime (Armada)|Nemesis Prime]]. Optimus had Hoist launch him and his new weapons system, [[Overload (Armada)|Overload]], from the ''Axalon'' so that he could end his dark doppelgänger's threat. {{storylink|Puppet}}

By the time the Autobots had repaired the ''Axalon'' and arrived over Cybertron, the Decepticons had managed to take over the planet. Hoist and Scavenger fought through Decepticons tank troops on the planet's surface, while a black hole appeared in the sky. The Mini-Con continued to display their mysterious powers, and helped keep the black hole at bay. {{storylink|Uprising (Armada)|Uprising}} Hoist and the rest of Optimus's crew were forced to remain in orbit on the ''Axalon'' while Jetfire scouted Cybertron's surface for a safe landing zone. When Hoist learned that Hot Shot went off on his own to meet Galvatron face-to-face, he tried to convince the others to go after the young 'bot, but was overruled. It was deemed more important that the remaining Autobots stay together in preparation for Unicron's arrival. The ''Axalon'' then received a transmission from Jetfire, pointing them towards a region where they could set themselves down. Thanks to the Mini-Cons providing them cover with illusory copies of their ship, the Autobots managed to bypass the Decepticons' defenses and make planetfall. {{storylink|Dash (episode)|Dash}} Hoist then helped Scavenger spread the word to the Autobot masses that they were being evacuated from the planet. Though they met with resistance, informing the Autobot generals that the order came directly from Optimus helped convince them to clear out. {{storylink|Drift (episode)|Drift}} As more Autobots became assembled before him, Hoist passed on the message that their enemies were no longer the Decepticons, but Unicron and his minions. {{storylink|Portent}}

The Autobots put in action a plan to force Galvatron into a situation where Optimus would have the opportunity to reason with him. Hoist and the other Autobots forestalled the Decepticons while Optimus drew their leader away from the battleground. The Autobots' and Decepticons' firefight was interrupted by an energy discharge from Unicron, and soon thereafter Galvatron was swayed by Starscream's death to unite his forces with Optimus's. {{storylink|Cramp}} After barely escaping Cybertron's surface aboard the ''Axalon'', Hoist attended a formal ceremony where Prime and Galvatron shook hands, uniting the Autobots and Decepticons into an armada that struck at Unicron together. {{storylink|Alliance}} All attempts to damage Unicron proved futile. Determining their best plan of attack laid in attacking Unicron from within, Optimus and Galvatron infiltrated their gargantuan foe's body. Meanwhile, Hoist and the rest of the troops kept Unicron occupied with their ships, in the hopes of forestalling Cybertron's annihilation. {{storylink|Union}} No matter how much damage they inflicted upon him, however, Unicron would regenerate his wounds. {{storylink|Origin}}

Thankfully, the team inside of Unicron succeeded in retrieving the Mini-Con weapons, de-powering the Chaos Bringer. The Transformers then scrambled to eliminate Unicron before he recovered, but this proved unnecessary; once Galvatron sacrificed himself, there was no longer enough hatred in the universe to sustain Unicron, and he vanished from existence. The Transformers' war now at an end, Hoist and his fellow Cybertronians stood united as a race, and begun rebuilding their war-torn planet. {{storylink|Mortal Combat}}

===Panini ''Armada'' comic===
[[File:BetweenTwoWorlds SmokescreenLiftorPunch.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[Thing|IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!!!]]]]

In the distant past, Smokescreen defended the main Autobot base on Cybertron from a Decepticon attack, and retreated when it turned out the base was lined with explosives. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 9|Counter-Strike!}}

Stationed on Cybertron while Optimus Prime went to [[Earth]], Smokescreen and [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]] were sent to the alien planet's [[Moon (moon)|moon]] by [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] to stop the Decepticons from searching for Mini-Cons there. Upon arrival, they didn't have time to do much other than complain about [[space bridge]]s before they came under attack by Mini-Con-augmented Decepticons. The outgunned Autobots fled, but Smokescreen was shot and injured by [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], who decided to end things by running him over. Luckily, the helpful Mini-Con [[Liftor]] showed up and power-linked with Smokescreen, allowing him simply to punch the Decepticon tank aside. With Scavenger also obtaining a Mini-Con of his own, the Decepticons gave up on the search and retreated. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 6|Between Two Worlds!}}

Later, the Decepticons returned to the Moon, where they constructed a base and planned to fire missiles at the Autobot base on Earth. Smokescreen and Scavenger were again summoned to help out (or maybe they never left the Moon to begin with), but the security around the Decepticons' missile silo was too much for them. However, the security around their [[space bridge]] controls was minimal, so the Autobots devised a new plan. When the missiles were fired, Smokescreen and Scavenger linked the Decepticons' space bridge to the Autobots' one on Earth, allowing them to transport the warheads straight back to the Decepticon base. Victorious, Smokescreen drove away as the base went up in flames. {{storylink|Panini Armada issue 8|Earthshaker!}}

===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
Smokescreen was part of the Autobot forces during a battle in [[Yellowstone National Park]]. After Optimus Prime warned that the area was too geologically unstable to battle in, he suggested that they find a more stable battleground. {{storylink|Lonesome Diesel}}

===''Universe'' comic===
[[File:Cauldron-SmokescreenSmokescreen.jpg|thumb|left|You mean the guy from 1985 ''doesn't'' win?! How often does ''that'' happen?]]

A Smokescreen hailed from [[Aurex 204.0 Kappa]] and was abducted by [[Unicron]] to be one of his [[Minion of Unicron (Universe)|Minions]] in the [[Cauldron]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/14}} When several abductees from [[Primax 797.18 Epsilon]] arrived in the Cauldron, they witnessed Smokescreen engaged in a death-duel with another [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] within the Cauldron arena, deep inside the shattered remnants of Unicron. Both robots' minds corrupted by the dark god, crane-Smokescreen mercilessly killed car-Smokescreen, gaining in power, while Unicron fed on the defeated robot's released [[spark]]. {{storylink|Abduction}}

Smokescreen escaped the Cauldron and returned to his home reality along with a [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]] and [[Firebot (Armada)|Firebot]] who were unable to return to their own home reality. Haunted by what he had done under Unicron's influence, Smokescreen found it therapeutic to help Red Alert and Firebot adapt to their new home. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/09/14}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Battle Tactics''===
[[File:Battle-Tactics-Armada-Smokescreen.jpg|thumb|400px|Why the long face?]]
Armada Smokescreen participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! His Mini-Con, Liftor, could attach to Smokescreen in the latter's vehicle mode.
He was an Epic character who was available as a reward to 55 leagues in the "Armada: Episode 3: Between Two Worlds" event. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle Tactics}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Armada''===
[[File:Armada Smokescreen toy.jpg|upright=1.8|thumb|"Hi, kids! Sorry for chasing you menacingly in the abandoned subway and almost killing you for no apparent reason."]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Smokescreen with Liftor''' (Super-Con Class, [[2002]])}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Grap'''
:*''Takara ID number:'' '''MC-04'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[December 26]], 2002
:*''Accessories'': Missile
{{toydesigner|[[Aaron Archer]] (Hasbro), [[Shogo Hasui]] (Takara)}}

: Sold in the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' Super-Cons, Smokescreen transforms into a heavy Cybertronic truck with a large crane boom and tow-cable. Flipping a switch on his back end connects the tow-cable spool to his rear axle, reeling in the cable as he rolls in vehicle mode. He also features an opening hatch on his roof (with an Autobot symbol on top) that reveals a molded gear underneath; it's unknown what the actual intent of this was. Smokescreen's head is also linked to an internal rotating mechanism with the crane boom, making his head turn in the same direction whenever the boom is rotated. The head is also on a separately-ratcheted joint, allowing the head to move independently of the boom as well.

: Attaching a Mini-Con (such as his pack-in partner [[Liftor#Toys|Liftor]]) to the [[Powerlinx]] plug on his crane boom allows it to extend and unfold to almost three times its original length, forming a ''huge'' spring-loaded missile launcher. This launcher can sometimes leave the figure unbalanced, as it becomes too large for the figure to hold up while deployed in robot mode. The lack of any flip-out heels also causes balancing issues. One can plug the [[Skyboom (Armada)#Toys|Skyboom Shield]] onto the extended crane boom to replicate the various scenes from the cartoon where he'd launch it to his teammates.

: Unusually for this line, there are no obvious differences between the [[Hasbro]] ''Armada'' Smokescreen and [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''Legend of the Microns'' "Grap" toys, except the Takara version has clearer paint on his Autobot symbol.

: This toy proved to be one of the biggest [[shelfwarmer]]s of the entire ''Armada'' line, with some lingering on pegs well into the follow-up ''Energon'' toyline's run.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/Smokescreen/smokescreen.htm More information on Smokescreen at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|withRace}}
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Grap & Race Micron''' (Multi-pack, 2002)}}</ul>
:*''Sonokong name'': '''Smoky & Race'''
:*''ID number'': '''MS-02'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[December 26]], 2002
:*''Accessories'': Missile

: In Japan, "Grap" was available both as an individual and in a multi-pack with the [[Race Mini-Con Team#Toys|Race Microns]]. All of the toys in the set are identical to their individual Japanese releases.

: This set was also released by [[Sonokong]] in Korea, as part of their ''Eunha Yeongung: Cybertron'' toyline, with no changes other than the packaging. This was the only way to obtain the set in Korea.

{{-}}{{anchor|Hoist}}
[[File:Armada Hoist toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|"Back and better than ever! You can keep calling me Smokescreen until somebody remembers I'm Hoist!" ''(Hasbro version pictured)'']]
[[File:LOTM Grap Super Mode.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|''(Takara version pictured)'']]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Hoist with Refute''' (Super-Con Class, [[2003]])}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Grap Super Mode'''
:*''Takara ID number:'' '''MC-11'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[August 28]], 2003
{{toydesigner|[[Takashi Kunihiro]] (Takara)}}

: Smokescreen returned in a new body with the name "Hoist", transforming into a Cybertronic excavator, released in the sixth wave of ''Armada'' Super-Cons (the first wave to feature the "''Unicron Battles''" branding). Plugging a Mini-Con onto his right arm unlocks his shovel-arm punch attack, which is activated by pressing in the plunger on the "back" of the arm, although it can also be unlocked manually without a Mini-Con as well. This feature remains unlocked until the block is manually returned to its latched position. For some reason, Hoist's head is based on [[Dinobot (BW)|''Beast Wars'' Dinobot]].<ref>{{citesocial|quote=''Cybertron'' Scourge… is that… that's the… backhoe guy. *Mimes Hoist's arm gimmick.* Yeah, his head is very much like Dinobot, I think I did design it like that. I don't know why. But I like that look. [Could you think of him as the Unicron Trilogy's Dinobot?] Yeah, you totally could. Definitely with those colors, it even has that ''Velociraptor'' color vibe that they were using back then.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ToNlyjgeZc&t=445s|name=Aaron Archer|site=''The Toy Armada''|title=Toy Armada Friday Night LIVE - General discussion|year=2023|month=03|day=24}}</ref>

: He comes with a new Mini-Con partner [[Refute (Armada)#Toys|Refute]], who, in Japan, is the upgraded form of Liftor, dubbed "Spark Lift".

: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] version has a fairly significant color difference from the [[Hasbro]] version, replacing the dark brown plastic with a swirled, semi-translucent gunmetal.

: This mold has a common misassembly error; his left arm's ratchet-joint can end up off a notch, preventing the arm from "clicking" to a proper level-with-the-ground position in vehicle mode. This misassembly error is not present on the Takara release.

: The same mold (with the molded Autobot sigil replaced by a smooth block for a sigil [[tampograph]]) is used to make ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Ransack (Universe 2003)|Ransack]]. A heavily-[[retool]]ed version of the mold was used to make ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Longrack (Cybertron)#Toys|Longrack]] and [[BotCon 2006]]'s [[Dinobot (BW)/toys#Timelines|Darksyde Dinobot]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/Hoist/hoist.htm More information on Hoist at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|withAdventure}}
[[File:Arm-toy HoistAdventure.jpg|thumb|upright=1|Also known as "Grapventure"]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Grap Super Mode & Adventure Micron''' (Multi-pack, 2003)}}</ul>
:*''Release date'': [[August 28]], 2003
:*''ID number'': '''MS-07'''

: In Japan, Grap Super Mode was available both separately and in a multi-pack with the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team#Toys|Adventure Microns]]. All of the toys in the set were identical to their individual releases.
{{-}}

===''Built to Rule!''===
[[File:BTR-Smokescreen.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Smokescreen w/ Liftor''' (2003)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Missile

: One of the smaller-scale ''[[Built to Rule!]]'' sets, Smokescreen can be rebuilt from a truck-crane sorta resembling the original toy into what can charitably be called a robot mode, with the core "Trans-Skeleton" actually doing a little bit of traditional transforming. His crane-arm contains a spring-loaded missile launcher. He came with a building-brick version of Liftor.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/BTRSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More info on Built to Rule! Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Universe'' (2003)===
[[File:Uni2003-toy Smokescreen.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Original name "Eiffel 66"]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Smokescreen with Liftor vs. Ransack with Refute''' (Battle in a Box, [[2004]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Missile

: A blue and yellow redeco of his first toy, this ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' version of Smokescreen was only available in a "[[market six]]" [[Battle in a Box]] set.

: He was packed in with his [[Mini-Con]] partner [[Liftor#Universe (2003)|Liftor]], facing off against the [[Decepticon]] [[Ransack (Universe 2003)|Ransack]] and his Mini-Con [[Refute (Armada)#Universe (2003)|Refute]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/TFUSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More information on Universe Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
{{anchor|McDs}}
===McDonald's===
[[File:McdonaldsArmadaSmokescreen.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.67]]
*'''Smokescreen''' (Happy Meal, 2002)
**''Accessories'': Crane arm

: One of eight [[McDonald's]] ''Armada'' promotional toys, Smokescreen is an ''extremely'' simplified version of the ''Armada'' toy, transforming into a crane-truck. He features a "battle damage" gimmick where hitting a button on his front grill makes his crane-boom pop off, a gimmick similar to Happy Meal [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]].

:He has a [[Powerlinx]] post on his left shoulder which you can attach Mini-Cons to, though its main purpose is allow him to combine with the other Autobots from the set to form [[Mighty Robot]]. He also has a Mini-Con Powerlinx port on the bottom on his feet/ vehicle mode which allows him to activate Mini-Con features on larger figures.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/McSmokescreen/smokescreen.htm More info on McDonald's Smokescreen at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Super Collection Figure''===
[[File:SCF Smokescreen.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Aw, Grap.]]
*'''Grap''' (2003)
**''Act'': '''10'''
**''Accessories'': Stand

:A soft-plastic PVC of Smokescreen was made for "Act 10" of the [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''[[Heroes of Cybertron|Super Collection Figure]]'' line in 2003. It came in both full-color and pewter-finish versions, one each per case of twelve. Due to his top-heavy build and very small feet, he has difficulty standing on his own... not helped by the fact that Act 10 uses much softer plastic than the previous Acts, meaning his waist-pegs give way easier. The included display stand doesn't help much, as his wide stance keeps him from planting both feet evenly on the stand.

: The pewter version has an additional potential problem with connector peg breakage, due to said pegs often getting a layer of pewter paint before being forced into a socket, leading to sticking and tearing. Care should be used when moving or removing parts; shaving down the socket interior with a thin hobby knife is usually sufficient to fix the issue.

{{-}}

===''Transformers Mini Car Collection''===
*'''Grap''' (die-cast vehicle, 2003)
:French die-cast model producers [[Majorette]] teamed with Kabaya to produce the ''Transformers Mini Car Collection'', a line of ''Armada''-themed die-cast vehicles, all of which were redecos of pre-existing Majorette toys. Smokescreen was a redeco of Majorette toy #283—a GMC Brigadier Crane Truck—now bearing the ''Legends of the Microns'' logo, along with an image of Smokescreen’s robot mode on its hood. The toy also features an articulated crane cab, arm, and hook. Also included is a pack of gum.

==Notes==
===Smokescreen===
[[File:Armada Smokescreen Smoky.jpg|thumb|]]
* Designer [[Aaron Archer]] envisioned Smokescreen as being like the [[Thing]],<ref>{{citesocial|quote=hes not all bad but i made some weird choices. I originally wanted himto be like "the thing" from fantastic four but that was difficult to translate to the takara Japanese teammate's.|link=https://www.instagram.com/p/BuraGrjn4Qk/c/18015775858142589/r/18024180211114598/|name=Aaron Archer|site=Instagram|year=2019|month=03|day=06}}</ref> but ultimately considers Smokescreen to be his "bottom of the barrel", blaming the fact that it was the last toy in the wave to be designed. He also regrets giving him the name "Smokescreen".<ref>{{citesocial|quote=This guy was the last designed in wave one so he wasn't as overworked as some of the characters. His robot face isn't good, the colors are garish, his name is wrong for character and it's all my fault. You have to have a design bottom of barrel and Armada Smokescreen is mine.|link=https://www.instagram.com/p/BuraGrjn4Qk/|name=Aaron Archer|site=Instagram|year=2019|month=03|day=06}}</ref> It was implied by a Hasbro representative at [[BotCon 2002]] or [[OTFCC 2003]] that Smokescreen was not the name they intended for the character (the ones they proposed had not passed [[trademark]] examinations), suggesting they "borrowed" the Smokescreen name from the already-in-development ''[[Transformers: Alternators|Alternators]]'' toy of the original [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]] because it had passed legal clearances and they needed to call the ''Armada'' character ''something''.
* In his comics portrayal, Smokescreen is shown to often have his crane flipped and folded behind his back, making it far less cumbersome.
* Smokescreen's two-pack ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' bio with [[Ransack (Universe 2003)|Ransack]] appears to take a lot of inspiration from Generation 1 [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]]'s bio and highlight episode "[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]", as Smokescreen apparently likes to build parks, buildings and sculptures, and "was once responsible for some of the most amazing buildings on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]"; taking a lot of pride in his work. Given Smokescreen's Japanese name is "Grap" (short for "Grapple"), it's likely that this was the intention.
** This is also ''quite'' the contrast compared to his original ''Armada'' bio published on Hasbro.com back in the day, which pretty much describes him as a walking wrecking ball, tearing down any Decepticons in his path.
* Smokescreen made a few [[Easter egg]] cameo appearances in the [[2005 IDW continuity|2005-2018 comics]] from [[IDW Publishing]]. A Cybertronian based on his Hoist form appears in [[The Custom-Made Now - An Elegant Chaos Prologue|''More than Meets the Eye'' #35]] and [[Dissolution Part 2: Anomie|''Lost Light'' #2]], and the latter issue also contains a Cybertronian based on his Smokescreen form. Meanwhile, the one-issue character [[Hefter]] was given Smokescreen's colors as an homage by [[Josh Burcham|the issue's colorist]].

===Hoist===
* A piece of behind-the-scenes speculation that has yet to be confirmed is that the Hoist mold was originally designed to be a separate character, but was changed to become a new Smokescreen body at the behest of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Unlike other cases in the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]] where separate-character toys and [[redeco]]s were [[repurposing|repurposed]] as upgraded forms for existing characters in the respective cartoons, Hoist's Hasbro.com bio was explicitly written to reflect his cartoon origins, making it harder to know what the original intent was for the toy.
* The Hoist mold was originally planned to have a gear system like that of [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] that would activate gear-driven Mini-Con gimmicks (like those of Refute and the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team]]) when his shovel rod was pushed.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=He did but it was dropped.|link=https://news.tfw2005.com/2003/09/02/orsons-world-90203-830|name=Aaron Archer|site=TFW2005|year=2003|month=09|day=02}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=we did at one point. It would be a great feature to have across an new line someday.|link=https://www.instagram.com/p/CEpFr7vgfCY/c/18040286680300312/r/17875128049872203/|name=Aaron Archer|site=Instagram|year=2020|month=09|day=02}}</ref> Refute retains the gear gimmick, but is too big to fit onto Cyclonus. Hoist's card art also depicts a Cyclonus-styled "clip" in place of the final toy's Mini-Con peg.
* The "S.D. 74" printed on the Hoist mold is an in-joke, according to Aaron Archer. He had pointedly and repeatedly refused to ''explain'' the joke for the longest time, so its meaning remained a mystery for several years. An initial explanation of sorts was first offered at [[BotCon 2008]]: The marking originates from an incident at the [[San Diego Comic-Con]] involving an unfortunate mix of Hasbro employees, alcohol, and a construction crane. Whatever happened, apparently the {{w|Petco Park}} stadium was nearly not built because of it. Yowza. A second elaboration was finally given at [[BotCon 2016]], at which Archer hinted that it was merely the crane's model number, and that the "S.D. 74" on the toy was Archer's homage to that night. He also revealed that he had kept the crane's key as a keepsake, which they later used as a reference, matching the toy's "S.D. 74" font to the key's font.

===Foreign names===
====Smokescreen====
*''Japanese:'' '''Grap''' (グラップ ''Gurappu'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Füstfüggöny'''
*''Korean:'' '''Smoky''' (스모키 ''Seumoki'')

====Hoist====
*''Japanese:'' '''Grap Super Mode''' (グラップスーパーモード ''Gurappu Sūpā Mōdo'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Csörlő'''
*''Korean:'' '''Smoky''' (스모키 ''Seumoki'')

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Built to Rule!]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:McDonald's exclusives]]
[[Category:Minions of Unicron]]
[[Category:Universe Autobots]]

Transformers Energon Universe 2025 Special story

2025-05-04T03:06:09Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''
|prev=G.I. Joe Energon Universe 2025 Special story
|next=Void Rivals Energon Universe 2025 Special story
|seriesissue2=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]''
|prev2=Transformers (2023) issue 19
|next2=Transformers (2023) issue 20
|image=Energon Universe 2025 Special Cover B.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[May 3]], [[2025]]
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=Daniel Warren Johnson
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''Jazz wants to play in harmony with his fellow bots, but he just can’t seem to avoid jamming to his own rhythm.'''

==Synopsis==
''Years ago, on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] is kicked out of his band with [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] right before their big performance because he can’t stay on the beat and keeps improvising. Later that evening, using an intergalactic radio devised by [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]], he listens to a strange sound that fascinates him. He excitedly shares his discovery with [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]], who appreciates his friend’s sense of wonder, but politely asks him to turn the noise off.''

In the present, on [[Earth]], Optimus and Jazz are driving down a road when Jazz suddenly hears that same noise off in the distance. He swerves off the road in an effort to find the source, arriving at a cocktail lounge. He peers inside to see a group of jazz musicians playing to an attentive crowd. He smiles, finally finding what he was looking for all those years ago.

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in photographs. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* ''[[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]]'' (1)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (2)
* ''[[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]]'' (3)
* ''[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]'' (4)
* ''[[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]]'' (5)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (6)

|h3=Others|c3=
* Jazz musicians (7)
}}

==Quotes==
"Optimus… have you ever hunted for something? Something you barely know exists?" 
"I’m not sure I know what you mean, my friend." 
"Listening to this… is like finding a new question to ask. It’s a brand new journey."

:–'''Jazz''' and '''Optimus Prime'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* This story reveals that most of the main cast of Transformers were in a band either before or during the war. That just rules.
* Where exactly this story fits in with the ongoing narrative of the Transformers series is unclear, but it would appear to be some sort of flash forward. One key detail to note is that the “present day” pages show Optimus with his normal right arm, not [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]’s, which he’s had since [[Transformers (2023) issue 4|Transformers #4]] (the same issue where Jazz was first awoken, meaning it can’t take place earlier).

===Real-life references===
* The B cover to the Energon Universe 2025 Special (as pictured above) features many real album covers and references to real recording artists, including:
** [[Fab Four|The Beatles]]
** {{w|Blood Incantation}}’s {{w|Absolute Elsewhere}}
** Brooticus, the fictional band from Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer’s previous comic, Murder Falcon (the titular character of which also appears in a photograph).
** {{w|Megadeth}}
** {{w|MF Doom}} and {{w|Madlib}}'s {{w|Madvillainy}}
** {{w|Power Trip (band)|Power Trip}}
** {{w|Racer X (band)|Racer X}}
** {{w|Toto (band)|Toto}}’s {{w|Africa (song)|Africa}}
** {{w|The Velvet Underground}}'s {{w|The Velvet Underground & Nico}}
** {{w|Bruce Springsteen}}'s {{w|Born in the U.S.A.}}
** {{w|Rush (Band)|Rush}}
** {{w|Big Star}}'s {{w|Number 1 Record}} and {{w|Radio City (album)|Radio City}}
** And most importantly, [[The Transformers: The Movie - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' ([[November 25]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534332588 / ISBN 978-1534332584 
** Collects ''Transformers'' issues #19–24 and the ''Transformers'' story from ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V4.jpg|'''''Volume 4: Conquer and Control''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

Title sequence

2025-05-02T21:40:54Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* English version */ The episode page says it's inconsistently implemented, but on Tubi at least it appeared on every episode after.

[[File:Targetmasters.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|''Mooooooom!'' Pinpointer and Crosshairs are making a title sequence!]]
A '''title sequence''' is the animation that accompanies the [[theme song]] or opening narration of a television series, introducing the audience to the show's characters and storyline on a visual level. Title sequences are usually composed of original animation commissioned solely for the sequence, a collection of clips from actual episodes, or a mixture of both. Oftentimes, the original animation commissioned for the title sequence is of vastly superior quality to the animation seen in the actual program. ''Oftentimes'', but not always. These sequences can range from thirty seconds to a minute and thirty seconds, depending on the length of the theme song or opening narration.

==Generation 1 (English)==
:'''Theme song:''' "The Transformers" by [[Anne Bryant]] and [[Ford Kinder]].
Each season of ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]'' boasted an original title sequence with varying performances of the classic ''Transformers'' [[theme song]]. Seasons 1 and 2 each offered unique performances of the theme song, while from season 3 onward, a third and final version was performed and used exclusively. For the reruns on the Sci-Fi Channel's [[Cartoon Quest]] and [[Animation Station]] blocks (as well as some syndicated reruns of season 2), the season 2 animation was combined with the season 3 version of the theme.

===Season 1===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]''
[[File:G1season1intro01.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Prime at perhaps his wussiest.]]
The [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] insignias fly by as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and several of his troops transform. After the title flips to different faction colors, the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s transform and fire upon several Autobot cars. Optimus Prime and [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] join the battle. [[Skywarp (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Skywarp]] clashes with [[Jazz (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Jazz]] and judo-flips him, but Jazz transforms to car mode, lands, drives back and returns to [[robot mode]], punching Skywarp in the face. [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundwave]] unleashes several of his cassette troops while Megatron transforms to gun mode and fires on the Autobots. Both sides then fly into the air and behind a mountain, where the title pops out.
{{-}}

===Season 2===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]'', ''[[Ashi Productions]]''
:'''Key animation:''' [[Nobuyoshi Habara]]
[[File:G1season2IntroGrid01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|"Hand-drawn version of computer-generated grids. How ironic!"]]
The Autobot and Decepticon insignias come flying out from space and across the landscape of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] before the scenery changes to that of [[Earth]]. The "Transformers" title then appears and is snatched in the jaws of [[Grimlock (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Grimlock]], where it morphs into [[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]. Grimlock releases Thrust as the rest of the [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] transform and fire upon [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]]. Blitzwing transforms to tank mode and makes the mistake of firing upon [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], who transforms to robot mode and squashes him beneath his heel. [[Scrapper (G1)|Scrapper]] picks up the remains of Blitzwing, and Omega fires on the approaching [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], who transforms to space shuttle mode just as the tracks drop off into a pit of lava. Down in the lava, the [[Insecticon (G1)|Insecticon]]s are swimming about for some reason. The lava then changes into a ''Tron''-like grid where Optimus Prime and Megatron clash before sinking into a wormhole as the title explodes onto the screen.
{{-}}

==="Five Faces of Darkness"===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[AKOM]]''

:''All five "[[Five Faces of Darkness]]" episodes had their own unique opening sequence, though on DVD releases of the series it only appears on Parts 3 and 5.''
[[File:Season3AlternateIntro01.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|The valiant Springer leaves Rodimus to die.]]
The Autobot and Decepticon insignias pass beneath the [[Rockeroid]] ship and glide across the landscape of Cybertron, passing over several battered Decepticons dogpiling on top of a single [[Energon cube]]. As the Decepticons fight over the Energon, [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] and [[Spike Witwicky (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Spike]] choose this strategic time to blast their helpless foes with laser fire. [[Hot Rod (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Rodimus Prime]] then drives up and transforms to robot mode within a wall of flames as the title appears on his chest. The scene shifts to [[Thrull]], where [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]] emerges from his plasma bath and fires on a nearby planet, destroying it. Beneath the planet, back on Cybertron, [[Daniel Witwicky (G1)|Daniel]] is confronted by [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]], only to be rescued by [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. Then, on [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], Ultra Magnus, Kup and Spike are dropped into a [[Sharkticon (species)|Sharkticon]] pit and swim away in fear from one of the approaching beasts. The faction insignias then go racing again through space, this time to the planet [[Goo 8739-B|Goo]], where the Autobots are stuck in slime. [[Springer (G1)|Springer]] transforms to helicopter mode and rescues everyone but Rodimus Prime, who gets sucked into a giant spaceship. Rodimus blasts his way out of the ship as several letters scramble together to form the title.
{{-}}

===Season 3===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[AKOM]]'', ''[[Sam Young Studio]]''
[[File:Intro3 4 with error.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|Remember that bit about title sequences having ''better'' animation than the show itself...?]]
A vector grid forms the disembodied head of [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]], orbiting Cybertron. [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]] flies through his eye as the scene shifts to the landscape of Cybertron and an army of [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]]s in tank mode. One of them fires a blast at the audience which blows up the title. Out in space, [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] is chasing a unit of [[Sweep (G1)|Sweeps]] and a miscolored [[Cyclonus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cyclonus]] through a field of space debris. Amid the debris is a TV set that shows Metroplex battling Trypticon. Grabbing Trypticon by the shoulders, Metroplex whirls him around into a crudely drawn tornado. That tornado then becomes the rings of Saturn, upon which are driving [[Blurr (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blurr]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]]. Wheelie's spinning tire becomes the barrel of Galvatron's cannon, aimed directly at the audience. The Decepticon insignia on his chest then rises up, becomes an Autobot insignia and then situates itself onto the chest of [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]], who is engaged in a battle on Earth. Blaster transforms to boom box mode and emits several ripples representing sound or radio waves. Those waves then become the ripples in a pool of water filled with Sharkticons. A Sharkticon swims toward the audience, and the darkness in its mouth becomes a space background and a platform. Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Kup (with Springer's head) come running over the platform and toward the audience. The platform is then revealed to be the title.
{{-}}

===Season 4===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]] (commercial animation), [[AKOM]]'' (Season 3 intro animation), ''[[Sam Young Studio]]'' (Season 3 intro animation)

:''This title sequence is composed of animation commissioned for several Transformers toy [[commercial]]s as well as a few clips recycled from the season 3 title sequence.''
[[File:Scorponok-Rebirth.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|"I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille."]]
Rodimus Prime and Blurr race across a wall and through an electrical field, where they meet a distraught Kup. [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] then unites beautifully with [[Zarak (G1)|his head]]. Elsewhere, the [[Technobot (G1)|Technobot]]s unite into [[Computron (G1)|Computron]]. [[Flywheels]] then transforms to robot mode and fires. An [[Overcharge (G1)|Overcharge]] appears with the title in front of its cannon in tank mode and blows it up (''recycled season 3 footage''). Above Cybertron, [[Triggerhappy (G1)|Triggerhappy]] and [[Blowpipe (G1)|Blowpipe]] fire and land on the ground. Triggerhappy is immediately tackled by [[Sureshot (G1)|Sureshot]]. [[Spoilsport]] and Blowpipe transform out of gun mode and clash. As they do, [[Crosshairs (G1)|Crosshairs]] and [[Pinpointer (G1)|Pinpointer]] arrive in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] and transform, only to be immediately tackled by [[Misfire (G1)|Misfire]] and [[Aimless]]. On another planet, ship mode [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress Maximus]] blasts the approaching [[Terrorcon (G1)|Terrorcon]]s. The scene shifts to the barrel of Galvatron's cannon as his Decepticon insignia rises and becomes Blaster's Autobot insignia (''recycled season 3 footage''). Back on Cybertron, Sureshot and Triggerhappy are still going at it. On Earth, Metroplex transforms from battle station mode to robot mode as he's fired upon by [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]]. The scene shifts to the platform in outer space, as Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus and Kup (miscolored as Springer) run across it, revealing it to be the title (''recycled season 3 footage'').
{{-}}

===Season 5===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]'' (movie and commercial animation), ''[[TMS Entertainment]]'' (commercial animation), ''[[Charlex]]'' (titles)

:''This title sequence is composed of animation commissioned for several Transformers toy [[commercial]]s as well as a few clips recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.''
[[File:G1season5titlesequence01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
Hot Rod runs through a valley carrying Daniel Witwicky, transforms to vehicle mode and places Daniel in the driver's seat (''recycled Movie footage''). The Headmasters roll-out from a [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] city. A shuttle blasts off from planet Cybertron and into space. On the planet of [[Junkion (planet)|Junk]], Springer and the Junkions run from Galvatron and Cyclonus, who are spraying them with laserfire (''recycled Movie footage''). In [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]], Optimus Prime transforms from vehicle to robot mode, rocketing himself into the air and shooting several Decepticons beneath him while the title (''a stock 1984-86 version, slanted downward'') appears on the screen (''recycled Movie footage''). Megatron blasts his [[fusion cannon]] while Starscream strafes Springer, who fires back (''recycled Movie footage''). The [[Targetmaster (technology)|Double Targetmaster]]s transform from vehicle to robot modes and fire. In the sky, Triggerhappy and Blowpipe transform to robot and gun mode and open fire. In Autobot City, Devastator tears through a wall, on Cybertron, [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]] smashes his hand down on the planet, back on Earth, Megatron and the Decepticons evacuate a burning Autobot shuttle and both Megatron and Starscream open fire (''recycled Movie footage''). On Cybertron, Crosshairs and Pinpointer arrive in vehicle mode, transform to [[robot mode]] and skid to a stop. The Autobot [[Pretender]]s exit their Pretender shells and rise up into the air in robot mode. On [[Quintessa (planet)|Quintessa]], Hot Rod punches a Sharkticon in the face (''recycled Movie footage''). Inside Unicron, Hot Rod opens the [[Matrix of Leadership]] and reveals the show title (''the same version as before, now slanted upward''), outside, Grimlock claws his feet into Unicron, at Autobot City, Megatron ignites his energon saber, leaps into the air and is felled by an uppercut from Optimus Prime (''recycled Movie footage'') that causes the title (''this time the 1988 commercial version'') to appear on the screen.
{{-}}

===''Generation 2''===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Lamb & Company]]'', ''[[Doros Motion]]'' (Cybernet Space Cube animation)

:''Rather than sport a theme song, the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|Generation 2]]'' series featured new CG animation accompanied by narration.''
[[File:G2CartoonIntro01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|G2 Prime was too extreme for his own good sometimes.]]
Optimus Prime drives over a bridge on some alien planet with two moons in the sky and transforms to robot mode as the narrator describes him as "More than meets the eye, he's a robot in disguise!" Optimus is then strafed by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]] in jet mode. The narrator describes him and the Decepticons as "going ballistic to destroy the Autobots". Ramjet transforms to robot mode and fires a missile into Prime's chest, damaging it, and then shoves him against the side of a cliff. Prime kicks Ramjet away and punches the fallen Ramjet square in the face before he can stand back up. (Way to fight fair, Prime.) Prime then begins stomping on the defeated Ramjet repeatedly with his foot while triumphantly firing his rifle into the sky. (''Jeez, man''.) The narrator then explains to the audience the "Magic of the [[Cybernet Space Cube]]" and introduces the "computer-enhanced stories of the Transformers".
{{--}}

==Generation 1 (Japanese)==
===''Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers''===
====Title sequence #1====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]'', ''[[Ashi Productions]]'', ''[[Nakamura Production]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer (song)|TRANSFORMER]]" by [[Satoko Shimonari]]''

:''The first Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers title sequence consisted of the animation used for the English season 1 sequence with additional clips from "[[More than Meets the Eye (mini-series)|More than Meets the Eye]]" to pad out the full minute-and-twenty-second length.''
[[File:FSRLTitleSequence01.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb]]
The Autobot and Decepticon insignias fly by as Prime, atop the Autobot one, transforms from truck to [[robot mode]]. The Japanese title then appears floating in space. The Seekers fly down and transform to robot mode, attacking several Autobot cars who transform to robot mode and fire back. Prime and Megatron join the battle as the two sides clash. Skywarp judo-flips Jazz, who transforms to car mode as he lands, drives back, transforms to robot mode and punches Skywarp in the face. Soundwave unleashes several of his cassette warriors as Megatron transforms to gun mode and fires upon the Autobots (recycled from the English season 1 title sequence). Prime then commands a full line-up of Autobots to transform, and they roll out over the desert (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]"). Underwater, [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] causes an earthquake that begins destroying a dam. On top of the dam, Prime and Megatron battle with [[Energon-axe]] and [[Energon mace]], only for Prime to be knocked off the ledge (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"). At the ruby crystal mines of [[Burma]], an explosion sends truck mode Prime tumbling down the side of a mountain (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"). Out in the desert, Prime transforms from truck mode to robot mode and rushes toward the audience. Megatron transforms to gun mode and is caught by Skywarp as Soundwave unleashes several of his cassette warriors (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]"). A trio of [[Air Warrior]]s transform to jet mode and fly off (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"). On Cybertron, [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] transforms to his pre-Earth saucer mode (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"). In the desert, Soundwave and Rumble watch as [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] transforms to jet mode and flies off into the distance (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"). The Autobots and Decepticons then go flying behind a mountain. Where the words creating the title would have popped out from behind the sides of the mountain in the English version, the Japanese title pops out from over top of the mountain (recycled from the English season 1 title sequence).

====Title sequence #2====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]'', ''[[Ashi Productions]]'', ''[[Nakamura Production]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer (song)|TRANSFORMER]]" by [[Satoko Shimonari]]''

:''The second Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers title sequence consisted of the animation used for the English season 1 and 2 sequences with additional clips from various other episodes (mostly the same clips used in the US season 2 closing credits sequence) to pad out the full minute-and-twenty-second length.''
[[File:We Hope The Only Title Sequence.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|We hope the only grammar!]]
The Autobot and Decepticon insignias fly through space toward the planet Cybertron. The Japanese "Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers" logo appears. Grimlock and the Dinobots open fire on Blitzwing, who transforms and attempts to shoot down Omega Supreme. Omega Supreme squashes Blitzwing (who is salvaged by Scrapper) and then opens fire on Astrotrain. Astrotrain transformers and retreats as the "camera" falls into a pit of lava containing the Insecticons (US season 2 title sequence footage). Starscream, Thundercracker, and Skywarp transform from jet to robot modes and open fire on [[Wheeljack (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Wheeljack]], Bumblebee and [[Mirage (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Mirage]]. Optimus and Megatron both lead their respective factions in a charge into battle. Various robots grapple before the Decepticons fly off with the Autobots on the ground shooting at them (US season 1 title sequence footage). [[Long Haul (G1)|Long Haul]] transform to robot mode ("[[The Master Builders (episode)|The Master Builders]]"), [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] transforms to robot mode ("[[A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court (episode)|A Decepticon Raider in King Arthur's Court]]"), Blitzwing transform to tank mode ([[Megatron's Master Plan, Part 2]]), [[Slag (G1)|Slag]] and [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] transform to dinosaur modes ("[[Desertion of the Dinobots, Part 1]]"), [[Powerglide (G1)|Powerglide]] transforms to jet mode ("[[Dinobot Island, Part 1]]"), [[Sunstreaker (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Sunstreaker]], [[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Cliffjumper]], [[Brawn (G1)|Brawn]], and Grapple transform from vehicle to robot modes (??), Starscream transformers to jet mode and flies off ("[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 2]]"), Smokescreen, [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and Wheeljack transform to [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]s (??), Optimus Prime transforms from truck to [[robot mode]] while Megatron transforms from robot to gun mode ("[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 3]]"). Optimus and Megatron square off on a computerized grid in outer space and promptly sink into the grid (US season 2 title sequence footage). The grid then explodes and turns into the Japanese "Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers" logo.
{{-}}

===Scramble City: Mobilization===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]'', ''[[Ashi Productions]]'' (Season 2 intro footage only)
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer (song)|TRANSFORMER]]" by [[Satoko Shimonari]]''

:''The "[[Scramble City: Mobilization]]" title sequence consisted of the animation used for the English season 2 sequence with additional clips from "More than Meets the Eye" to pad out the full minute-and-twenty-second length.''
[[File:ScrambleCityTitleSequenceSoundwave01.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|"Laserbeak: Eject. Operation: Destroy the departing sky!"]]
The Autobot and Decepticon insignias fly across the landscape of Cybertron, which becomes the landscape of Earth. The English title appears and is bitten by Grimlock, then morphs into Thrust. Grimlock releases Thrust as the Dinobots transform and fire upon Blitzwing. Blitzwing transforms to tank mode and fires on Omega Supreme, who squashes him beneath his foot. As Scrapper hauls off Blitzwing's remains, Omega fires on Astrotrain, who transforms to shuttle mode above a pit of lava. Down in the lava, the Insecticons are swimming around for no apparent reason (recycled from the English season 2 title sequence). On Cybertron, three [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s (including [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]) attack Bumblebee and Wheeljack with a flamethrower (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"). On Earth, a quake rumbles the crashed [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] and knocks Optimus Prime into the repair beam of [[Teletraan I]], who converts him into a truck (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"). Soundwave ejects [[Laserbeak (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Laserbeak]], who chases after [[Hound (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Hound]] and Cliffjumper, blasting the former off of a cliff (recycled from "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]"). A vector grid then appears with both Autobots and Decepticons charging over top of it. Prime and Megatron clash and sink into a pit as the English title explodes onto the screen (recycled from the English season 2 title sequence).
{{-}}

===''Transformers 2010''===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer 2010|TRANSFORMER 2010]]" by [[Shō Hirose]]''

:''Rather than recycle any of the crude animation from the English season 3 title sequence, the ''Transformers 2010'' title sequence was cobbled together from multiple toy [[commercial]]s and clips from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''. Oddly, ''The Transformers: The Movie'' would not be released in Japan until 1989.''
[[File:TF2010TitleClip01.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|It was a choice between "Cross of heat" or "BURNING HEART!" This won out.]]
Unicron's head orbits Cybertron as the Japanese title pops out of his broken eye (recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''). On an Earth highway, Ultra Magnus and several Autobots appear. Magnus transforms and fires his missiles at the approaching Galvatron and multiple Decepticons. Galvatron flies right through the flames, only to be socked in the jaw by Magnus. Galvatron transforms to cannon mode and returns fire. Elsewhere, Trypticon is approached by the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobot]]s, who transform and open fire on the city. Trypticon transforms first to battle station mode, then dinosaur mode. The Protectobots combine into [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]] as Trypticon breathes fire in their direction. Metroplex arrives in mobile battle station mode and is attacked by Bruticus. Metroplex transforms to robot mode and returns fire (footage from the Metroplex commercial, also used in the English season 4 intro). In some other desert, [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]] and [[Sandstorm (G1)|Standstorm]] show off their three transformations as they battle Blitzwing and Astrotrain. And yet elsewhere, the [[Predacon (G1)|Predacons]] mow down [[Sludge (G1)|Sludge]] and then pose on a cliff before combining into [[Predaking (G1)|Predaking]]. Inside Unicron, Rodimus Prime gives Galvatron the "end of the road" speech, picks him up and hurls him out into space. On Cybertron, Rodimus rallies a line-up of Autobots as the Japanese title appears (recycled from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]'').
{{-}}

===''The Headmasters''===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]''
:'''Key animation''' [[Hidetoshi Ōmori]]
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[The Headmasters (song)|The Headmasters]]" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]]''

:''The first completely original title sequence commissioned by [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]. Beginning with "[[Explosion on Mars!! Maximus Is in Danger]]", the Decepticons in the sequence would flash on and off as a tie-in with the light-gun game [[Video Challenger]].''
[[File:HeadmastersTitleSequence01.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Apply directly to the footage!]]
[[File:GalvyChallenger.gif|thumb|upright=1.1|Captain Powermaster and the Robots of the Future!]]
As the sun is eclipsed by a planet, the title appears on the screen. [[Chromedome (G1)|Chromedome]] and the Autobot [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster]]s head-on and fly toward the audience. Above Earth, the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]] transforms and deploys [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Twincast]] and the [[Trainbot]]s. On the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]], Spike and Daniel Witwicky hop along the surface in their [[Exosuit]]s as [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]] and the Decepticon Headmasters fly up behind them. In space, Galvatron, [[Scorponok (G1)|Mega Zarak]] and the Decepticon Headmasters open fire on the Trainbots, who combine into [[Raiden]]. The Autobot and Decepticon Headmasters then engage in a massive outer space firefight with lasers flying all over the place. Rodimus Prime is struck by a laser and injured, but is quickly shielded by Chromedome, who then blasts [[Soundwave (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Soundblaster]] in the chest and sends him flying. [[Skullcruncher (G1)|Skullcruncher]] then attacks Chromedome with his sword, but is immediately deflected. The Terrorcons then arrive on the scene but are all blown up by the combined efforts of Raiden and the recovered Rodimus Prime. Sixshot and the remaining Decepticons are then driven back by a blast from [[Hardhead (G1)|Hardhead]]. The Autobot insignia then appears, and every Autobot that matters lines himself up in front of it, with Chromedome taking center point.
{{-}}

===''Super-God Masterforce''===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]''
:'''Key animation:''' Masahiko Ōkura (second seqence only)
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Chōjin Masterforce no Theme]]" by [[Toshiya Igarashi]]''

====Title sequence #1====
[[File:Masterforce opening 1.jpg|225px|thumb]]
At a drive-in movie theater, [[Shūta Gō]] and [[Minerva (human)|Minerva]] prepare a computer, which projects the rest of the opening sequence onto the big screen for the theater's patrons. The title is revealed, standing atop a pedestal with spotlights illuminating it, before cutting away to a blue-tinged shot of human mode [[Metalhawk (G1)|Metalhawk]] racing across a field of anime speed-lines. The image is soon replaced with one of him in his [[Pretender]] armor, quickly joined by [[Phoenix (G1)|Phoenix]], [[Diver (G1)|Diver]] and [[Lander]] in theirs. The four Pretenders transform into [[robot mode]] and then fly into the screen. Jet mode Metalhawk and Phoenix fly around [[Ginrai (human)|Ginrai]]'s [[trailer]] in battle station mode as the [[Trainbot]]s soar by in the background, all in the sky above the Autobots' mountain headquarters. [[Buster (G1)|Buster]] and [[Hydra (G1)|Hydra]] fly by a dark castle in jet mode, and inset boxes appear onscreen revealing their names, ages and nationalities, before they engage Metalhawk and Phoenix in a dogfight. As Shūta and Minerva look on, worried, the two Decepticons merge into [[Darkwings]]. On the ground below, [[Lightfoot (G1)|Lightfoot]], [[Ranger]] and [[Road King]] come speeding into action, as an inset gives Lightfoot's details to the audience. Lightfoot races into a tunnel, where he is confronted by Pretender mode [[Dauros]], [[Gilmer]] and [[Blood]], the latter transforming to robot mode and opening fire. As Minerva cheers, Lightfoot transforms into robot mode and fire back, nailing Blood. Elsewhere, humans run in panic as a [[Tentakil (Masterforce)|Tentakil]] rampages through their city before combining with its fellow [[Seacon (Masterforce)|Seacons]] to form [[King Poseidon]]. Ginrai comes rolling onto the scene with the requisite inset box, transforms into robot mode and leaps into the air, avoiding King Poseidon's cannon fire and flattening the combiner with a kick. The projection ends with Ginrai and the four Autobot Pretenders standing on Ginrai's battle station, and the camera pulls back out to show Minerva and Shūta watching. The five Transformers onscreen leap towards the camera, and the two kids fall over as they come ''out'' of the screen and land in front of them. Shūta and Minerva right themselves and cheer.
{{-}}

====Title sequence #2====
[[File:Masterforce opening 2.jpg|left|225px|thumb]]
Ginrai and the [[Headmaster Junior]]s come running towards the audience on a white field ([[Cab (human)|Cab]] swings in on a rope), which dissolves to reveal the image of the Autobots' mountain headquarters. The quartet turn stage-left and jump into the air as flames fill the screen, segueing to the title on a background of green spotlights. Ginrai very dramatically dons his [[Godmaster (lifeform)|Godmaster]] armor just before King Poseidon comes bursting through a field of ice and shoots at him, prompting him to leap into the air and merge with his [[Transtector]] to become Super Ginrai. [[Mega]] and [[Giga]] appear against a black field, surrounded by rainbow-colored energy, then combine with their Transtectors into [[Overlord (G1)|Overlord]]. Human-form Road King, Lightfoot and Ranger slide across a sparkly green background, and their [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] Transtectors roll by below them. Each one of the three fades away as his Transtector lines up below him, transitioning into close-ups of their cockpits, with their armored drivers now behind the wheel. The three Godmasters drive off the top of waterfall and transform into robot mode before they hit the ground below. Back at the battle, Ginrai flips King Poseidon and slams him into the tundra, where he explodes dramatically. Ginrai then turns, and the scene changes to a city, where Overlord shields himself against a blast from Ginrai's cannon. Overlord unleashes his own weapons, but Ginrai leaps over the volley and kicks Overlord in the face. Overlord spins and launches his "Mega Child" jet-shield to pursue Ginrai, but the Autobot whips around and knocks it out of the air before blasting Overlord some more, then finally bringing him down with a rain of punches and kicks. Cab, Shūta and Minerva are then seen driving [[Godbomber]] into action, and the drone launches into the air, linking up with Ginrai to form God Ginrai. A long pan up God Ginrai's body concludes with the Headmaster Juniors jumping from Godbomber's cockpit and being joined by Ginrai. They all join hands and run forward, with the images of God Ginrai and their mountain base in the background.
{{-}}

===''Victory''===
[[File:Victory title sequence.jpg|thumb]]
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer V]]" by [[Kōji Kaya]] and Morinoki Children's Chorus''
The [[Brainmaster]]s roll across a blue grid and transform into [[robot mode]], quickly followed by the [[Breastforce]] doing the same, only on a red grid. A glowing "V" descends into shot, and the scene transitions to the show's title, with the V in place as part of the logo. [[Star Saber (G1)|Star Saber]] flies in space above the [[Earth]], as [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] wreaks havoc in a city down on the planet's surface. Star Saber [[stock footage|transforms to robot mode]] and lunges into battle with Deathsaurus, while the Brainmasters clash with the Breastforce. Elsewhere, the [[Dinoforce]] attack the Autobots' [[Rocket Base|Shuttle Base]], but are repelled by [[Galaxy Shuttle]]. [[Jan Minakaze]]'s face then fills the screen, and the camera zooms out to show him standing on a green grid, with an image of Earth hanging in space in the background. Galaxy Shuttle and the Brainmasters jump down from off-screen to join him, and then Star Saber's face fills the whole screen. The camera zooms out again, and the grid and other characters are gone, leaving only Star Saber standing before the Earth. He swings his sword and poses dynamically.
{{-}}

===''Zone''===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Toei Animation|Toei]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer Z no Theme]]" by [[Ichirō Mizuki]]''
[[File:Zone title sequence.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Is he union?]]
[[Emusa]] cues the beginning of the sequence by popping up with a clapperboard. The [[Jet Patrol Team]] and [[Sunrunner (Zone)|Sunrunner]] come flying out of the sunset, over the ocean, followed by the huge form of [[Dai Atlas (G1)|Dai Atlas]], who fills the whole screen. By the time Dai Atlas has passed, the scene has changed to a shot of [[Micro|Planet Zone]] from space, before the title card appears. [[Violengiguar]] whirls in space, and from the folds of his cloak, the [[Nine Great Demon Generals]] emerge. Dai Atlas transforms from jet to [[robot mode]], while [[Sonic Bomber (G1)|Sonic Bomber]] destroys some kind of flying monster, then transforms to robot mode himself. The [[Rescue Patrol Team]], [[Battle Patrol|Battle Patrol Team]], and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol Team]] prepare for action. The [[Rocket Base]]'s Galaxy Rocket flies through space, flanked by the Jet Patrol Team, while on Zone's surface, the other [[Micromaster]]s ride the Rocket Base itself into battle. [[Moonradar (G1)|Moonradar]] and [[Rabbicrater]] pose in front of a large "Z", then drive through a field, just behind [[Cain]] and [[Akira Serikawa]], who are hand-in-hand. [[Zone Base]] transforms into battle mode as Cain, Akira, and Emusa leap through the air excitedly, while Dai Atlas dodges his way around a series of explosions. He emerges from the dust of the explosions in drill tank mode and lunges towards the monster that is attacking him, drilling right through and destroying it. Dai Atlas and Sonic Bomber land in front of Zone Base, Cain and Akira pop up in front of them, and then Emusa reappears with his clapperboard to signify that it's all over.
{{--}}

==''Beast Wars'' (English)==
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Mainframe Entertainment]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"Beast Wars Theme" by [[Robert Buckley]]''

:''All three seasons of ''Beast Wars'' use the show's main theme music for the intro sequence, accompanied by occasional shouts of "''Beast'' Wars!" The initial intro for Season 1 was 30 seconds in length, while a later verison, as well as the intros for Seasons 2 and 3, doubled it to a full minute by extending the musical theme. With the exception of the logo's appearance, the intro sequences do not use any original animation and instead are composed of clips from the series.''

===Season 1 (short version)===
[[File:BeastWarsS1Intro.jpeg|thumb|upright=1.4|Who. Stole. My. [[Rubber Ducky|'''Rubber. Ducky?!''']]]]
A brief series of clips explaining the series' premise are shown: The ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' and ''[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]'' emerge from a [[unspace|transwarp]] portal and crash on prehistoric [[Earth]]. On board the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] ship, a computer analyzes the crew's new [[beast mode]]s, and a [[DNA scanner]] scans a rhinoceros and gorilla. A brief shot of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] growling in beast mode is quickly overtaken by the appearance of the title logo, and "Beast Wars!" is heard. Several clips are then played showcasing various characters in the series: [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] oversees his Predacon troops, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] transform into [[robot mode]], the Predacons launch an attack, [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] takes cover behind a boulder, [[Tarantulas (BW)|Tarantulas]] fires his leg-guns, and Waspinator and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] are hit by an explosion. Finally, Megatron and Optimus Primal both transform into robot mode and briefly struggle before the logo appears again, along with another chant of "Beast Wars!" accompanied by various animal cries.

===Season 1 (long version)===
The long version of the intro features more clips of the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' as the ships exchange fire before crashing onto Earth. After Megatron's console analyzes his robot mode, the ''Darksyde'' deploys its DNA scanner, detects dinosaur bones, and selects a T-rex beast mode for Megatron. The ''Axalon'' deploys its scanner as well, and its scan detects the rhino and gorilla. A computer screen shows these beasts, along with a rat. We then see the Maximals (with [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]) and Predacons facing off against each other in their beast modes. There is a close-up of Dinobot and then Cheetor in their beast modes. Megatron shakes his fist. Dinobot in robot mode jumps into action to defend the ''Axalon''. Cheetor is ambushed by Tarantulas. Terrorsaur endures a [[Power Surge (episode)|power surge]]. Tarantulas attempts to bite Rattrap. Waspinator flies into the screen. [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] analyzes a scan. The Predacons stand before the [[Standing Stones]]. The logo then flies into view over Optimus Primal as in the short opening, complete with the "Beast Wars!" chant. In succession, Megatron, Optimus Primal (accompanied by the "Beast Wars!" chant again), Dinobot and Cheetor (who is outrunning an explosion) transform into robot mode. Megatron smirks as he fires. Optimus Primal evades an attack in flight mode. Rhinox transforms into robot mode. Optimus Primal and Rattrap are falling from the [[flying mountain]]. The energon crystal in the Standing Stones explodes. The Maximals and Predacons in beast mode charge at each other in a field of raw energon. The title once again flies into view, ending the opening.

===Season 2===
[[File:BeastWarsS2Intro.jpg|left|225px|thumb|Like a treasure from a sunken pirate wreck.]]
The first 40 seconds of the intro are dedicated to clips summarizing "[[Other Voices, Part 1]]", "[[Other Voices, Part 2]]", and "[[Aftermath (BW episode)|Aftermath]]". We begin with an opening shot of Earth. After Optimus Primal is interrogated by the [[Vok]] (using [[Unicron/Generation 1|Unicron]]'s head as their avatar), a beam shoots out from the [[Bio-Dome]], hitting Earth's fake second moon and revealing it to be the [[Planet Buster]]. The [[Maximal]]s, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] in particular, are shown reacting to this. Optimus flies the [[transwarp cell]] to destroy the Planet Buster, but Megatron's face appears on the screen, taunting him. Optimus hits the pod's door futilely as it collides with the Planet Buster, destroying him and unleashing the [[quantum surge]]. The title logo appears and a chant of "Beast Wars!" is heard.

Rattrap, Cheetor, and Megatron are shown being transmetallized by the surge, while Terrorsaur's hand sinks into the lava as "Beast Wars!" is chanted again. Finally, a rapid montage of clips of (most of) the characters is shown, several in their new [[Transmetal]] forms: Megatron, Tarantulas, Rattrap, Cheetor, Rhinox, [[Quickstrike (BW)|Quickstrike]], [[Silverbolt (Fuzor)|Silverbolt]], Dinobot, Waspinator, [[Inferno (BW)|Inferno]], and... Tarantulas again. The logo then appears and "Beast Wars!" is uttered a third time.

===Season 3===
[[File:BeastWarsS3Intro.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|He truly is a Big Bot now.]]
The sequence begins with a brief all-new rendering of the Axalon and Darkside crashing on Earth, then cycles back into reused footage, including the "sunrise lineup" sequence that had already been used in season 2. We are then shown [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s eyes flickering to life, his [[spark]] being removed from its container, Optimus Primal's new "Optimal" body, and Megatron raging amidst the time storm, giving us a (very) brief summary of the events of [[The Agenda (Part III)]] and [[Optimal Situation]]. Several random scenes are then played: Megatron firing a blast from his tail-cannon, Rattrap leaping to avoid it, the [[subaquatic stealth vessel]] exploring the ''Axalon''{{'}}s ruins, [[Depth Charge (BW)|Depth Charge]] blocking some energy blasts with his fins, [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] running from the crashing [[transwarp cruiser]], Megatron roaring in beast mode, Rattrap riding atop a large missile from the transwarp cruiser, Silverbolt landing on the ground and brandishing his feather missiles, Tarantulas in vehicle mode riding alongside the [[cyber raptor]]s, the [[Ark (G1)|Ark]] taking off from [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], Rhinox landing on the floor of the cavern in [[Mount St. Hilary]], Rampage rolling off a cliff and crushing a device that Inferno and Quickstrike have been building, Rattrap swinging in through the roof of the transwarp cruiser to attack Tarantulas, and a cyber raptor menacing an [[anthropoid]].

All of that in 30 seconds. Yeesh.

The title logo then appears, along with the customary shout of "Beast Wars!" More scenes appear: [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]] presenting the Ark to Silverbolt, Depth Charge emerging from the water to a second cry of "Beast Wars!", Rhinox and Rattrap running from some energy blasts, Rampage jumping off a cliff into the water below, Tarantulas cackling in his lair, Optimus Primal transforming to jet mode and zooming off, Rattrap in vehicle mode driving across the ground, Blackarachnia being dropped off by Waspinator, Quickstrike transforming into beast mode, Rampage transforming into robot mode (boy, he sure shows up a lot in this one, huh?), Optimus Primal using his large arms to protect the other Maximals from a cave-in, Megatron transforming into beast mode, and finally Optimus Primal activating his chest-mounted blasters and laser sight. The title logo appears along with the usual chant.

===Rhino home video versions===

{{stub}}

==''Beast Wars'' (Japanese)==

===''Beast Wars''===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Mainframe Entertainment]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[War War! Stop It|WAR WAR! STOP IT]]" by [[Banana Ice]]''

:''The Japanese ''Beast Wars'' opening largely uses the same footage as the long version of the English Season 1 opening, with additional footage from early episodes.''

The first 19 seconds of the Japanese ''Beast Wars'' opening is identical to the long version of the English Season 1 opening, with the ''Axalon'' and ''Darksyde'' exchanging fire, crash-landing, and the DNA scanners being deployed. After the shot of the Maximals and Predacons in their beast modes, Optimus Primal in beast mode points toward the viewer. An explosion is superimposed over Megatron's head. We then see the close-ups of Dinobot and Cheetor, followed by Optimus Primal and Rattrap riding on Rhinox's back. Dinobot leaps into action and Tarantulas ambushes Cheetor. We then see Rattrap (in beast mode) riding on Optimus Primal's back in flight. The clips form the English long opening are shown from Tarantulas attacking Rattrap to Optimus Primal's growl, but instead of a logo, the close-up on Primal's face cuts to the Predacons firiing missiles. Rattrap transforms, and Rhinox fires his [[Machine gun|Chainguns of Doom]]. The scenes are then identical from the English long opening from Megatron's transformation into robot mode to the two sides charging at each other in the energon field, when the Japanese title logo appears. The logo is followed by additional scenes: Waspinator firing on Cheetor, Optimus Primal punching Megatron, a large explosion, the Maximals transforming into robot mode, and a pan out from Optimus Primal's [[Beast Wars (Part 2)|declaration that the Beast Wars have begun]], before closing on a shot of the Maximals in robot mode in front of the ''Axalon''.

===''Beast Wars Metals''===
====Title sequence #1====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Mainframe Entertainment]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Tamashii no Evolution]]" by [[Hironobu Kageyama]]''

:''The first ''Beast Wars Metals'' opening uses almost entirely different footage from Season 2 than the English opening, with the only common clips being Megatron's roaring transformation, Silverbolt's howl, and the spooky backlit reveal of Tarantulas. The title logo does not appear until one minute and 23 seconds in.''

Panning downward to Earth from space, the camera zooms into the atmosphere and through the clouds. The [[Transwarp cruiser]] flies over a valley as we zoom in to the cockpit to see the Maximals standing behind [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] at the controls. (from The Agenda, Part 2) Cut to Dinobot, Transmetal Rattrap, Silverbolt, Transmetal Cheetor, Rhinox, and Transmetal Optimus Primal transforming into robot mode one by one. Primal lands on a rock face in front of Dinobot and Rhinox and reaches behind his back for his maces. Silverbolt flexes his wings forward as Cheetor and Rattrap ready themselves for a fight. Megatron and the Predacons stand before a sunset. Megatron is then seen roaring while in flight mode before transforming into robot mode. Optimus Primal then transforms into his flight mode. Silverbolt swoops downward, wing blades in hand. Inferno pulls out his flamethrower. Ratbat is seen riding a rocket through a burning scene. Dinobot unsheaths his blade with the sun behind him. The camera than zooms in on Quickstrike's cobra head hissing. Silverbolt in beast mode howls in front of the moon. Dinobot fires his eye beams. Cheetor flies past a cloud. Tigatron maximizes. Transmetal Tarantulas is revealed. Cheetor, Rhinox, and Optimus Primal appear one by one in robot mode, and then Optimus appears in beast mode as the other Maximals appear behind him. With Tarantulas in front, the other Predacons transform into robot mode, zooming in on Megatron. Rattrap transforms into beast mode. Blackarachnia is tossed by an explosion. Quickstrike stands atop Rampage's transport mode. Silverbolt, Ratbat, and Cheetor transform into robot mode. Quickstrike transforms into robot mode. Silverbolt transforms mid-flight. Rattrap in transport mode talks to Rhinox in beast mode. Dinobot transforms into beast mode. We then see Dinobot in robot mode under a full moon, holding a large rifle. Megatron whips his tail weapon forward. Tarantulas operates a console. Silverbolt aims his wingtips forward. Dinobot, Cheetor, and Rattrap confront the Predacons with heavy weapons as the image fades to a sepia-tone still. Primal flies down and transforms. The title appears. The Maximals fly or run off together in beast mode, and then the camera zooms back out from the clouds into space as a distant star twinkles.

====Title sequence #2====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Mainframe Entertainment]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Sennen no Soldier]]" by Hironobu Kageyama''

:''The second opening also features a much different selection of clips than the English Season 3 opening. The title logo appears much earlier, however, just six seconds in. Common clips are Depth Charge's deflections, Rattrap's evasion, Blackarachnia's landing, and Quickstrike's transformation.''

After a brief clip of the Axalon and Darksyde approaching Earth, we see Optimal Optimus clenching his right fist. We then see him in flight mode attacking Transmetal 2 Megatron, who is breathing fire at him before the two transform to trade blows. After the title logo, Primal and Megatron square off again. Primal takes flight in robot mode. Cheetor flies in, transforms, and shoots. Rampage transforms into transport mode. Ratbat in robot mode rides Silverbolt in flight. Inferno is dual-wielding while flying. Primal fires his chest cannons. [[Dinobot II]] transforms into beast mode, and Primal does the same. Waspinator points. Transmetal 2 Cheetor in beast mode runs into view, using his rocket booster. [[Tigerhawk]] flies toward the screen. Rhinox pilots the Ark's shuttle. Depth Charge deflects enemy fire. Rattrap performs evasive maneuvers. Blackarachnia lands and prepares to attack. Quickstrike transforms into beast mode. Rampage transforms into robot mode as electricity flows around him. Primal and Cheetor fly over water. Silverbolt puts a wounded Blackarachnia on his back. Depth Charge cocks his weapon. We then see a crowd scene of Silverbolt, Rhinox, Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia and Cheetor, and Rattrap. The makeshift doors to the cave containing the Ark open deploying the Maximals while under attack. Transmetal 2 Cheetor transforms into beast mode and roars. Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia transforms into robot mode. Depth Charge and Silverbolt fly into view. Rattrap gives Rhinox a playful nudge. Primal transforms mid-flight. Dinobot II turns around. Transmetal 2 Megatron speaks in dragon mode. Tigerhawk hovers. The Maximals charge into view. Silverbolt transforms. Tarantulas transforms into transport mode. Depth Charge transforms into beast mode. Primal flies in front of the Maximals over the magma field inside Mt. St. Hillary. Dinobot II attacks Depth Charge. The camera zooms in on Transmetal 2 Cheetor's face. Depth Charge swims from the underwater remains of the Axalon. Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia transforms into beast mode. Transmetal 2 Megatron spreads his arms and wings out. Primal and Silverbolt fly by. Another crowd shot of Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia, Silverbolt, Transmetal 2 Cheetor, and Rattrap, as Silverbolt salutes a landing Primal. The opening ends on a closeup of Optimus Primal's robot mode face.

===''Beast Wars II''===
====Title sequence #1====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Ashi Productions]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Get My Future|GET MY FUTURE]]" by [[Cyber Nation Network]]''

:''Most of the first ''Beast Wars II'' title sequence is composed of clips from "[[The New Forces Arrive!]]", along with [[stock footage]] of transformations and special attacks.''
[[File:Bwii title sequence1.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.1|Invisible hot metal flooring.]]
Glowing, yellow outlines of the individual letters of the ''Beast Wars'' logo fall into shot in front of the silhouette of [[Gaia]], shifting to full color as a large "II" rises up behind them, followed by the "Super Lifeform Transformers" logo. Light dawns on [[Lio Convoy]], who turns around to face the approaching [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]]. [[Megastorm]] fires a blast that sends [[Bighorn]] sprawling off the top of the ''[[Galvaburg II]]'', and Lio Convoy unleashes his wrist cannons and fires back before jumping down to a rocky shoreline and looking up to watch the ''[[Yukikaze (BW)|Yukikaze]]'' fly by overhead. Scenes of the ''Yukikaze'' coming under fire when it arrived on Gaia and the Maximals leaving the damaged craft in escape pods play, followed by shots of Lio Convoy in lion mode posing heroically, the ''Galvaburg'' drifting in front of the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], and [[Scuba]] carrying [[Diver (BW)|Diver]] and [[Tasmania Kid]] through a body of water. [[Moon (BW)|Moon]] and [[Artemis]] appear, and when Moon tries to crowd Artemis out of shot, she clobbers him with her hammer. Stock footage of [[Apache]], Bighorn, Diver, Scuba and [[Starscream (BW)|Starscream]]'s transformations follow, after which Starscream rides tank mode [[BB]] into battle and the Maximals return fire. The heroes are then bombarded by bolts of purple lightning fired by the ''Galvaburg II'', and Lio Convoy leaps to their aid. The camera pans out on a still shot of the assembled Predacons, Scuba and Diver unleash their special attacks, and the camera pans out on a still shot of the Maximals.
{{-}}

====Title sequence #2====
:'''Director:''' Yutaka Arai
:'''Key animation:''' [[Munetaka Abe]], Koichi Hatsumi, Ryoji Nakamori, Takahiro Yamada, Yoshiharu Sugai
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Ashi Productions]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Super Voyager|SUPER VOYAGER]]" by Cyber Nation Network''
[[File:BWIIOP2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
The ''Beast Wars'' logo fades into shot, followed by the II symbol. The logo then shifts from grey to yellow. A small shooting star appears, revealing the "Super Lifeform Transformers" logo. Against the background of a far-off galaxy, [[Lio Junior]], [[Skywarp (BW)|Skywarp]] and [[Santon]] transform. The three are then fired from the ''Yukikaze'' in the form of streams of light. The camera pans out from a translucent Galvatron. Lio Junior draws his weapon and swings it. He is then seen alongside Santon and Skywarp in their light forms, about to enter Gaia's atmosphere. Artemis, Moon and [[NAVI]] briefly flash on screen. Gigastorm rears up, surrounded by rays of sunlight. Shots of Lio Convoy and Galvatron transforming are shown, followed by Lio firing his wrist missiles. From a still shot of drill mode Galvatron, the camera pans up to reveal Gigastorm and the ''Galvaburg II''. This is followed by stock footage of Apache, Bighorn, Tasmania Kid, Diver and Scuba transforming. Lio Convoy appears in a field, transforms to [[beast mode]], and begins to run. He is joined by Lio Junior and the other Maximals. The Lios are then shown on a windy cliff, staring out across a valley, with a close-up of Lio Convoy's face, followed by an underside shot of Skywarp rising towards the sun. [[Magnaboss (BWII)|Magnasboss]] combines against a background of stars. This is followed by a panning shot of [[BB|Max-B]], [[Dirge (BW)|Dirgegun]], [[Thrust (BW)|Thrustor]] and [[Starscream (BW)|Hellscream]]. Stock footage is shown of [[Tripledacus]] and [[God Neptune]]. Galvatron is then shown in his dragon mode. This followed by Gigastorm running in place in front of a background featuring Galvatron's face and dragon form. Water erupts from the ground as the [[Tako Tank]] rises up. The camera then pans out of a group shot of all the Maximals, followed by Lio Convoy turning to face the camera.
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Neo''===
====Title sequence #1====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Ashi Productions]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Love For Ever: Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni|Love For Ever —Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni—]]" by [[M.C.R.]]''
[[File:BigConvoyTitleSequencePoint01.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
A planet similar to Gaia is shown. The screen goes black before revealing a spotlight on Big Convoy's back. He is then shown flying through the sky. Magmatron appears, translucent against a background of space, firing random laser blasts. This is followed by stock footage of Big Convoy firing his Big Cannon. The "Beast Wars" emblem flies into the middle of the screen, followed by the "Super Lifeform Transformers" and "Neo" logos. In space, the ''Gung Ho'' launches the Maximals at a planet. They are shown walking through a valley, before looking shocked against an anime speedline background. [[Guiledart]] and [[Saberback]] appear in their [[beast mode]]s. The camera then pans across the Predacons in their [[robot mode]]s, with flames in the foreground. The Maximal emblem appears. A line drawing of Big Convoy is superimposed over it and then filled with colour. Superimposed over this are shots of the heads of Landsaurus, Skysaurus, and Seasaurus, with Magmatron appearing in front of these. Recycled episode footage of Big Convoy and the Maximals fighting Magmatron and the Predacons is show. Big Convoy points at the audience. The screen splits to reveal a group shot of the Maximals.
{{-}}

====Title sequence #2====
:'''Director:''' [[Masahiro Yamane]]
:'''Key animation:''' [[Munetaka Abe]], Hideki Fukushima, Kōji Itō, Naoki Aisaka, Ryoji Nakamori, Satoshi Shigeta, Sayuri Sugitou, Tatsuya Oka, Tetsuya Yanagisawa
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Ashi Productions]]'', ''Studio Partner'' (titles)
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Love For Ever: Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni|Love For Ever —Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni—]]" by [[M.C.R.]]''
[[File:LoveIsHere01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Love is here... and it BUURRNSS!!]]
A sun is shown. As flames rise from it, one dissipates as a heavily shadowed [[Big Convoy]] passes through it and flies at the screen. The camera closes on his face as the shadow disappears. The ''[[Gung Ho]]'' passes by the screen and warps away as shots of the Maximals pan across screen. The "Beast Wars" emblem flies into the middle of the screen, followed by the "Super Lifeform Transformers" and "Neo" logos. On a planet with no atmosphere, Big Convoy in his mammoth mode faces off against [[Magmatron|Landsaurus]]. The camera then pans over Magmatron's three [[beast mode]]s before revealing the upper torso of his robot mode. [[Break]] dives into some water, [[Colada]] strikes at the screen from some grass, and [[Stampy (BW)|Stampy]], [[Heinrad (BW)|Heinrad]] and [[Longrack (BW)|Longrack]] run at the screen. Stock footage of Big Convoy and Magmatron transforming is shown, which moves partway through Magmatron's transformation into a mosaic of himself, Guiledart, Archadis, and Saberback transforming. Colada then shoots flames at the top left of the screen against a background of anime action lines. Stock footage of the Maximals including [[Mach Kick]] transforming is then shown, before panning across head shots of the original ''Gung Ho'' crew. Big Convoy and Magmatron then appear, battling in space above a planet before Big Convoy pushes them both into the atmosphere. Break bursts from an iceberg and fires missiles at the screen, followed by Longrack doing the same in a field. Big Convoy in space blasts Magmatron. The camera shows the [[Energon Matrix]], followed by Big Convoy drawing the [[Big Cannon]] and firing. Big Convoy is then shown in the foreground with his crew in the background left.
{{-}}

====Title sequence #3====
:'''Director:''' [[Masahiro Yamane]]
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Ashi Productions]]'', ''Studio Partner'' (titles)
: '''Key animation:''' Munetaka Abe, Hideki Fukushima, Kōji Itō, Naoki Aisaka, Ryoji Nakamori, Satoshi Shigeta, Sayuri Sugitou, Tatsuya Oka, Tetsuya Yanagisawa (same as above)
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Love For Ever: Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni|Love For Ever —Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni—]]" by [[M.C.R.]]''
A sun is shown. As flames rise from it, one dissipates as a heavily shadowed [[Big Convoy]] passes through it and flies at the screen. The camera closes on his face as the shadow disappears. The ''[[Gung Ho]]'' passes by the screen and warps away as shots of the Maximals pan across screen. The "Beast Wars" emblem flies into the middle of the screen, followed by the "Super Lifeform Transformers" and "Neo" logos. On a planet with no atmosphere, Big Convoy in his mammoth mode faces off against [[Magmatron|Landsaurus]]. The camera then pans over Magmatron's three [[beast mode]]s before revealing the upper torso of his robot mode. [[Break]] dives into some water, [[Colada]] strikes at the screen from some grass, and [[Stampy (BW)|Stampy]], [[Heinrad (BW)|Heinrad]] and [[Longrack (BW)|Longrack]] run at the screen. Stock footage of Big Convoy and Magmatron transforming is shown, which moves partway through Magmatron's transformation into a mosaic of all the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] and [[Blentron]]s transforming. Colada then shoots flames at the top left of the screen against a background of anime action lines. Stock footage of the Maximals including [[Mach Kick]] transforming is then shown against a background of space, before panning across head shots of the original ''Gung Ho'' crew. Big Convoy and Magmatron then appear, battling in space above a planet before Big Convoy pushes them both into the atmosphere. Break bursts from an iceberg and fires missiles at the screen, followed by Longrack doing the same in a field. Big Convoy in space blasts Magmatron. The camera shows the [[Energon Matrix]], followed by Big Convoy drawing the [[Big Cannon]] and firing. Big Convoy is then shown in the foreground with his crew in the background left.
{{-}}

==''Beast Machines''==
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Mainframe Entertainment]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]]''

:''A single intro sequence was used for the entirety of both seasons of the series. Similar to its predecessor, the sequence consists almost entirely of footage from the show's first season.''
[[File:BeastMachinesIntroFaceoff.jpg|left|thumb|260px|Time to save the world and alienate half the fanbase!]]
The camera zooms in on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] are shown stepping out of the light of the [[Oracle (BM)|Oracle]] in their new [[technorganic]] bodies, before looking back at [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia]], who has done the same. [[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]]'s new form is shown as well. A squad of [[Cycle Drone]]s rides through the tunnels towards the Oracle's chamber, and the [[Maximal]]s prepare to face them. On the surface, an army of [[Tank Drone]]s drives over the upwards-facing camera; one slides to a halt and fires its cannon. The Maximals duck as an explosion erupts above their heads. [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]], shown wearing his new [[control harness]], scowls. The camera zooms in on Optimus Primal's eye as he has a vision from the Oracle, then back out to show him transforming into robot mode. The three [[Vehicon General]]s appear, Blackarachnia and Cheetor are both shown in robot mode in the middle of the city, and the camera zooms out to a brief image of a [[spark]] before it morphs into the title logo, and a low voice utters "Beast Machines".

{{note|Curiously, certain versions of the intro, such as the one seen on the [[Shout! Factory]] release and [[Tubi]], feature widescreen footage squished down to a 4:3 aspect ratio. The only native 4:3 footage is the last shot of Cheetor as the camera pans out to the logo. Given the intro is made up of clips from episodes of the first season, it's entirely possible that widescreen versions of these episodes existed at one point, but have never seen public release.}}

{{--}}
===Japanese version (''Beast Wars Returns'')===
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Mainframe Entertainment]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Phat Planet]]" by [[Leftfield]]''

[[File:Beast Wars Returns title sequence production credit.jpg|right|thumb|260px]]
The ''Beast Wars Returns'' title sequence is identical to the ''Beast Machines'' title sequence used in Western broadcasts of the show. The only visual difference is an overlay of Japanese credits and a new Japanese language logo. Though "Phat Planet" was retained as the theme, hearing it would be a challenge, as every broadcast of the ''Beast Wars Returns'' intro featured the cast of characters chatting amongst themselves, typically engaging in silly conversations or saying things that somehow related to the plot of the episode.

{{--}}

==''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)==
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Studio Gallop]]'', ''[[Dong Woo Animation]]'', ''[[Saban Entertainment]]'' (CGI)
:'''Theme song:''' ''Robots in Disguise'' theme by [[Shuki Levy]] and [[Haim Saban|Kussa Mahchi]]

:''The ''Robots in Disguise'' opening is composed entirely of clips taken from the series. The only new material is superimposed on existing footage: the show's logo and two pairs of inset windows.''
[[File:Rid titlesequence.jpg|left|thumb|225px|Through the magic of the Cybernet Space... Dodecahedron?]]
The ''Robots in Disguise'' logo unfolds as the camera zooms through the subterranean tunnels of the [[Global Space Bridge]]. [[R.E.V.]], [[Crosswise (RID)|Crosswise]] and [[Ironhide (RID)|Ironhide]] transform and drive forward. The [[Autobot Brothers]] drive through a loop on the Global Space Bridge roadway. [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and the Autobot Brothers transform to [[robot mode]] one after the other, and [[Koji Onishi|Koji]] runs towards the camera. [[Ultra Magnus (RID)|Ultra Magnus]] swoops out of the sky, scattering the [[Commando (RID)|Commando]]s, followed anachronistically by the Commandos transforming to robot mode. Stock footage of [[X-Brawn]] and [[Midnight Express (RID)|Midnight Express]]'s transformation sequences play in small windows overlaid on top of a shot of Optimus Prime posing. R.E.V. emerges from his billboard hiding place and transforms to robot mode. [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] transforms to shark mode and grabs up the [[Plutonium Energy Generator]] in his jaws. [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]] transforms to dragon mode and shoots bolts of flame at Optimus Prime. Inset windows containing clips of [[Slapper (RID)|Slapper]] and [[Scourge (RID)|Scourge]]'s transformation stock footage appear over footage of Megatron's transformation to bat mode. [[Gas Skunk]] fires his left laser, and [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and X-Brawn dodge it. Optimus Prime fires his shoulder-mounted missile launchers, then launches his [[Flying Fist]] over Koji's head, and a blast sends Megatron sprawling. Optimus Prime stands behind the show's logo, as the three Autobot Brothers jump down to stand beside him and they all pose together.
{{-}}

===''Car Robots''===
:'''Director:''' [[Masahiro Yamane]]
:'''Key animation:''' Hiroshi Masuda, Eiji Komatsu, Katsumi Hiroe, Satoshi Shigeta, Yuki Kinoshita
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Studio Gallop]]'', ''[[Dong Woo Animation]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Honō no Overdrive: Car Robot Cybertron|Honō no Overdrive ~Car Robot Cybertron~]]" by [[Kōji Wada]]''
[[File:Carrobots titlesequence.jpg|thumb|225px|BURNING CGI JUSTICE]]
Silhouettes of [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]], [[X-Brawn]], [[Prowl (RID)|Prowl]] and [[Side Burn (RID)|Side Burn]] scroll past a pair of wailing red siren strobe lights. A shot of Optimus Prime in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]] speeding down a city street towards the camera is followed by a slow pan across the rooftops of the city, on top of which the ''Car Robots'' logo appears. Optimus Prime continues on his way, coming face to face with a [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] dragon mode [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]], while the [[Autobot Brothers]] zoom into the [[Global Space Bridge]] on their way to join him. Prime (briefly rendered in CGI himself) transforms to robot mode and opens fire on Megatron, then is attacked by the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] and retaliates by blasting [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] with his "Blaze Baster" attack. Prime transforms into [[Super Mode]] and holds [[Koji Onishi|Koji]] and [[T-AI]] in his hand, while CGI versions of the Autobot Brothers arrive on the scene and transform. [[Team Bullet Train]] are shown driving along, and the CGI Megatron transforms into robot mode, before the sequence ends on a group shot of Prime, the Autobot Brothers and Team Bullet Train standing on a starfield, with Super Mode Prime superimposed on the background.

{{note|A slightly modified version of this opening was introduced with "[[Sideburn's Obsession]]" that [[:File:Carrobots cgi intromod.jpg|replaced the cel-animated renditions of Team Bullet Train]] towards the end of the sequence with CGI counterparts.}}
{{-}}

==Unicron Trilogy (English)==
===''Armada''===
{{bigquote|The war between the Autobots and the Decepticons rages on as they struggle to retrieve the prized Mini-Cons. There are new and more powerful Mini-Cons surfacing every day. If the Decepticons prove victorious, then Megatron and his enslaved Mini-Cons will control the universe. The Earth's only chance for a peaceful cosmos is for Optimus Prime and the Autobots to destroy their enemy and free all Mini-Cons. Now, get ready for a new battle...|The narrator|[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'s opening credits}}
:''The footage used in the ''Armada'' intro is pulled entirely from the first few minutes of the series premiere episode, "[[First Encounter]]."''
The intro shows the audience a battle in space between the Autobots and the Decepticons until the [[Exodus (Armada)|ship]] containing the [[Mini-Con]]s enters a [[space bridge]]. On the other side, the ship crash-lands on the [[Moon (moon)|moon]], sending a part of the ship hurtling towards prehistoric [[Earth]]. The ship part ejects the Mini-Cons all across the globe before crash-landing into the planet. An aerial time-lapse shot of the surface shows the environment around the piece changing over the years before the camera pans out to a shot of the Earth from space. The Autobot logo appears, ending the intro.

The show primarily used the narration quoted above, but the exact phrasing would sometimes change between episodes, with some such as "[[Decisive Battle]]" having their own specific narration. Some episodes also featured accompanying sound effects for the action on-screen, whereas most were silent aside from the theme song and narration. In some early episodes, the show used an alternate opening with the same footage but a different narration by [[Rad White]], again with some minor variances in verbiage between episodes:
{{bigquote|Hi! My name's Rad, and I want to tell you about the Transformers: two races of mechanical beings from another world! There's the Autobots, the good guys, and then the Decepticons, a bunch of greedy bullies. They're all fighting over a smaller race of robots called the Mini-Cons. The Mini-Cons crash-landed on Earth thousands of years ago, and they're scattered all over the planet! The Decepticons want to enslave them and use them to increase their power, but the Autobots will put a stop to ''that'' evil plan!|[[Rad White]]| The alternate intro}}

===''Armada: The Unicron Battles''===
{{bigquote|The battlefield has shifted! The Autobots and Decepticons are racing through space to face the greatest evil the Transformers have ever encountered. They have entered... The Unicron Battles!|The narrator|''The Unicron Battles'' opening credits}}
:''Beginning with the episode "[[Depart]]," this title sequence promoted the [[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Unicron Battles]] subline imprint in late 2003. The opening blends footage from the first Japanese intro and a few later episodes of the series.''
Super mode [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] fires a Maximum Blast from his rifle, followed by the Autobot and Decepticon [[insignia]]s turning into Optimus and [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], respectively. Optimus knocks the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] out of Megatron's hands, and [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]] catches it and twirls it around as [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] attacks him. As the Autobots and Decepticons float through space towards [[Unicron]], Megatron is reformatted into Galvatron, while Starscream and Hot Shot receive new armor. Galvatron attacks Optimus with the Star Saber, but Optimus blocks the attack with his hand. Jet Optimus then flies at the screen as Megatron emerges from the ground. A rainbow-colored rain falls on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] as Optimus flies upward into a fire. The intro ends as the title logo appears.

The episode "[[Puppet]]" features a unique opening narration different from the one quoted above, though the footage remains the same.

===''Energon''===
:''Like ''Armada'', the ''Energon'' intro exclusively uses footage from the show's first few episodes.''
The title kicks off with a cloud of energy that disappears, and super mode Optimus Prime unleashes an Energon Blast, destroying a swarm of [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcons]]. Hot Shot then prepares to [[Powerlinx]] with someone as [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] transforms into [[robot mode]] and fires on a group of Terrorcons attacking an [[Energon tower (technology)|energon tower]]. [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] rushes towards an enemy. Then the scene jumps to Optimus, Hot Shot, Inferno, Ironhide, and [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] all lined up, and they each transform one by one. As a [[Battle Ravage]] Terrorcon lands on an energon tower, Optimus and company travel through a space bridge. Inferno then combines with Hot Shot, forming the lower torso. Super Optimus then poses, and the title appears before the screen fades to black.

===''Cybertron''===
{{bigquote|Our worlds are in danger! To save them and the galaxy, we ''must'' find the four Cyber Planet Keys before the Decepticons can use them for evil. ''It'' is our ''mission.'' Hot Shot! Jetfire! Vector Prime! Landmine! Scattorshot! Optimus Prime! Transform and roll out!|Optimus Prime|''Cybertron'' opening credits}}
:''Like its predecessors, the ''Cybertron'' intro primarily uses reused footage from the first handful of episodes, but with additional visual effects on top for flavor.''
The intro starts out with a shot of the [[Unicron Singularity|Black Hole]], followed by images of [[Earth]], [[Velocitron]], [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Animatron]], [[Gigantion]], and Cybertron. Images of the four [[Cyber Planet Key]]s, followed by a river of lava erupting. Megatron and Starscream appear in the [[fire dimension]] as the Black Hole destroys [[Moriturus|a planet]]. Images of Hot Shot, Jetfire, [[Vector Prime]], [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]], and [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] are shown before the images are replaced by clips of the aforementioned characters transforming into [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].

On Velocitron, [[Override (Cybertron)|Override]] transforms and skids to a halt. Hot Shot transforms into car mode as Starscream collides with Jetfire. [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] and [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]] change into robot mode as Optimus fires his blaster. Brief shots of Hot Shot, Landmine, Scattershot, [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]], Vector, and Optimus are shown, followed by Optimus and Megatron locking fists, causing the ground to quake. Vector Prime assumes robot mode, and the title logo appears, ending the intro.

==Unicron Trilogy (Japanese)==
===''Legends of the Microns''===
Except for the series premiere episode, "First Encounter," all the other episodes feature narration from Optimus Prime, giving a general rundown of recent events, adding more details as the show progresses.

====Title sequence #1====
[[File:Dream Again.JPG|thumb|upright=1.4]]
:'''Director:''' [[Munetaka Abe]]
:'''Key animation:''' Munetaka Abe, Masami Nagata, Osamu Sato, Takashi Sano, [[Masahiro Yamane]] (uncredited)
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Raretrick]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformer: Dream Again|TRANSFORMER -Dream Again-]]" by [[Psychic Lover]]''
{{bigquote|The never-ending battle continues from the mechanical planet Cybertron. Now one of the spaceships has departed. For beyond time and space the Mini-Cons arrive... And now...|Optimus Prime|''Legends of the Microns''{{'}} opening credits}}
:''From "[[Metamorphosis (Armada)|Metamorphosis]]" to "[[Comrade]]," the opening narration footage used before the song is identical to Armada's''

{{bigquote|The heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons... Have waged an endless Transformers battle between good and evil since ancient times. Now, their battle continues on Earth. Their objective is to obtain the legendary Mini-Cons. What will happen as a result of this battle?|Optimus Prime|The first alternate intro}}
:''From "[[Soldier (episode)|Soldier]]" to "[[Prehistory]]," Optimus provides the above opening narration''
The opening footage is unchanged until prehistoric Earth appears beyond the Moon's horizon, after which Optimus transforms into his Super Mode; part of the ''Exodus'' scatters the Mini-Cons all over the world, and [[Sureshock (Armada)|Sureshock]] and [[Grindor (Armada)|Grindor]] awakening from stasis as shown in "Metamorphosis." Then a close-up of Super Optimus's chest Autobot symbol; a shot of Red Alert, Super Optimus, and Hot Shot in the field from the episode's ending scene before the camera pans out to the shot showing the Earth from space. Finally, the Autobot logo appears, ending the narration before the song plays.

{{bigquote|Evolution! This refers to how the Transformers ''evolve'' due to the power of the Mini-Cons. However, the Mini-Cons' power is so potent that even the slightest misuse could destroy a civilization. Seeking to seize every Mini-Con, is the Decepticons' Emperor of Destruction, Megatron! Fighting against him, is the Autobots' Supreme Commander, Optimus Prime! Will this result in him being able to protect them?|Optimus Prime|The second alternate intro}}
:''From "[[Swoop (episode)|Swoop]]" to "[[Linkup]]," Optimus provides the third narration''
Hot Shot fires his Giant Bazooka; stock animation of Smokescreen's first transformation into robot mode from "[[Underground (episode)|Underground]]," and the Street Action Mini-Cons merge into Perceptor. A shot of a Mini-Con panel that ripples like water. Then shots from "[[Ruin]]": the [[Air Defense Mini-Con Team (Armada)|Air Defense Mini-Con Team]] appears over an ancient city in the background; orange columns of light burst from parts of the Earth seen from space, and the Star Saber and [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom Shield]] appear before a dark red and black sky with floating embers. The ''Exodus'' gets bombarded; the ''Hyperion'' releases attack vessels, and Cybertronian-form Red Alert sits in a cockpit as seen in "Prehistory." Then the stock animation of Megatron Powerlinxing with [[Leader-1 (Armada)|Leader-1]] appears, with that of Super Optimus and Sparkplug Powerlinxing following, and Super Optimus poses, ending the narration.

Flames against a black background appear before a shot of [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Smokescreen (Armada)|Smokescreen]], [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], [[Red Alert (Armada)|Red Alert]], [[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], and [[Blurr (Armada)|Blurr]] moving across a green landscape in their vehicle modes. Another shot of flames with a black background before the title appears. The flames shot repeats and then a shot of [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]], [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]], [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]], and [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Cyclonus]] moving in vehicle mode across a purple landscape in the opposite direction. Then sweeping panning shots toward Optimus and Megatron, who fires a shot from his turret. Optimus transforms in a stock transformation sequence and flies into a fire in the sky, after which the shot pans out to reveal the title. A zoom-in shot toward Cybertron followed by the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team]] against a circuit board background; the Autobot and Decepticon symbols morph into Optimus and Megatron respectively, and quick cuts of Optimus and Megatron about to face off. Optimus blasts the [[Star Saber (Armada)|Star Saber]] out of Megatron's hand; the sword forms, and Hot Shot spins it around. Starscream draws his sword; Cyclonus flies toward Carlos, Rad, and Alexis while they ride their Mini-Cons near [[Mount Astrogate]], and the kids stop in front of [[Fred (Armada)|Fred]] and [[Billy (Armada)|Billy]]. Demolishor and Bonecrusher Powerlinx followed by Cyclonus and Drill Bit. Starscream transforms, and Megatron's stock transformation sequence appears. [[Laserbeak (Armada)|Laserbeak]] flies away from the screen; a shot of the Street Action Mini-Cons and the children, zooming into a close-up of Rad and cutting to the Mini-Cons forming [[Perceptor (Armada)|Perceptor]]. Perceptor speeds toward Megatron, jumping into the air in front of him, Demolishor, and Cyclonus. Then a four-way split-screen with stock sequences of Hot Shot, Optimus, Smokescreen, and Red Alert Powerlinxing with their respective partner Mini-Cons (except Optimus, who links with [[Over-Run (Armada)|Over-Run]], his second partner Mini-Con who was cut from the series). The shot zooms toward Optimus, unleashing a deleted power punch attack unlocked by Over-Run; the Autobot logo appears over the green commercial bumper background, and Super Optimus Powerlinx with [[Sparkplug (Armada)|Sparkplug]] and unleashes his "Maximum Blast." Vehicle mode Optimus, Hot Shot, and Red Alert drive through a forest before appearing in robot mode with Smokescreen atop a cliff. The Decepticon symbol [[Scene transition|transitions]] into the Autobot logo, followed by shots of the kids (Rad, Alexis, Carlos, Fred, and Billy) in their regular clothes before they appear in their orange Autobot [[suit]]s against the Autobot symbol in the green commercial bumper background. Yellow, red, and blue streaks fly against a starry stock background, and Red Alert, Hot Shot, and Jet Optimus fly toward the screen. Megatron bursts out of the Moon's surface and enters vehicle mode. Two shots of the Autobots and Decepticons in vehicle and robot mode in a rocky landscape appear before dissolving to a shot of nearly all the main characters superimposed over a cliff with a starry sky and Cybertron in the background.

====Title sequence #2====
[[File:Koutetsu no Yuuki.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
:'''Director:''' [[Munetaka Abe]], Masami Nagata
:'''Key animation:''' Munetaka Abe, Shigeki Awai, Yutaka Matsubara
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Raretrick]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformers: Kōtetsu no Yūki|Transformers ~Kōtetsu no Yūki~]]" by [[Hideaki Takatori]]''
{{bigquote|The history of the Transformers. This is a history of battles where the evil Decepticon army has waged against the heroic Autobot warriors. However, the battle has changed onward due to the rise of a new type of Transformers, known as the Mini-Cons... Fighting to protect them in hopes of liberating them is Optimus Prime... While Megatron wages battle in the hopes of enslaving them all. As new warriors join the conflict, the battle for the Mini-Cons changes into an entirely new scenario.|Optimus Prime|The third alternate intro}}
:''From "[[Detection]]" to "[[Depart]]," Optimus gives the fourth narration''
The Decepticon and Autobot insignias appear over Cybertron during the war, symbolizing the factions dividing the planet as depicted in "Prehistory." The shot of the Decepticons in vehicle mode on the purple landscape from the first title sequence appears before the pan down to Megatron firing a blast from his tank turret, followed by the first sequence's shot of the Autobots in vehicle mode traveling over a green landscape, and the zoom toward Optimus on the ground. Then two quick shots of Megatron and Optimus; more footage from "Prehistory" plays as the Mini-Con logo appears between the Decepticon and Autobot symbols, followed by silhouetted Mini-Cons. [[Runway (Armada)|Runway]] and [[Jetstorm (Armada)|Jetstorm]] enter vehicle mode, and they join with Sonar, forming the Star Saber in Hot Shot's hand. Next, the Skyboom Shield forms before [[Thrust (Armada)|Thrust]], Jetfire, and Blurr transform. Then Sideways switches to his Decepticon head as shown in "[[Credulous]]," and Jet Optimus poses to the screen, closing Prime's narration.

{{bigquote|Planet Cybertron, the birthplace of the Transformers. Their factions have been battling... And now, they've begun moving from Earth into the vastness of space. The strongest weapons in the universe, the Star Saber, Skyboom Shield, and Requiem Blaster... ...have been obtained by Megatron, who has embarked on a quest to conquer the entire universe. Meanwhile, the Autobots also departed in pursuit of him. But what awaits them now? And what is the destiny of the Mini-Cons? The battles are increasingly becoming more intense!|Optimus Prime|The fourth alternate intro}}
:''From "[[Miracle (episode)|Miracle]]" to the series finale, "[[Mortal Combat]]," Optimus gives his fifth and longest narration''
Shots from "[[Crisis (Armada)|Crisis]]" of Optimus and the Autobots in their base, and Jetfire flying. A close-up of the [[Hydra Cannon]] rising; shots of Megatron, Thrust, Megatron speaking to Starscream on board, and a wide shot from "[[Threaten]]" of the Hydra Cannon rising from the Moon. Next, shots of the Moon; the Mini-Con weapons inside the Hydra Cannon; Optimus and Jetfire avoiding laser fire on the ship, and a close-up of a fanged Megatron. The next three shots show Optimus blocking the Hydra Cannon's blast. Then the ''[[Axalon (Armada)|Axalon]]'' rises out of the water and leaves Earth as seen in "Depart." Then Hot Shot addresses the Mini-Cons beside Side Swipe and Scavenger. The Mini-Con insignia appears, partially obscuring the scene and the following quick shots of space. Then a shot of Cybertron appears, and the narration ends.

The G1-style Transformers title slowly moves into frame over a starry background, which speeds up while panning to the left. Then the title whites out the screen, and the series title appears in its place. Optimus appears over the title, highlighted gold before fading to his standard colors. The other Autobots ([[Scavenger (Armada)|Scavenger]], Hot Shot, Red Alert, [[Side Swipe (Armada)|Side Swipe]], Blurr, and Hoist) appear beside him, initially as silhouettes. The camera speeds through shots of nebulas and galaxies as streaks of light fly toward the screen's center from all directions, followed by Optimus and Jetfire flying above the other Autobots running in space with the Milky Way behind them. The Autobot symbol zooms toward the screen, followed by the show's title. Shots of [[Unicron]]'s planet form maw; Sideways entering vehicle mode; a stock transformation sequence from "[[Desperate]]" of Megatron Powerlixing with Tidal Wave and taking flight, and Blurr, Side Swipe, and Scavenger transforming into their robot modes. The [[Race Mini-Con Team]] starts glowing as seen in "[[Reinforcement]]," transitioning into a three-way split-screen of them forming the Skyboom Shield and the formations of the [[Requiem Blaster (Armada)|Requiem Blaster]] and Star Saber. Then the kids appear in their white spacesuits on a mechanical structure with Perceptor and green streaks flying around them. An explosion goes off on part of Unicron's body as Optimus runs through it toward the screen. Megatron falls back; Optimus and Jetfire combine against a stock footage background, and the screen splits into nine, depicting various action scenes featuring the Transformers. The camera pans out from the [[Matrix of Leadership]], and Jet Optimus flies into the shot. Powerlinxed with Tidal Wave, Megatron flies above Cybertron toward rainbow-colored light beams in the screen's top-right corner. The shot pans around him to reveal Megatron facing Jet Optimus, flying toward the screen. Flames appear in a shot of a starry background with stars speeding away from the screen. The fire covers the screen, which pulls out to reveal Unicron's orange silhouette, followed by a collage of all the main characters with green streaks of light in the night sky over Cybertron.

===''Super Link''===
[[File:Taiyo no Transform.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
====Title sequence #1====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Studio A-CAT]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Taiyō no Transform!!|Taiyō no transform!!]]" by [[Hiroshi Kitadani]]''
[[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]], [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]], and [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] all fly toward the screen in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]]. [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] comes too and transforms. Optimus combines with the [[Prime Force]], and the title appears. [[Alpha Quintesson]] appears and creates the [[Terrorcon (Energon)|Terrorcon]]s. [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]] and Ironhide come running on a field. Kicker then rides his bike, as seen in [[Cybertron City (city)|Cybertron City]]. Then Kicker and [[Misha Miramond]] hold hands against a stock background; they try to kiss but go through each other. [[Strongarm (Energon)|Strongarm]] gives Optimus and Hot Shot the [[Spark of Combination]]; Ironhide shows off his. Stock footage of Hot Shot, Inferno, Ironhide, and Jetfire are shown along with the other humans (Carlos, Rad, Alexis, [[Miranda Jones|Miranda]], [[Brian Jones|Dr. Jones]], and [[Sally Jones|Sally]]). The humans form a circle in a field, and Hot Shot and Inferno [[powerlinx]]. Kicker transforms into his Energon suit before entering Jetfire as they fly toward a ''planet-sized'' [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]]. Optimus, with the Prime Force, enters a sword fight with Megatron. A portrait of all the Transformers is shown.

====Title sequence #2====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Studio A-CAT]]''
:'''Theme song:'''

====Title sequence #3====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[Studio A-CAT]]''
:'''Theme song:'''
{{stub}}

===''Galaxy Force''===
[[File:Kimi to Boku no Mirai.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
====Title sequence #1====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[GONZO]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Call You... Kimi to Boku no Mirai|CALL YOU... Kimi to Boku no Mirai]]" by [[Shinji Kakijima]]''
:From "[[Fallen (episode)|Fallen]]" to "[[Detour (episode)|Detour]]"
The camera zooms into a box of light, going past Cybertron, Earth, [[Velocitron]], [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Animatron]], and [[Gigantion]], and the title appears. Then the camera pans down to Earth, where [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] races a motorcycle before accepting a water bottle. Then there are two shots of [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]]: her yelling at the screen and turning toward the screen wearing pigtails. Then [[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] and [[Six-Speed (Cybertron)|Six-Speed]] huddle around a laughing [[Bud Hansen|Bud]], followed by Bud talking and presenting a glass of water. Next, Vector Prime activates his personal Cyber Key. Shots of Starscream and Megatron in the [[fire dimension]]; Vector Prime's first appearance with the Recon Mini-Con Team; Jetfire, Landmine, Hot Shot, Scattershot, and Overhaul. Then Optimus orders Scattershot to fire the Cyber Cannon. Next are shots of the black hole; stock footage of Optimus entering robot mode; Optimus fighting; Vector Prime descending with [[Rhisling]]; Overhaul coming at the screen; Landmine fighting Starscream, and Megatron and Optimus clashing fists. Then stock footage of Megatron transforming into robot mode and Optimus entering Super Mode.

====Title sequence #2====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[GONZO]]''
:From "[[Savage]]" to"[[Champion]]"
While the beginning is identical to the first opening, using footage from the show itself, the first new sequence has a superimposed Coby, Lori, and Bud fade in and out over Earth, seen from space one after the other. Next are shots of Vector Prime; Coby, Lori, and Bud striking poses and the reused scene of Optimus ordering the Cyber Cannon's firing from the first opening. Then what plays is a montage of scenes and shots from most episodes shown up to that point (with a few future peeks).

====Title sequence #3====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[GONZO]]''
:From "[[Ice]]" to "[[Honor]]"
This opening sequence adds new animation to accompany the clips and stock footage that formed the previous two. The Autobot scene transition logo appears, and the camera zooms into it, going past Cybertron, Earth, Velocitron, Animatron, and Gigantion, and the title appears. Then a bald eagle flies over Coby, Bud, and Lori in a field. After a close ground-level shot of them, Lori dances down a street and poses in front of a dress shop, and Coby works on a bike before Bud jumps on his back, and Coby chases him while their family watches. Then Super Mode Optimus uses the Autobot Cyber Key to unleash a double cannon blast, like in "[[Hidden]]." Next, superimposed images of Coby, Bud, and Lori appear over a shot of Earth seen from space. Then Lori and Coby stand in a field back-to-back before holding hands (the first real hint at the romance that will eventually blossom between them) when Bud jumps into the shot and pulls a Naruto-style jutsu pose that turns everyone chibi. At this point, the chibi [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] appear one after another. Then Override speeds down a race track and passes other Transformers in vehicle mode, followed by shots of Override, Scattershot, and Red Alert play before Hot Shot enters robot mode. Then stock footage of Optimus entering Savage Claw Mode, Vector Prime, Jetfire, [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]], [[Snarl (Cybertron)|Snarl]], [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]], [[Scourge (Cybertron)|Scourge]], Sideways, [[Ransack (Cybertron)|Ransack]], [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|Crumplezone]], Starscream, and Megatron. Finally, Optimus and Megatron clash fists with Earth in the background before the kids and Autobots gather in front of the same background.

====Title sequence #4====
[[File:Ignition.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
:'''Animation:''' ''[[GONZO]]''
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Ignition!|IGNITION!]]" by [[CHINO]]''
:From "[[Critical]]" to "[[Family]]"
The opening remains almost entirely composed of clips from the show (taken almost exclusively from the preceding four episodes, plus a tantalizing glimpse of the Cybertron Defense Team's birth from "Critical" itself). It features no new animation, save for reusing the new scenes created for the show's third opening.

====Title sequence #5====
:'''Animation:''' ''[[GONZO]]''
:From "[[Titans]]" to "[[Beginning]]"
Compared to the prior four, this opening stands out as it's ''finally'' composed almost entirely of ''new'' footage versus the heavy use of clips and stock footage seen in the other openings. A little stock footage appears (Prime and Wing Saber's Sonic Wing Mode combination, Dark Claw Mode and Sonic Wing Mode's "super moves"), while unique footage includes: Override outracing all the other Autobots on a track; the kids watching as the Autobots swoop down out of the air; a long pan of the assembled Autobot forces; individual shots of the planet leaders standing in front of their worlds (with [[Metroplex (Cybertron)|Metroplex]] temporarily blacked out), with Sideways and Soundwave appearing in front of [[Planet X (Cybertron)|Planet X]]; Starscream standing among flames; the kids looking wistfully over different vistas of nature; [[Mike Franklin|Colonel Franklin]] and [[Lucy Suzuki]] at an Air Force base at sunset on opposite sides of a fence, their backs to each other; the four Cyber Planet Keys swirling toward Primus; Leobreaker and Scourge battling; Jetfire and Thundercracker fighting in mid-air, Thunderblast and Wing Saber engaging in a firefight; and the assembled Autobots and Decepticons staring each other down on the [[Moon (moon)|Moon]].

==''Animated''==
===English version===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Studio 4°C]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Andy Sturmer]] and [[Sebastian Evans II]]
:''This title sequence combines animation originally commissioned for promotional purposes with clips from the first few episodes of the series. The promotional animation (the "Mighty Orbots" tunnel sequence) was screened at conventions and released on the DVD packaged with the Optimus Prime and Megatron "The Battle Begins" two-pack.''

[[File:BumblebeeAnimatedUSTitleSequence01.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]

The Autobot insignia falls through a computer-generated grid, followed by the title "Transformers Animated". The "camera" then travels down a tunnel, first passing [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]], standing with his arms folded (followed by clips of him transforming and fighting). Next we pass [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], who is surprised to see the ground-level camera zooming toward his legs (followed by clips of him transforming and fighting). Passing under Ratchet's crotch, we stumble upon [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]], who is sitting on the ground, drinking and then eating a whole barrel of [[oil]] (followed by clips of him transforming and fighting). Further down the tunnel we spot [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]], clinging to a wall. Prowl leaps down with a ninja-flip and lands in a stylish pose (followed by clips of him transforming and fighting). [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] then comes speeding by in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], transforms and dangles in midair (followed by clips of him transforming and fighting). The Decepticon insignia then shatters through a computer-generated grid, leading to clips of [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]], [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]], [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]], [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] and [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] transforming and fighting. We return to the computer-generated grid where now all the Autobots are making macho poses, ending with a group shot and the title logo.

Starting with "[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]]", extra sound effects are added where appropriate, such as squealing tires, lightning "shocks", glass shattering, and the like.

:''The uncut promotional footage of the tunnel sequence ends with the reveal that the "cameraman" zooming past everybody is actually [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] on a tricycle. She plants her [[AllSpark Key|key]] in the trike, turning it into a jetpack and proceeds to disappear down the end of the tunnel.''
{{-}}

===Japanese version #1===
:'''Director:''' Toru Yoshida
:'''Animation Director:''' [[Munetaka Abe]]
:'''Key animation:''' Toru Yoshida, Munetaka Abe, Yuichi Nakazawa, Toshihiko Araki
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Barnum Studio]]'', ''[[diomedea]]'', ''[[Anime R]]'' (uncredited)
:'''Theme song:''' ''"[[Transformers Evo.|TRANSFORMERS EVO.]]" by [[JAM Project]]''

[[File:TheHoodedClaw01.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.67|I'll get you, Penelope Pitstop!]]

The camera swoops through the depths of space, panning past planet after planet, finally settling on a view of [[Earth]] from space. The spectral form of a [[cloaked mystery villain]] appears over the planet, spreading its arms and then vanishing, leaving the planet surrounded by a glowing red miasma. Bolts of lightning strike the planet, dispelling the glow, and from the bolts the title appears. It moves forward into the camera, and the sun rises over Earth.

[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] (in jet mode) and [[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] fly over an ocean. Tank mode [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] bursts out of the ground, and [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] speeds in front of him. [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] descends into shot in spider mode, supporting by a net of webbing, which she promptly rips through, transforming to [[robot mode]] and landing neatly. The image of Elita-1 is superimposed over her with a bolt of red lightning, and then she gestures, prompting the [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] to burst out of the scenery behind her and charge forward.

[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] and [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] appear side by side in front of [[New York City]]'s Flatiron Building, transform, and drive into the camera. In [[London]], [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] enters stage right and also transforms, driving past [[Elizabeth Tower]], followed by [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and [[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]], who fly alongside him. [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]], [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] and [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] appear one after the other against streaky blue anime speed lines, the shot ending on a close-up of Sentinel as he deploys his battle mask. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] stomps his foot and poses dramatically on a highway, then transforms to truck mode after still shots of the other Autobots appear. The camera pans over the silhouetted form of [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]], only shining a little light on him as it passes over his head, to reveal a teasing glimpse of [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|the Autobot spaceship]].

[[File:Japanese animated intro.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Wildest graduation photo shoot ever.]]

Starscream appears in [[France]] and transforms to robot mode, revealing the [[AllSpark]] fragment in his forehead. He dogfights with Bumblebee (who is using his [[turbo booster]]s) in front of the [[Eiffel Tower]], while Prowl and Lockdown duel close to the {{w|Tsūtenkaku}} tower in Osaka, [[Japan]]. Lugnut fires bullets in front of the [[Russia|Moscow Kremlin]], Bulkhead unleashes his wrecking ball from the Great Wall of [[China]], and Blitzwing flies through the skies of [[Egypt]], firing a volley of ice missiles before switching to tank mode, landing in front of the [[pyramid]]s, and launching a flame blast. This blast, er, apparently makes it to [[Australia]], where it harmlessly bounces off Ironhide's steel skin as he jumps in front of the Sydney Opera House. Arcee and Blackarachnia grapple underwater, as do Ratchet and [[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm]], and then out of a water spout, Starscream's army of [[Starscream clone (Animated)|clones]] emerges. The clones fly into the sky in jet mode, then descend back into shot in robot mode, over a red sky with a Decepticon symbol in it, with [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] getting a close-up. The male clones gesture dramatically as the towering form of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] mode appears, and Slipstream lands on his shoulder. Megatron's face fills the screen, and red lightning from his eyes lances out, striking the assembled [[Elite Guard]] in front of the [[Washington, D.C.|Washington Monument]]. With the White House in the background, Optimus Prime blocks the blast with his hand, and then dons his battle mask. Ultra Magnus activates his [[Magnus Hammer]], creating a surge of energy that surrounds Optimus. [[burning spirit|Glowing with blue energy]], Optimus flies into the sky and collides with the silhouetted, glowing form of Megatron (now in his Earth body). The resultant flash of light fills the screen, and the sequence ends with a still shot of the assembled Autobots (now including [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]]) standing on a different version of the logo.

===Japanese version #2===
[[File:Animated j op2.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.4|Maybe the other Blackout is [[Grinder|''Animated'' Grindor]]!]]
Beginning with "[[The Return of the Headmaster|Headmaster, Once Again!]]", the Japanese opening sequence was modified, replacing the scene of Cybertronian mode Megatron and the Starscream clones with new footage and using the second half of the song. This new clip shows Megatron in his helicopter alternate mode, as one after the other, [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]], Electrostatic Soundwave, and [[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] jump into and out of the shot. Soundwave appears from the left in car mode, transforms, and fires some sonic pulses from his shoulder speakers; Electrostatic Soundwave appears from the right, transforms to robot mode, and clutches guitar mode [[Laserbeak (Animated)|Laserbeak]]; and Swindle appears in the center from below the shot, transforms to robot mode, and deploys all his weapons and gadgets. Swindle's head fills the screen as he leaps into the camera, and when he has passed out of view, Megatron has transformed to robot mode, with two rather diminutive Cybertron mode [[Blackout (Animated)|Blackouts]] flanking him. The Blackouts transform as the camera swoops in on Megatron's face, and red lightning bursts from his eyes, linking the new sequence up to the remainder of the original.
{{-}}

==''Cyber Missions''==
{{stub}}

==''Prime''==
===English version #1===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
:'''Theme by:''' [[Brian Tyler]]
[[File:PrimeTS-Autobots.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Light of the Moon.]]
Introduced in the 2011 episode "[[Masters & Students]]", the ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' opening sequence shows [[Team Prime]] driving down a speedway at night before [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] transforms and is flanked by his four teammates in [[robot mode]]. It quickly fades to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One]] and [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] jumping into a transforming [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] getting inside [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Jack Darby|Jack]] jumping onto [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] and driving through the [[GroundBridge]]. [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] is then seen on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] firing his [[fusion cannon]], while [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] transforms to jet mode and fires at Optimus, who runs past the explosion while firing his [[ion blaster]] as Megatron attacks him with his fusion cannon. Optimus and Megatron then greet each other with a punch that flashes into the title card.

===English version #2===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
:'''Theme by:''' [[Brian Tyler]]
Introduced in the 2013 episode "[[Project Predacon]]", the altered ''Prime'' opening shows the [[Predacon (Prime)|Predacon]] symbol and then [[Predaking (Prime)|Predaking]] breathing fire at [[Team Prime]], who drive away on the speedway. Optimus and Bumblebee's redesigns are altered accordingly for the subsequent identical shots of Team Prime transforming and heading for the GroundBridge, though [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]], [[Smokescreen (Prime)|Smokescreen]] and [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] have not been included. Megatron fires his fusion cannon, now accompanied by Starscream and [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], while Predaking fires on Optimus and swoops to greet his punch with a bite.
{{-}}

===Japanese version #1===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
:'''Theme song:''' "[[FEELING]]" by [[BIGBANG]]

The intro begins with the members of Team Prime (with [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] replacing [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]]) driving through various locations before transitioning to a shot of the team driving through a space bridge with the words "ROBOTS IN DISGUISE" appearing over the action, before absorbing on themselves. The intro then uses several clips to showcase [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]], [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]], [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]], Bulkhead, and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] before cutting to a shot of Cybertron back in the Golden Age. The Autobot symbol appears and switches to the Decepticon symbol, cutting to clips showcasing [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], and [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]]; when each character is introduced, their name and an image of them is showcased over the action. This is utilized in every intro from here, onwards.

The camera then cuts to a shot of one of Optimus' eyes opening with the words "MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE" being superimposed over it. Inside a Decepticon mine, the Autobots prepare to open fire on the Decepticon before cutting to an image of the Great War. On Cybertron, Starscream fires at Optimus, who runs past the explosion while firing his [[ion blaster]] as Megatron attacks him with his fusion cannon. Optimus and Megatron then greet each other with a punch that flashes onto a highway where the Autobots are driving until Optimus transforms and is flanked by his teammates as the title appears. The intro ends with another shot of Cybertron back in the Golden Age.
{{-}}

===Japanese version #2===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
:'''Theme song:''' "[[TRANSFORMERZ]]" by [[m-flo]]

Introduced in [[Out of His Head|Counterattack Transformation! The Resurrection of Megatron]], this intro begins with Team Prime and Megatron's crew driving/flying through various locations, followed by a montage of the Autobots transforming to robot mode in various locations. This is then followed by another montage showcasing Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, and Arcee. The Autobot logo appears and switches to the Decepticon symbol to showcase Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, [[Breakdown (WFC)|Breakdown]] and [[Knock Out (Prime)|Knock Out]], and [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]. Megatron then fires at the camera, Bulkhead and Breakdown duel in the Arctic, the kids flee from [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcon]] [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], Airachnid and Arcee duel by the light of the moon in a construction yard, Team Prime evades missile fire in vehicle mode, a Dark Energon-infused Megatron celebrates the Dark Energon-spewing volcano erupting, Optimus and Megatron each clock each other in the face with their punches, [[Unicron]]'s eyes light up from inside the Dark Energon volcano, Optimus and Megatron fight side by side in Unicron's body, and Team Prime (minus Ratchet) transform into robot mode and grind to a halt as a gigantic Unicron emerges in front of them as the title card appears. The camera then zooms through the galaxies before stopping at a shot of the now-dead [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], ending the intro.
{{-}}

===Japanese version #3===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
:'''Theme song:''' "TRANSFORMERZ (version 2.0)" by m-flo

Introduced in [[Orion Pax, Part 1|Forgotten Transformation! Optimus Has Become a Decepticon]], this intro begins with Team Prime, Wheeljack, and the Decepticons (minus [[Dreadwing (Prime)|Dreadwing]], but adding in some [[Insecticon (WFC)|Insecticons]] and [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]]) driving/flying through various locations (with Optimus Prime doing an introduction). A montage is then shown of Team Prime, Megatron, and [[Jack Darby]], travelling through Ground Bridges, the Autobots firing at enemies, [[Nemesis Prime (Prime)|Nemesis Prime]] firing at the camera, Optimus donning his mouthplate before preparing to open fire on an enemy with Arcee and Bumblebee, Starscream's clones emerging from their stasis pods, Wheeljack facing Dreadwing, an Insecticon awakening inside its stasis pod, Soundwave sending Arcee through a Space Bridge, Bulkhead battling Breakdown, Bumblebee attacking an Insecticon, [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] battling [[Silas]], and Megatron smashing through Unicron's head. Nemesis Prime assumes robot mode, Silas sits in his control chair, Optimus prepares to unleash the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]] onto Unicron as a Unicron-controlled Megatron prepares to fire on him, brief clips of the kids are shown, and Agent Fowler salutes Jack before the latter heads through a Ground Bridge.

The camera then starts up another group of clips showcasing the members of Team Prime, adding in Wheeljack (despite him not being a team member). The Autobot symbol appears and switches to the Decepticon symbol to start another montage of the main Decepticons, adding Dreadwing to the mix. Jack watches [[Vector Sigma]] flare to life and Team Prime stands in front of a Ground Bridge as the title appears. A brief shot of Optimus is shown and the intro ends with a shot of the Autobot symbol on the floor of the Autobot base.
{{-}}

===Japanese version #4===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
:'''Theme song:''' "TRANSFORMERZ (version 2.0)" by m-flo

Introduced in [[Triage (episode)|Sonic Transformation! Ratchet's Recipe]], this intro begins with Team Prime (now with Smokescreen), Wheeljack, the Decepticons (minus Airachnid), Cylas, a group of Vehicons, and [[Hardshell]] driving/flying through various locations (with Ratchet doing an introduction). Arcee, Smokescreen, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee watch the [[Omega Lock]] flare to life, Team Prime (minus Ratchet) emerges from a Ground Bridge and defends the Omega Lock (with Optimus and Arcee using the [[Star Saber (Prima)|Star Saber]] and [[Apex Armor (Prime)|Apex Armor]], respectively), Megatron commands his new armada, Starscream dons the Apex Armor, Dreadwing stands on the deck of the ''[[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]]'' in the pouring rain, screaming, a swarm of Insecticons attacks the camera, Cylas rolls down the window of his vehicle mode to address a US officer, Cylas shows off his right eye (no longer covered up by an eye-patch), Wheeljack knocks Soundwave in the face with his head, Bulkhead attacks Hardshell, [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] prepares to fire his arm cannon, Arcee struggles against an enemy, Optimus jumps at the camera, Miko talks with Wheeljack inside the ''[[Jackhammer (Prime)|Jackhammer]]'', Arcee and Miko gaze at each other by the sunset, Arcee and Cliffjumper grab hands, Smokescreen shakes Optimus' hand, Smokescreen and Bulkhead do a hi-five, the kids and Agent Fowler celebrate, Optimus uses the Star Saber for the first time, and Ratchet watches Optimus, Bumblebee, Arcee, and Bulkhead transform and drive into the Ground Bridge (a sequence occasionally interrupted by brief shots of Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Arcee with [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]], [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]], and Jack).

Another montage ensues to showcase the Autobots, with Smokescreen being added to the mix. As Megatron utilizes the [[Dark Star Saber]] for the first time, the Autobot symbol appears and switches to the Decepticon symbol to showcase Megatron, Starscream, Soundwave, Knock Out, and Dreadwing. Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Arcee, and Smokescreen emerge from a storage unit in the Autobot base, each carrying a previously uncovered relic, (a scene briefly interrupted by clips of Optimus staring at the Star Saber, Megatron slashing the Dark Star Saber at the camera, and the two battling each other with their respective weapons. Optimus then runs at the camera with the Star Saber in hand and utilizes it as the title appears, and Optimus stares at a glowing object, ending the intro.
{{-}}

==''Rescue Bots''==
===Season 1===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Atomic Cartoons]]''
:'''Theme by:''' [[Starr Parodi]] and [[Jeff Eden Fair]] (music); [[Nicole Dubuc]] (lyrics); [[Josh Ramsay]] (vocals)
[[File:Rescue Bots cartoon title screen.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4]]
The [[Rescue Bot]]s' ship flies through space with the crew in tubes, before landing on Earth and its crew disembarking. On [[Griffin Rock]], [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] talks to them over the monitor. The Burns family stands ready. The Rescue Bots work with the Burns family—[[Blades (RB)|Blades]] shakes [[Cody Burns|Cody]]'s hand, [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]] sprays water with [[Kade Burns|Kade]], [[Charlie Burns]] presents the Rescue Bots and their partners at the dedication. [[Boulder]] scans his vehicle mode. The Rescue Bots roll out as Cody observes on the monitors. [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] dodges light fixtures, transforms and jumps over the [[robo-landscaper]]. Cody stands in front of the four Rescue Bots, Boulder uses his seismic sensors, Heatwave and Blades crash through things. The Rescue Bots transform in four-way split-screen. The main cast stand in front of the ''Rescue Bots'' logo before fading to just show the logo and main credits.
{{-}}

===Season 2 and 3===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''Atomic Cartoons/[[Vision Animation]]''
:'''Theme by:''' [[Starr Parodi]] and [[Jeff Eden Fair]] (music); [[Nicole Dubuc]] (lyrics); [[Josh Ramsay]] (vocals)
Most of the animation is the same, the only changes being the reanimated deployment scene, the screen displays for Heatwave, Chase and Blades, and Cody showing the bots around in the forest during the day. Plus, Boulder now blocks falling rocks with his scoop while Blades carries a jail cell with [[Evan]] and [[Miles]], the last change being the delay of the stock footage.
{{-}}

===Season 4===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''Atomic Cartoons/Vision Animation/[[DHX Media]]/[[Top Draw Animation]]''
:'''Theme by:''' [[Starr Parodi]] and [[Jeff Eden Fair]] (music); [[Nicole Dubuc]] (lyrics); [[Josh Ramsay]] (vocals)
The animation was heavily reworked, Doc Greene and Anna walking Cece in a stroller, and 2 lad pioneers on the other side, plus Mr. Harrison and his helipack. Blades and young Cody shaking hands was replaced by older Cody getting pounced on by Servo, and Boulder's scanning and transformation scenes are now of his dino mode. The deployment scene of the last version was now of the team racing down the track with Blurr, Slavage and Bumblebee, and the command center scene has Boulder in Heatwave's old spot, and Heatwave's boat mode rushing towards a pier fire on the main monitor. Older Cody has also been added. Older Cody now shows the bots around a warehouse, and Dani is on Blades' skid, plus High Tide's megabot transformation. Blurr and Salvage were added to the title card alongside Cody and Frankie's updated models.
{{-}}

==''Triple Combination: Transformers Go!''==
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Tatsunoko Production]]'', ''[[Shirogumi]]''
:'''Theme:''' "[[TRANSFORMERS-Go!]]" by [[Daiki Ise]]
{{stub}}

==''Q-Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''==
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[DLE]]''
:'''Theme:''' "[[Physical]]" by [[OLDCODEX]]
{{stub}}
This intro seemingly has nothing in common with the show itself. It uses cgi animation rather than traditional like the actual show. It begins with close up shots of the main cast's alt modes before cutting to the logo. It then shows each transformer turning into their robot mode before cutting to bumblebee skidding on the road mid-transformation and shooting an off-screen Decepticon (presumably). Optimus and Bumblebee then participate in an on-wheels battle with lockdown which then cuts to a shot of optimus transforming into his robot mode. It then smash cuts to the rest of the main cast transforming with one final shot of optimus fighting lockdown. He then drives away and it cuts to a final total sequence of the main cast and an ominous shot of Megatron.

==''Robots in Disguise'' (2015)==
===Season 1 (short version)===
===Season 1 (long version)===
===Season 2-3===
===''Transformers Adventure''===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]'' (show animation), ''[[LandQ Studio]]'' (new animation)
:'''Key animation:''' Jun'ichirō Hashiguchi, Ryūta Nakahara, Yōsuke Kikuchi
:'''Theme:''' "[[Save the Future!!]]" by [[Mitsuhiro Oikawa]]

===''Transformers Adventure -Prime of Micron-''===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]'', ''[[LandQ Studio]]''
:'''Theme:''' "[[Save the Future!!]]" by [[Mitsuhiro Oikawa]]
{{stub}}

==''Prime Wars Trilogy''==
===''Combiner Wars''===
===''Titans Return''===
===''Power of the Primes''===
{{stub}}

==''Cyberverse''==
===Chapter One===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]'', ''[[Xentrix Studios]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Max Repka]] and [[Toonocracy LLC]]

[[File:Cyberverse-Intro-Main3.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|''Ace Attorney'' called. They want their close-up speed lines back.]]
[[Bumblebee (Cyberverse)|Bumblebee]] jumps in from the right side of the screen, striking a pose as he lands. [[Windblade (Cyberverse)|Windblade]] is superimposed over him in the same pose, activating her sword before charging towards the camera. She swings her sword, which transitions into [[Optimus Prime (Cyberverse)|Optimus Prime]], who in turn strikes several action poses of his own before zooming in on his head facing the right side of the screen, as a frame of [[Megatron (Cyberverse)|Megatron's]] head pans in from the right to face him. The [[AllSpark]] appears between them and bursts open, obscuring the two bots with light as it glows. The AllSpark expands to take up the screen before the camera zooms out to reveal an active [[space bridge]], from which two [[Seeker (Cyberverse)|Seekers]] emerge. The camera pans down towards the hexagonal pattern of the ground as images of [[Grimlock (Cyberverse)|Grimlock]], [[Maccadam]], [[Chromia (Cyberverse)|Chromia]] and [[Starscream (Cyberverse)|Starscream]] float past, the latter growing to take up the whole screen. Starscream's image crossfades to Bumblebee, Windblade and Optimus sequentially sliding into frame from the left before transforming to vehicle mode and driving away. Optimus's transformation transitions into a sequence of himself and [[Prowl (Cyberverse)|Prowl]] driving towards the camera, flanked by [[Wheeljack (Cyberverse)|Wheeljack]] and Chromia running alongside them and [[Hot Rod (Cyberverse)|Hot Rod]] and Bumblebee driving behind. As he approaches the camera, Bumblebee transforms back to robot mode, leaping into the air and swiping at the screen with his stinger, flashing to a shot of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] floating in space that gradually grows larger as the series logo appears, accompanied by a deep voice singing "More than meets the eye!"

The Japanese broadcast's intro is basically identical, though a different character each episode provides narration over the whole sequence to excite the kids watching. The English logo has also been replaced with its Japanese counterpart, and the "More than meets the eye" voice at the end has been removed, presumably because the character is still talking over it. Similarly, most other languages use the same intro, but with a narrator announcing the show's title at the end.

===Chapter Two===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]'', ''[[Xentrix Studios]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Max Repka]] and [[Toonocracy LLC]]

[[File:Cyberverse-Intro-S2.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|left|Practically all that's missing is "Go Go [[Power Rangers]]" blaring in the background.]]
The sequence is identical up to the point where the AllSpark bursts open. As the light fades, Starscream appears from below and grins as his [[spark armor]] forms around him. The camera pans away as [[Cheetor (Cyberverse)|Cheetor]], Grimlock, Hot Rod, Wheeljack, and [[Arcee (Cyberverse)|Arcee]] each move into frame and strike a heroic pose before the shot is again engulfed in white light. The scene suddenly cuts to the Autobots driving towards the camera, and the rest of the intro continues as normal.

===Chapter Three===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]'', ''[[Xentrix Studios]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Max Repka]] and [[Toonocracy LLC]]

[[File:Cyberverse Intro S3.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|right|In their freetime, Autobots, Decepticons and Quintessons alike love to pose in front of a ''{{w|Beat Saber}}'' level.]]
Like the previous intro, the sequence is identical until the AllSpark bursts open. It then cuts to a [[Quintesson]] [[Prosecutor (Cyberverse)|Prosecutor]] appearing from the bottom of the frame, followed in sequence by Megatron, Optimus, [[Dead End (Cyberverse)|Dead End]], Hot Rod in his Stealth Force colors, and [[Clobber (Cyberverse)|Clobber]]. The five Cybertronians strike battle poses as they appear, while the Quintesson's eye glows red, the light engulfing the screen. The scene fades to the profile shot of Optimus, Bumblebee and Windblade from the first intro, and it continues as per usual.

Starting with "[[The Scientist]]" to the season finale, "[[The Other One]]", the Quintesson snarls when it appears. Early broadcasts of Chapter Three aired in the United Kingdom concluded the title sequence with the standard "Transformers: Cyberverse" title card also used on Chapters One and Two, but later episodes and the American releases of the season replaced this with the new, rebranded '''"Transformers: Bumblebee Cyberverse Adventures"''' title card, with Bumblebee popping out from behind the logo. This new title card would remain in use through Season 4.

===The Immobilizers===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]'', ''[[Xentrix Studios]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Max Repka]] and [[Toonocracy LLC]]

The sequence is identical to the Chapter One intro up to the point where images of other characters appear, with Starscream's head being replaced by [[Soundwave (Cyberverse)|Soundwave]]. As it zooms in, Soundwave's image crossfades to [[Swoop (Cyberverse)|Swoop]] flying towards the camera in front of Cybertron, then transforming and running along a track leading away from the planet. The camera pans to three identical tracks parallel to Swoop's, with [[Snarl (Cyberverse)|Snarl]], [[Slug (Cyberverse)|Slug]], and [[Sludge (Cyberverse)|Sludge]] in dinosaur mode running along them in tandem. The camera zooms in on Slug as he transforms to dinosaur mode, then spins to show him and Swoop leap offscreen before panning down to show Snarl transform to dinosaur mode. The camera spins and zooms out to show all four tracks plus a fifth in the center with Grimlock running along it. The [[Dinobot (Cyberverse)|Dinobots]] all converge behind Grimlock as he transforms to dinosaur mode and leaps at the screen, his mouth charging a flame blast. The glow of the charge engulfs the screen and transitions to [[Volcanicus (Cyberverse)|Volcanicus]] standing in silhouette against a fiery backdrop, surrounded by generics. The combiner swings their sword and the flames follow, engulfing the screen in white, which gradually fades to the title card, now with the Cybertron behind it restored to a lively golden hue.

===The Perfect Decepticon===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]'', ''[[Xentrix Studios]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Max Repka]] and [[Toonocracy LLC]]

The sequence starts out identically to that of "The Immobilizers" until the point where Soundwave's head approaches the camera. The sequence crossfades to a side-on shot of Optimus, Bumblebee, and Windblade akin to previous seasons, but this time with Hot Rod, Wheeljack and Clobber in the lineup as well. The Autobots glance at one another and rush to the right, with Optimus's body transitioning the shot to a Decepticon equivalent consisting of Soundwave, [[Shadow Striker (Cyberverse)|Shadow Striker]], [[Alpha Strike]], [[Lockdown (Cyberverse)|Lockdown]], Dead End, and [[Wildwheel (Cyberverse)|Wildwheel]], who rush to the left. The two groups meet in the middle before charging towards the screen together. Cut to a behind-the-back shot of them running before zooming forward, showing a group of [[Decepticon supersoldier]]s charging at them, and one of them punches the camera, causing the screen to go black. When the footage returns, Windblade is flying away from the camera and firing at two supersoldiers, who stand before a mound of Transformer corpses, including Soundwave, Wheeljack, and Bumblebee. Windblade swerves away and the camera pans up past the bodies to the top of the cliff behind them. At the top, [[Megatron X (Cyberverse)|Megatron X]] stands facing away, turning to glance towards the camera as it zooms in on his eye. The screen is engulfed in red, which fades into the title card.

==''Rescue Bots Academy''==
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Doug Califano]] (music); [[Zach Allen]] (vocals)

[[File:RBA-Intro-Rollcall.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Picture day at the academy plays it a little more fast and loose.]]
[[Hot Shot (Prime)|Hot Shot]] chases a [[cube (sport)|cube]] across a court, where [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] catches it. Hot Shot heads through a ground bridge portal, and Prime's face transitions to [[Wedge (RBA)|Wedge's]] tablet, who heads off after an okay from [[Heatwave (RB)|Heatwave]]. A car passes by, and [[Chase (RB)|Chase]] overlooks [[Medix (RB)|Medix]] as he notices the alarm while helping [[Tough Luck Chuck]] cross the street. Medix then leaves, and as the simulation ends, the walker Chuck uses disappears, and he falls. A torch then transitions to a wrench then [[Hoist (RB)|Hoist's]] hands gripping a chain, and after he high-fives [[Boulder]], a face closeup has him head off. A quick roll call then shifts to [[Whirl (RBA)|Whirl]] finishing an obstacle course, her performance gaining an thumbs-up from [[Blades (RB)|Blades]]. The recruits head down the tubes, and as Hot Shot's touchdown signals them to head off in vehicle mode, Optimus, [[Grimlock (RID 2015)|Grimlock]], [[Cody Burns]] and the other four rescue bots see them off as Hot Shot's bumper transitions to a black background with the series logo up front.
{{-}}

==''War for Cybertron Trilogy''==
===''Siege''===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
{{stub}}

===''Earthrise''===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
{{stub}}

===''Kingdom''===
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Polygon Pictures]]''
{{stub}}

==''BotBots''==
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Boulder Media Studio]]''
:'''Theme song:''' [[Igor Correia]] and [[Jeff Milutinovic]] of [[The Wilders]]
{{stub}}

==''EarthSpark''==
:'''Animation studio:''' ''[[Icon Creative Studio]]''

Against a black background, a small green glow begins to peek out near the top off the screen. The ''Transformers'' logo is slowly digitally generated from wireframes in a manner similar to the [[Terran]]s being created by the [[Emberstone]], with the transformation sound being heard in the background. A spark of electricity bursts forth below, spreading to either side to create the ''EarthSpark'' logo, as the green glow turns blue and expands to form a glowing horizon over an orb. A small [[Nickelodeon]] logo fades in between the horizon line and the logos below. Unlike most past series, there is no traditional theme song, with only a 10-second piece of ambient music accompanying the sequence.

[[Category:Media]]

Kremzeek

2025-05-02T03:48:40Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{featured}}
{{faction|decepticon|deceptihog}}
{{disambig2|the characters called Kremzeeks|the episode in which they are introduced|Kremzeek!}}

[[File:Kremzeek-Kremzeek.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.9|A yellow, electric creature who only says his own name and you have to catch it. Give him red cheeks and we've got a franchise!]]
'''Kremzeek''', an electrically charged energy being, is quite the sneaky bastard. It doesn't take much for [[Blaster (G1)|some]] [[Bumblebee (G1)|people]] to like him or think he's cute, at least until you find out how mischievous he can be. With his abilities to jump through screens and teleport, frazzle the circuits of [[Autobot]]s, and even multiply if given enough energy, [[Megatron (G1)|others]] may find use for him as a weapon.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 continuity family===
====Generation 1 cartoon continuity====
=====''The Transformers'' cartoon=====
[[File:Kremzeek-MegatronandKremzeek.jpg|thumb|I choose you!]]
{{voiceactor|[[Wally Burr]] (English), [[Ken Shiroyama]] (Japanese)|[[Claus Brockmeyer]] (German), [[Kai Taschner]] (German ''Generation 2'')}}
Kremzeek was accidentally created by [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] and [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]] whilst experimenting in the lab of the Decepticons' crashed starship-base. Kremzeek immediately began making the electrical equipment aboard the ship malfunction, giving Megatron the idea to use him as a weapon against the [[Autobot]]s. Kremzeek succeeded in damaging most of the Autobots (leaving only [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]], [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Supreme]], [[Blaster (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Blaster]] and [[Bumblebee (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Bumblebee]] functional) before entering [[Teletraan I]] and traveling to [[Japan]] by riding through the computer's connection to [[Sky Spy]] satellite.

[[File:Kremzeek multiple Kremzeeks.jpg|thumb|left|Kremzeeks come in various flavors...]]
[[File:Kremzeek Autobots create giant Kremzeek.jpg|thumb|left|...and sizes!]]
The remaining Autobots followed in Omega Supreme, after being made invulnerable to Kremzeek's effects by [[Sparkplug Witwicky|Sparkplug]]'s (patent pending) Magical Insulating Spray, but no sooner had they set down on the shores of Tokyo than the electrical imp took down the unprotected Omega. Kremzeek proceeded to wreak havoc through the city, terrorizing a bullet train, a hapless passer-by's walkman and a video arcade, before the Autobots cornered him in the [[Shibuya Manufacturing Corporation]] building. The chief engineer there, Doctor [[Sōji Yoshikawa]], suggested that Blaster try weakening Kremzeek with radio waves, but the little gremlin tried to fight back by leaping into Blaster's chest compartment. Blaster figured to "fry him with his own juice", but he only wound up feeding Kremzeek with his own energy, and caused him to multiply.

The Kremzeek swarm began tearing through Tokyo, but Prime and Yoshikawa quickly put their heads together and deduced to a way to reunite the individual creatures. Jury-rigging a tower and charging it with all the energy from a local power plant, the Autobots drew all the Kremzeeks in, but the flaw in their plan was revealed when they merged into a ''giant'' Kremzeek! As the ''kaiju''-sized Kremzeek stomped through the city, both it and the Autobots began to feel the effects of the Decepticons' [[energy magnet]]—the energy-draining device the villains had created while the Autobots were distracted dealing with Kremzeek. Finally hitting on a plan to stop both threats, the Autobots used a nearby radio tower to broadcast Kremzeek straight to the energy magnet, which he destroyed.

As Kremzeek cavorted amongst the remains of the energy magnet, the Autobots approached on a boat with Yoshikawa and some equipment that the scientist could use to disperse Kremzeek's energy and effectively destroy him. Bumblebee spoke out against the plan, dubbing Kremzeek "cute", but Optimus Prime solemnly pressed the fateful button that eradicated the little critter. Reflecting on the whole adventure as they prepared to return home, Blaster remarked that he couldn't help but miss Kremzeek somehow... at which point a solitary Kremzeek, which had previously jumped inside his body, burst from his chest compartment, and the hilarious pursuit antics restarted. {{storylink|Kremzeek!}}

=====''Kiss Players''=====
[[File:Kremzeek bullet.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]
Over the next twenty years, Yoshikawa began breeding Kremzeeks in captivity (perhaps after studying the lone remaining creature following its recapture by the Autobots), and weaponized the technology behind the belligerent beasties, creating the "Yoshikawa Type 5 Auto-Kremzeek Launcher" for the [[Earth Defense Command]]. These guns, wielded by the E.D.C.'s [[Autorooper]] mechanoids, fired "Kremzeek bullets": ceramic shells that each contained a Kremzeek, which would be released when the shell shattered on impact to absorb the electrical energy of any mechanoid it struck. The bullets even had a limited paralytic effect on the nervous systems of humans.

When the hapless EDC [[Kiss Player]] [[Atari Hitotonari]] wound up swallowing a [[Legion (KP)|Legion]], her Autorooper shrunk down to enter her body and destroy the beast, but when it tried shooting its Kremzeek bullets inside her, she violently protested. The Autorooper didn't listen, but it depleted its ammo reserves before doing Atari any damage. {{storylink|Atari-chan's Critical Moment!?}}

[[Kayu Michikusa]]'s Autorooper was seen firing a Kremzeek bullet at [[Marissa Faireborn]], who was partially paralyzed by the little creature. {{storylink|Kiss Players issue 2|Kiss Players #2}}

{{note|Kremzeek was not shown doing much of anything within the actual ''Kiss Players'' fiction, but packaging illustrations depicted him getting up to more mischief, such as [[:File:Kremzeekkp.jpg|getting under Atari's skirt]] and blowing bubbles into [[Shaoshao Li|Shaoshao]]'s drink.}}

====Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity====
[[File:OriginalSin PushButton.jpg|100px|thumb|left]]
While relaxing at the [[Alpha Preserve]], [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] enjoyed cans of [[K-Juice|Kremzeek-branded drink]]. Ironhide casually discarded his can, which dribbled into the preserve's waters. {{storylink|Skyfire (issue)|Skyfire}}

[[Push-Button]] later served these Kremzeek beverages and [[Energon goodie]]s in the [[Autobase]] war room, just before Prowl briefed the assembled Autobots on the threat [[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]] posed to [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Original Sin}}

====2005 IDW continuity====
[[File:Shadowplay Roller feet up.jpg|upright=1.3|thumb|Drinkable Mischief Maker]]

Kremzeek appeared on [[:File:MO1 Kremzeek.jpg|a billboard]] in [[Kaon (polity)|Kaon]]. {{storylink|Megatron Origin issue 1|Megatron Origin #1}}

The Kremzeek drinks, [[K-Juice]], exist in this universe as well, where they are enjoyed by many Cybertronians, from [[Drift (G1)|homeless robots]] {{storylink|Drift issue 1|Drift #1}} to [[Roller (IDW)|police officers]]. {{storylink|Shadowplay, Part 2: Patternism|Patternism}} {{storylink|The Everlasting Voices (1): Metastasis|Metastasis}}
{{--}}

====''Transformers vs. G.I. Joe''====
[[Image:KREMZEEK THE DEVOURER OF SOULS.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3]]

Kremzeek, the Devourer of Souls, was a ravenous ''thing'' that haunted the afterlife, devouring the bio-electric souls of any Transformer that didn't make it to the Allspark fast enough. A dead [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]] fled in terror from the beast but the ghostly Optimus pulled him to safety. {{storylink|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe issue 12|Transformers vs. G.I. Joe #12}}

====''Star Trek vs. Transformers''====
An image of Kremzeek appeared on Starscream's heads-up display. {{storylink|Prime's Directive, Part One}}
{{--}}
====''Transformers/Ghostbusters''====
[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart2-Kremzeek.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|"Don't be intimidated, Megatron. Try to imagine him in his underwear..."]]
A hybrid of electrical and psychokinetic energy, Kremzeek the Scavenger learnt of the [[AllSpark]] of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and made his way to the planet to consume the artifact and augment his power. His arrival was a rather ill-timed one as, not only had the AllSpark been taken off Cybertron by the Autobots on the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']], but Cybertron had been invaded by [[Gozer]] the Traveler. Seizing the opportunity, Kremzeek approached [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] and offered to turn [[Decepticon High Command]] into [[ghost]]s so they could live (so to speak) through Gozer's wrath. While Megatron agreed to this, he, [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] and [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] refused to aid the Scavenger in absorbing the AllSpark, resulting in him absorbing them into his being. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], the only Decepticon who agreed to work with Kremzeek, was sent to scout the galaxy for the AllSpark though the Scavenger quickly grew annoyed by the Seeker's incompetence and traitorous ambitions. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}} {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}

[[File:GhostsOfCybertronPart4-Kremzeek.jpg|thumb|left|200px|"''...OH NO, HE'S HOT!!''"]]
Starscream eventually made his way to the planet [[Earth]], his signal drawing the attention of both the ''Ark'' and one of Kremzeek's children, with Starscream instructing the [[Ghostbusters]] on how to dissipate the sprite. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 2}} Though Starscream made initial strides in gaining the trust of the Autobot [[Ectotron]], [[Peter Venkman]] suspected that the Seeker had ulterior motives and locked him in a [[ghost trap]] until Optimus Prime arrived, forcing Kremzeek to free his servant by creating a power surge within the trap. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 3}}

When Optimus Prime, Ectotron, and the Ghostbusters confronted Starscream at the [[Grosbeak Generating Station]], they wrapped him in [[Proton pack|proton streams]], prompting the Seeker to summon Kremzeek who shattered the streams. Finding a distinct lack of AllSpark present, Kremzeek hit his limit with Starscream and absorbed the Seeker into himself. Once Kremzeek had told his tale to the Autobots and Ghostbusters, he was wrapped in proton streams that he quickly shattered before he began to duel Optimus Prime, all the while using the power plant to recharge himself, opting to beat the Prime to death and find the AllSpark's location from his memory. As the two duelled, the Ghostbusters freed [[Killerwatt|a ghost that fed on electrical energy]], the spectre being drawn to Kremzeek's energy signature. Despite Kremzeek's protests, the entity made contact with his physical form, both of their bodies dissipating as a result, though [[Ray Stantz]] was sure both would reconstitute in a few months' time. As an unintended side-effect of this, the Decepticon ghosts were now freed from their imprisonment. {{storylink|Ghosts of Cybertron Part 4}}
{{--}}
====2021 IDW ''Beast Wars'' comic====
[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] had once dissected a Kremzeek. {{storylink|The Beginning of the End}}

===Live-action film series===
[[File:Kremzeek lamp movieadaption2007.jpg|thumb|Just hope the [[AllSpark]] doesn't give life to this lamp.]]
[[Sam Witwicky]] had a desklamp with a light-up figure based on Kremzeek. {{storylink|Movie Adaptation issue 1|Movie Adaptation #1}} {{storylink|Movie Adaptation issue 3|Movie Adaption #3}}

The floors of [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]'s home on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] featured Kremzeek-shaped images as well. Kremzeek must be some sort of intergalactic celebrity in this continuity. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 3|The Reign of Starscream #3}} Later, [[Starscream (Movie)|Lord Starscream]] was holding a can of Kremzeek as [[Dreadwing (Movie)|Dreadwing]] reported that he had found another test subject. Even tyrants with noble ambitions need that extra boost. {{storylink|The Reign of Starscream issue 4|The Reign of Starscream #4}}
{{--}}
===''Animated'' continuity family===
====''Animated'' cartoon====
[[File:Animated kremzeek.JPG|thumb|Please stand by as this annoying electric lifeform causes havoc with our machinery.]]
{{voiceactor|[[Susan Blu]] (English)}}

Kremzeek appeared on the "please stand by" screen of the local television news station when their feed was interrupted. {{storylink|Sound and Fury}}

''Kremzeek was an ancient Decepticon weapon, inadvertently unleashed by [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] when she found herself in the bowels of [[Metroplex (Animated)|The Metroplex]] in a school field trip gone wrong. Kremzeek tried to use the machinery of the [[Central Cybertronian Recycling Plant]] to dispatch Sari and [[Blurr (Animated)|the Blurr cube]], but was foiled by the arrival of [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] and the rest of Sari's classmates. Kremzeek then revealed itself and possessed each of Sari's classmates in turn; [[Nightbeat (Animated)|Nightbeat]], [[Siren (Animated)|Siren]], and [[Hosehead (Animated)|Hosehead]] before appropriating Sari's jetpack and flying towards [[Fortress Maximus (Animated)|Fortress Maximus]]. It attempted to destroy [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]], but Sari's quick thinking enabled her to trap it in a soda can and save the day.'' {{storylink|The Return of Blurr}}

====''SD SG''====
[[File:SDSG-7-SGAnimatedKremzeek.jpg|thumb|]]
Kremzeek was a deeply depressed creature. It had come across a crushed cube that used to be [[Blurr (SG Animated)|Blurr]] and tried to tell its woeful tale to some passing Autobots. Disinterested, [[Nightbeat (SG Animated)|Nightbeat]] squashed the cube with her mallet, [[Hosehead (SG Animated)|Hosehead]] set it on fire, and [[Sari Sumdac (SG Animated)|Sari]] punted it off into the distance. That really gave Kremzeek something to sob about. {{storylink|The Re-Burn of Blurr}}
{{--}}
===''Kre-O'' online manga===
Kremzeek was among Megatron's troops when the Decepticons took over the Autobots' base. He got to go down "Decepticon City's" slide! Wheeeeee! {{storylink|Two Giant Bases! Everybody Getting Along, Come On, Fight!}}
{{--}}

==Games==
===''Transformers: Devastation''===
Kremzeeks dotted the landscape of [[New York City]] and the ''[[Proudstar]]'', bouncing about and repeating their name and not doing much harm beyond being a pain in the aft to catch. Teletraan-1 observed they could be quite the menace and recommended against taunting them. {{Storylink|Transformers: Devastation}}

{{note|Kremzeek is an in-game collectible; finding each one unlocks new stage art in the in-game gallery.}}

===''Transformers: Earth Wars''===
[[File:Earth-Wars-Kremzeeks-Bumblebee.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4]]
In an abandoned power plant far from the main Decepticon base, Soundwave re-generated a batch of Kremzeeks, and unlike the last time, contained them in an insulated containment module. Just then Blaster and Perceptor barged in, and Frenzy and Rumble fought with their powers, but Soundwave warned Frenzy too late that the containment units are weak to his sonic powers. There were Kremzeeks everywhere!

Megatron soon found out, but Soundwave still had a number of isolated and weaponized Kremzeeks left. So Megatron ordered Starscream and the Seekers to drop the Kremzeek payload on vulnerable Autobot defenses.

Meanwhile, Optimus Prime assigned Bumblebee a tac-team with Mirage and Cliffjumper for Kremzeek clean-up duty, and organized a fireteam for Kup and Blaster to the power station. Bumblebee wanted to keep and house-train a sparklet, but Optimus wouldn't allow it. {{Storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Ultimate Weapon}}

Bumblebee tried to use neutralizer cuffs on one Kremzeek, but it zapped him and retorted it got a short fuse. Bumblebee happened to have some of Sparkplug's Magical Insulating Spray left from their last Kremzeek incident, so after Cliffjumper and Mirage insulated themselves, they purged all the Kremzeeks, much to Bumblebee's sorrow; he even named one AC/DC, which Cliffjumper found too sappy.

Meanwhile, The Seekers were approaching the strike zone, but Starscream detected and EMP device set to go off and neutralize their entire Kremzeek armory should they enter Autobot airspace. As if ''someone'' pre-warned the Autobots.
Megatron aborted the mission, but at least he still had his stockpile of Kremzeeks for another time. But unknown to him, Bumblebee had managed to contain some Kremzeeks, and laid down some house rules.
{{Storylink|Transformers: Earth Wars|Zeek and Destroy}}

Kremzeek Battle Boosts come in five different colors, each with different effects. They all can jump to a different target up to four times if their current target is destroyed.

*'''Yellow Kremzeek''': Deals damage to a target for 15 seconds.
*'''Red Kremzeek''': Deals damage to a target for 6 seconds. Each jump extends the duration by 1 second.
*'''Purple Kremzeek''': Hacks a defense for 8 seconds, making it attack other defenses.
*'''Blue Kremzeek''': Stuns a defense for 12 seconds dealing damage over time.
*'''White Kremzeek''': Target building takes 40% extra damage for 15 seconds.

===''Angry Birds Transformers''===
Kremzeek is an "Accessory" character, giving Deceptihogs he's attached to a boost to their weapon's damage output. This bonus can be increased with upgrades won from random-prize Crates or in the "[[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower" mini-game.

He can be unlocked by purchasing him with Gems in the Barracks, with Tokens during specific [[Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)/Challenge Events|Challenge Events]], or won from Crates and [[King Pig|Shockwave]]'s Tower. {{storylink|Angry Birds Transformers (mobile game)|Angry Birds Transformers}}

<center>
{|class="wikitable" border="5" style="width:75%" align="center"
|-
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Deceptihog'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Body Part'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Rarity'''
! scope="col" width="10%" | '''Gem Cost'''
! scope="col" width="20%" | '''Base Effect'''
! scope="col" width="30%" | '''Notes'''
|-
|[[Minion Pig#As Acid Storm|Acid Storm]]
|Head
|Epic
|???
| +10% Damage
|
|-
|[[Minion Pig#As Starscream|Starscream]]
|Head
|Epic
|???
|???
|
|-
|[[Minion Pig#As Devastator|Devastator]]
|Right leg
|Epic
|???
|EMP rounds
|
|}
</center>

==Toys==
===''Kiss Players''===
[[File:KP-toy Kremzeek.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Cue in the Mr.-Incredible-becoming-uncanny meme with the "''Those who don't know / [[Atari-chan's Critical Moment!?|Those who know]]''" caption]]
*'''Autorooper X Atari''' (2006)
**''Release date'': December ?? 2006
{{toydesigner|[[Yuki Ohshima]] (concept artist)}}

: A very tiny, soft-PVC figurine of Kremzeek was included in the ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (toyline)|Kiss Players]]'' "[[Autorooper#AutorooperXAtari|Autorooper]] X [[Atari Hitotonari#Toys|Atari]]" set, what with the toy having a "Kremzeek Gun" that, uh... shoots out Kremzeeks.

: This figure is ''entirely'' white PVC painted over in yellow, so take care with this one.
{{--}}

===''Masterpiece''===
[[File:MP05-Kremzeek.jpg|upright=1|thumb|The all-new Kremzeek figure, now ''without'' an extremely creepy story included!]]
*'''Megatron''' (2007)

:[[Megatron (G1)/toys#20th Anniversary.2FMasterpiece|MP-5 Megatron]] comes with a Kremzeek figurine of his own, this time molded in translucent plastic. Sweetness.
{{--}}

===''War for Cybertron: Siege''===
[[File:TF-Generations-WFC-S-Refraktor-Reconnaissance-Team-Kremzeek.jpg|thumb|upright=1]]
*'''Refraktor Reconnaissance Team 3-Pack''' (Multi-pack, [[September 1]], [[2019]])

: The Refraktor 3-Pack includes a Kremzeek figurine, which is compatible with the ''Siege'' "blast effect" system via the holes in the bottoms of his feet.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===ULTIMATES!===
*'''Megatron''' (2023)
: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers ULTIMATES!]]'' from [[Super7]], Megatron includes a small translucent Kremzeek figurine.
{{--}}

===Transformers: Kindergarten Series===
[[File:Kindergarten-MegatronG1.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.4|Baby's first Kremzeek.]]
*'''Megatron''' (2023)
:A tiny drop-shaped Kremzeek is included alongside the ''[[Transformers: Kindergarten Series]]'' version of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]].
{{--}}

==Notes==
[[File:MPSkywarp_stickers.jpg|upright=1|thumb|And our most tenacious scouts just may receive the much-sought-after Kremzeek badge.]]
*The original ''Masterpiece'' releases of [[Skywarp (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-6 Skywarp]] and [[Thundercracker (G1)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-7 Thundercracker]] included a handful of bonus stickers themed around military emblems, with one of these featuring a Kremzeek.
*According to [[Ray Stantz]] and [[Egon Spengler]], the ''Transformers/Ghostbusters'' version of Kremzeek is classified as a "high spectrum Class 5 electroplasmic entity".
*The [[Energon mutation#BotBots|BotBot]] [[Pew Pew Pew]] has a face modeled after Kremzeek's.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Kremzeek''' (クレムジーク ''Kuremujīku'')
{{--}}

==External links==
*[[wikia:ghostbusters:Kremzeek|Kremzeek]] at the Ghostbusters Wiki
*[[wikia:ghostbusters:Kremzeek Sprite|Kremzeek Sprite]] at the Ghostbusters Wiki

[[Category:Animated characters]]
[[Category:Deceptihogs]]
[[Category:Drink]]
[[Category:Generation 1 characters]]
[[Category:Generation 1 cartoon characters]]
[[Category:Kiss Players characters]]
[[Category:Shattered Glass Animated characters]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Siege characters]]

Scalpel (ROTF)

2025-04-28T15:36:10Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Fixed formatting

{{faction|decepticon|minicon}}
{{disambigm|Scalpel (Animated)|Doctor (disambiguation)}}

:''Scalpel is the cutest widdle [[Decepticon]]-allied [[Mini-Con]] from the [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]] portion of the [[live-action film series]] continuity.
[[File:ScalpelCA.jpg|thumb|300px|''[["Weird Al" Yankovic|Like a surgeon - HEY! Cuttin' for the very first time...]]'']]

The tiny '''Scalpel''', also known as "the '''Doctor'''", looks harmless enough with his big, inquisitive eyes. But beware—in the world of the Transformers, things are not what they seem! Scalpel has vast databases of anatomical and mechanical knowledge, being familiar with most species in the galaxy. He's extremely adept at getting to the root of a problem and can handily disassemble most technological devices... or life-forms. Unfortunately, when he goes to put them back together, he always has a few parts left over. This has left most of the Decepticons reluctant to come to him for care, in spite of his duties as their field medic.

{{bigquote|Ve must haff ze brain on ze table! Chop-chop!|Scalpel mutilates for science!|''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''}}

==Fiction==
===Movies===
====''Revenge of the Fallen'' film====
{{voiceactor|[[John Di Crosta]] (English), [[Hiroki Shimowada]] (Japanese)|[[Santiago Ziesmer]] (German), [[Michel Elias]] (French), [[Fabrizio Mazzotta]] (Italian), [[Martín Soto]] (Latin American-Spanish), [[José Augusto Sendim]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Lee Jang-won]] (Korean)}}

[[File:ROTFfilm-Scalpelmicroscope.jpg|left|thumb|250px|That's me, a very expensive microscope just hangin' out in an old warehouse.]]

Scalpel was transported to the [[Laurentian Abyss]] by [[Ravage (ROTF)|Ravage]] and several [[Constructicon (ROTF)|Constructicons]]. Once the Decepticons reached the sea floor, Scalpel was released to assess the extent of the damage done to [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]]. After a cursory examination, Scalpel concluded that they would need spare parts, and ordered the death of [[Scrapmetal (ROTF)|the smallest Constructicon]]. Once he had the "donated" parts and the [[AllSpark]] shard stolen by Ravage, he rebuilt Megatron into a more powerful—and very much alive—form.

[[File:ROTF must have brain.jpg|thumb|right|200px|It's only fair to warn you; I have no idea what I'm doing.]]
Later, at a factory in the same city as [[Sam Witwicky]]'s university, Megatron ordered Scalpel to examine Sam, in hopes of finding out what he had learned from the AllSpark information downloaded into his brain. Using several [[Scalpel's assistant|''extremely'' invasive techniques]], Scalpel deduced that Sam's mind was definitely full of handy-dandy information. And the best way to get said information was to examine Sam's brain... while it was laid out on the table. Scalpel's attempt was interrupted by the timely arrival of [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Movie)|Bumblebee]]. {{storylink|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen}}

{{note|Scalpel's involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novels "[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]]," "[[Revenge of the Fallen: The Junior Novel]]" and "[[The Last Prime]]"; the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Official Movie Adaptation]]"; and the storybook "[[Rise of the Decepticons]]." Though the movie itself does not show Scalpel's fate, [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (novel)|the novel]], [[Revenge of the Fallen issue 2|comic adaptations]] and [[The Last Prime]] show him being blasted to scrap by Optimus Prime.}}

====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
{{see|Lensmeter Decepticon}}

===Titan movie comics===
Scalpel linked up with [[Bludgeon (ROTF)|Bludgeon]] and hid himself inside the larger Decepticon: once Bludgeon was captured by [[NEST]], Scalpel emerged to free him ''and'' all the other Decepticons in human captivity. {{storylink|Transformers Comic issue 2.13|Inside Out!}}

===IDW movie comics===
Scalpel served as the ship medic aboard the ''[[Nemesis (ROTF)|Nemesis]]'' during its mission to scour the galaxy for a [[Star Harvester]]. After the ship was damaged in a collision with the [[Ark (DOTM)|Ark]], [[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]] was heard calling out for him. The entire crew of the ''Nemesis'' then followed the Ark through a [[space bridge]] wormhole, arriving near [[Earth]]. {{storylink|Convergence chapter 1}}

===''I Can Read!'' books===
[[File:ScalpelvsIronhide-RttR.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Wait a minute, isn't this kinda one-sided?]]
Scalpel, [[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]] and [[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]] were at a sea-side dock when they encountered [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (Movie)|Ironhide]]. The Decepticons attempted to attack, but were held off by an electrical attack courtesy of Ratchet, allowing the Autobots to escape. Later, Scalpel helped the Decepticons battle the Autobots in the Egyptian desert. Scalpel faced off against Ironhide. The Decepticons were ultimately defeated that day. {{storylink|Ratchet to the Rescue}}

===''TransTech''===
[[File:C-81andScalpel-CMW.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.3|"Primitive symbols. You walking, talking monkeys with your cave drawings. You assume there is only one way to gain magic."]]
In an alternate timeline, not only did Scalpel survive his encounters with the Autobots, but he became one of Megatron's Mini-Con companions, along with [[Boombox]] and [[Heavyweight]]. The whole lot of them were transported to [[Axiom Nexus]] when Megatron plummeted off a space bridge after a battle against [[Hot Rod (DOTM)|Rodimus Prime]]. Though Scalpel and the other Mini-Cons were identified by the TransTechs, they overlooked Megatron himself, believing his truck mode to simply be a derelict heap. {{storylink|Megatron (Movie)#TransTech|Botcon 2015 Megatron's bio card}}

Scalpel continued to help his boss in Axiom Nexus. The most vocal of the three Mini-Cons, he had a tendency to spout out lines that were unnervingly creepy to those around him. When Megatron, now calling himself "C-81," and his new entourage were running from the local police force after a botched theft, the group was held up by a crowd of Seekers. Contemplating so many Cybertronians of similar anatomy made Scalpel express that the crowd would make ideal subjects to create a baseline in his experiments. Soon after, "Cybertron's most wanted" were taken into custody by the police and brought to the offworlder maximum security prison. Upon meeting [[Oilmaster]], Scalpel expressed interest in examining "the gorilla's" anatomy. Oilmaster refused.

[[File:SGNebulonwithScalpel-CMW.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1]]
The group escaped, and eventually found themselves in the middle of a [[Waruder]] nest deep underground. Scalpel was the first to note that the structure wasn't built by the TransTechs, and seemed pseudo-organic in nature. The group were then engaged in battle with some Waruder soldiers. Scalpel jumped at the chance to study one of the fallen invaders, and took hold of one of the Waruder pilots' corpses. He then climbed aboard C-81's altmode, and began to dissect his new subject. With the information that Scalpel gleaned from the body, Cybertron's most wanted were able to deduce that the Waruders were eating away at the planet's cybertonium. This information was instrumental in negotiating with the intruders, and later sending them off-planet. {{storylink|Cybertron's Most Wanted}}

===Ask Sideways===
Known liar [[Sideways (Armada)|Sideways]] claimed that Scalpel patched him up after he was bisected in [[Shanghai]]. {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Sideways, 2015/07/07}}

==Games==
===Transformers: Battle for the Matrix===
{{Note|Battle for the Matrix is a simplified retelling of the events of [[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]. It can be played from the perspective of either Bumblebee or Optimus Prime. Scalpel is fought in the warehouse scene.}}
[[File:Doctor battleforthematrix.jpg|thumb|200px|left]]
Scalpel is (relatively) ENORMOUS. He's also annoyingly speedy. {{storylink|Transformers: Battle for the Matrix}}
{{-}}

==Toys==
===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[File:RotF Scalpel Scout Toy.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Percep-who? Nah, he got a gig on ''CSI''.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Scalpel''' (Scout Class, 2009)}}</ul>
:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''RD-14'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Alex Androski]] (deco artist)}}

:Scalpel transforms from a dissecting microscope to a creepy, almost cute insectoid robot with detachable "glasses". He has six insectoid legs that will pop off if you look at them funny, and two adorable translucent 'arms'. He is ''seriously'' mistransformed in-package, presumably because there was no other way for him to fit on the card. His stock photography also shows him mistransformed, with his body extended upwards and the shells forming the base of his microscope mode folded onto his legs.

:A running change has given later versions shorter antennae which fold away better during transformation. It's not clear which version is more common or whether the running change has spread to markets outside the US.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Decepticon/Scalpel/scalpel.htm More information on Scalpel at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:BotCon2015-Megatron.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Cybertron's Most Wanted''' ([[BotCon 2015]] box set)}}</ul>

: Scalpel is a redeco of [[Magi]], and transforms from a robotic praying mantis to a dual-bladed weapon. As a redeco of an Arms Micron, Scalpel is covered in [[5 mm post]]s and holes as part of the [[Arms Micron]] gimmick, allowing him to combine with other Microns to form bigger and more ridiculous "Combo Weapons" and "Super Combo Weapons".

: Alongside [[Boombox]] and [[Heavyweight]], he is a [[Mini-Con]] partner to [[Megatron (Movie)/toys#Timelines|Megatron]], who comes with [[Packrat#Timelines|Packrat]], [[Battletrap (G1)#Timelines|Battletrap]], [[Stepper (SG)#Timelines|Stepper]], and [[Oilmaster#Timelines|Oilmaster]].

: The mold was also used to make [[Shou]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2015/Decepticon/BCScalpel/scalpel.htm More information on ''Timelines'' Scalpel at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===Prime 1 Studio===
[[File:Prime 1 Studio Lensmeter Decepticons.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron''' ([[2022]])}}</ul>
:*''Movie:'' '''''Dark of the Moon'''''
:*''ID number:'' '''MMTFM-29''' / '''29EXS''' (exclusive)
{{note|This figure was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as Scalpel by Prime 1 Studio's Japanese-language website.}}

:The [[Prime 1 Studio]] ''Museum Masterline'' [[Megatron (Movie)/merchandise#P1SDOTM|Megatron]] statue based on his ''Dark of the Moon'' appearance comes with three small replicas of the Lensmeter Decepticons. The exclusive version, meanwhile, comes with a total of six of them.

:In the Japanese-language version of Prime 1 Studio's website, the Lensmeter Decepticons are advertised as "Scalpel" instead. Yes, all of them.

:The exclusive version of Megatron also comes with [[Igor#Prime 1 Studio|Igor]].

{{-}}
===KBGOxKillerbody===
[[File:Killerbodyscalpel.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''TRANSFORMERS Scalpel Collectible''' (High-end Figure, [[2023]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Saw, Claw

:Released by [[Killerbody]] in association with KBGO, this non-converting Scalpel<ref name="Killerbodywebstore">[https://store.killerbody.com/collections/transformers-bumblebee/products/transformers-scalpel-collectible Killerbodys webstore listing]</ref> is based on [[Lensmeter_Decepticon|his]] ''Dark of the Moon'' design and features light-up LED eyes and eletronic sounds. He comes with swappable weapons accessories.

{{--}}

==Notes==
*The combination of German accent, monocle-like eyes and murderous personality all give Scalpel the air of the stereotypical Nazi mad scientist.
*In the movie itself and the novelization, he is simply called "the Doctor". He goes unnamed in the comic adaptation.
*The only reason his toy has pop-off glasses is because [[Hisashi Yuki]] thinks it's funny.
*In the [[Revenge of the Fallen issue 2|second issue of the movie adaptation]], Scalpel suddenly has a mouth, complete with teeth. And he looks really weird because of it.
*His alternate mode in the movie is different from his toy's. While the toy turns into a dissecting microscope, the alternate mode in the film is actually a {{w|lensmeter}}, a device used by optometrists to check the various aspects of a prescription lens for eyeglasses. It appears to be an [http://www.dickwhitney.net/AOLensometer.htm American Optical Lensometer Junior Model 603] from [[1938]].
*In ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' a bunch of [[Lensmeter Decepticon]]s appear. It is unknown if Scalpel was among them.
*While the ''Timelines'' figure gives Scalpel stickers to replicate his two eyes in his movie design, the [[Cybertron's Most Wanted|tie-in comic]] instead depicts him as having the same single eye as the original use of the figure's mold, [[Magi]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''The Doctor''' (ザ・ドクター ''Za Dokutā''), '''Scalpel''' (スカルペル ''Sukaruperu'')

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Live-action film series Mini-Cons]]
[[Category:Medics]]
[[Category:Revenge of the Fallen Decepticons]]
[[Category:Timelines characters]]
[[Category:TransTech Decepticons]]
[[Category:TransTech Mini-Cons]]

1953

2025-04-26T18:52:34Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Oops, forgot about these pages

{{yearofthe|1953}}
The year '''1953''' (MCMLIII) predates the launch of the [[Transformers brand]] by thirty-one years.

{{see|Transformers timeline}}

==Fiction==
===''Revenge of the Fallen''===
[[King]] crash-landed on [[Earth]] and had a hand in helping establish [[Burger King]].<ref>Burger King's website</ref>

==Non-Fiction==
===Events===
====July====
[[July 27]] — The [[Korean War]] ends.

* Bert and Nancy Claster begin syndication of ''{{w|Romper Room}}''. The company founded to distribute the series would later become [[Claster Television]].

===Births===
* ???? — [[Claus Brockmeyer]], [[David Crane]], [[Hans Hohlbein]]
====January====
* [[January 29]] —[[Yorie Terauchi]]
====February====
* [[February 13]] — [[Vladimir Antonik]]
* [[February 14]] — [[Kisaburō Suzuki]]
* [[February 23]] — [[Richard Green]]
====March====
* [[March 12]] — [[Run Sasaki]]
* [[March 26]] — [[Yuji Kaida]]
* [[March 29]] — [[Hans-Eckart Eckhardt]]

====April====
* [[April 2]] — [[Wojciech Machnicki]]
* [[April 11]] — [[Shingo Hiromori]]
* [[April 13]] — [[Ricardo Schnetzer]], [[Esther Scott]]

====May====
* [[May 4]] — [[Masashi Ebara]]
* [[May 18]] — [[Alan Kupperberg]]

====June====
* [[June 12]] — [[Michael Donovan]]
* [[June 22]] — [[Al Gordon]]
* [[June 25]] — [[Erich Räuker]]

====July====
* [[July 10]] — [[Stan Bush]]
* [[July 11]] — [[Mindy Sterling]]
* [[July 13]] — [[Ron Halder]], [[Gil Birmingham]], [[Silvio Pozzoli]]
* [[July 14]] — [[Philece Sampler]], [[Frédérique Hoschedé]]
* [[July 25]] — [[Santiago Ziesmer]], [[Frédéric Norbert]]
* [[July 27]] — [[Carl Béchard]]
* [[July 28]] — [[Katharina Koschny]]

====August====
* [[August 9]] — [[Edgar Givry]]
* [[August 16]] — [[Ben Jurand]]
* [[August 27]] — [[Peter Stormare]]

====September====
* [[September 4]] — [[Vittorio Bestoso]]

====October====
* [[October 16]] — [[Uwe Büschken]]
* [[October 24]] — [[Hiroshi Takemura]], [[Celso de Vasconcelos]]
* [[October 25]] — [[Takeshi Ike]]

====November====
* [[November 3]] — [[Hidehito Ueda]]
* [[November 15]] — [[Mike Gustovich]]
* [[November 22]] — [[Alfonso Mellado]]
* [[November 28]] — [[Pamela Hayden]]

====December====
* [[December 6]] — [[Klaus Lochthove]]
* [[December 7]] — [[Buzz Dixon]]
* [[December 9]] — [[John Malkovich]]
* [[December 16]] — [[Rebecca Forstadt]]
* [[December 21]] – [[Andy Couzens]]
* [[December 25]] — [[Uwe Jellinek]]
* [[December 31]] — [[James Remar]]

===Deaths===
* [[January 1]] — [[Hank Williams]]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Fictional events by year]]
[[Category:Real-world events by year]]

1957

2025-04-26T18:51:49Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Oops, forgot about these pages

{{yearofthe|1957}}

The year '''1957''' (MCMLVII) predates the launch of the [[Transformers brand|''Transformers'' brand]] by twenty-seven years.

{{see|Transformers timeline}}

==Non-Fiction==
===Events===
* Brazilian comic company [[Rio Gráfica Editora]] is founded.
* Licensee [[Vandor LLC]] is formed in [[Utah]].
* ''[[Risk: Transformers — Cybertron Battle Edition|Risk]]'' is created by Albert Lamorisse, and later <strike>perfected</strike> tweaked in [[2007]] to create a custom version for the [[Transformers (film)|live action movie]].

===Births===
* ???? — [[Arto Nieminen]], [[Ban Magami]], [[J. Steven York]], [[Lu Jianyi]], [[Stéphane Excoffier]], [[Yao Jude]]

====January====
* [[January 1]] — [[Fabrizio Pucci]]
* [[January 13]] — [[Lorenzo di Bonaventura]]
* [[January 14]] — [[Dave Ward|Dave 'Squatch' Ward]]
* [[January 16]] — [[Joey Camen]]
* [[January 17]] — [[Bernard Fortin]]
* [[January 18]] — [[Patrice Baudrier]]
* [[January 27]] — [[Frank Miller]]
* [[January 28]] — [[Lin Dongfu]]
* [[January 31]] — [[Philippe Roullier]]

====February====
* [[February 1]] — [[Dennis Francis]]
* [[February 11]] — [[Juan Carralero]]
* [[February 12]] — [[Giorgio Melazzi]]
* [[February 21]] — [[Jorge Vasconcellos]]
* [[February 22]] — [[Oleg Kutsenko]]
* [[February 27]] — [[LeVar Burton]]
* [[February 28]] — [[John Turturro]]

====March====
* [[March 2]] — [[Marco Balzarotti]]
* [[March 6]] — [[Eddie Deezen]]
* [[March 8]] — [[Mitsuko Horie]]
* [[March 9]] — [[Oliver Stritzel]]
* [[March 19]] — [[Dave Morris]]
* [[March 22]] — [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]]
* [[March 23]] — [[Rainer Doering]]
* [[March 28]] — [[Paul Eiding]]
* [[March 30]] — [[Brian Hohlfeld]]
* [[March 31]] — [[Terry Klassen]], [[Tom Vogt]]

====April====
* [[April 5]] — [[Andreas Borcherding]]
* [[April 22]] — [[Yōko Kawanami]]
* [[April 25]] — [[Douglas Welbat]]

====May====
* [[May 5]] — [[Sergio Romanò]]
* [[May 7]] — [[Humberto Solórzano]]
* [[May 12]] — [[Károly Kassai]]
* [[May 20]] — [[Ernesto Lezama]]
* [[May 21]] — [[Staffan Hallerstam]]
* [[May 22]] — [[Ken Pontac]]
* [[May 27]] — [[Jim Salicrup]]

====June====
* [[June 5]] — [[Hélio Ribeiro]]
* [[June 9]] — [[Tobias Meister]]
* [[June 10]] — [[Adam Bauman]], [[Patricia Drake]]
* [[June 16]] — [[Patrick Waleffe]]
* [[June 20]] — [[Bernard Bollet]]
* [[June 23]] — [[Frances McDormand]]
* [[June 24]] — [[Jean-François Vlérick]]
* [[June 25]] — [[Claudio Ridolfo]]
* [[June 29]] — [[Jean-Paul Pitolin]]

====July====
* [[July 20]] — [[Antonella Giannini]]
* [[July 24]] — [[Erhard Hartmann]]
* [[July 27]] — [[Liu Jiazhen]]
* [[July 30]] — [[Kenyū Horiuchi]]

====August====
* [[August 6]] — [[Andrei Yaroslavtsev]], [[Patrick Borg]]
* [[August 7]] — [[Paul Dini]]
* [[August 8]] — [[Hozumi Gōda]]
* [[August 18]] — [[Choi Byung-sang]]
* [[August 19]] — [[Pascal Casanova]]
* [[August 22]] — [[Daniele Demma]]
* [[August 25]] — [[Kai Taschner]]
* [[August 26]] — [[Keiichi Nanba]]
* [[August 29]] — [[Shirō Sagisu]]

====September====
* [[September 9]] — [[Michele Sterr]]
* [[September 16]] — [[Keith Williams]]
* [[September 19]] — [[Mark Acheson]]
* [[September 29]] — [[Massimo Corizza]]
* [[September 30]] — [[Kei Majima]]

====October====
* [[October 1]] — [[Altuğ Yücel]]
* [[October 4]] — [[Bill Fagerbakke]]
* [[October 5]] — [[Bernie Mac]]
* [[October 9]] — [[Yukari Nozawa]]
* [[October 10]] — [[David Lodge]]
* [[October 17]] — [[Staffan Lindberg]]
* [[October 18]] — [[Elisabetta Cesone]]
* [[October 27]] — [[Ferenc Borbiczki]]
* [[October 30]] — [[Kevin Pollak]]
* [[October 31]] — [[Jörg Hengstler]]

====November====
* [[November 10]] — [[Zhang Mingliang]]
* [[November 11]] — [[Vince DiCola]]
* [[November 24]] — [[Jens-Uwe Bogadtke]]
* [[November 26]] — [[Luis Rojas]]
* [[November 27]] — [[Pierre-Peters Arnold]]

====December====
* [[December 1]] — [[Deep Roy]]
* [[December 3]] — [[Loris Loddi]]
* [[December 5]] — [[Javier Rodríguez]], [[Pino Pirovano]]
* [[December 9]] — [[Alexander Hauff]]
* [[December 15]] — [[Nicholas James]], [[Yūichi Nagashima]]
* [[December 13]] — [[Steve Buscemi]]
* [[December 17]] — [[Doug Parker]]
* [[December 19]] — [[Jūrōta Kosugi]], [[Rafael Calvo]]
* [[December 23]] — [[Steven L. Sears]]
* [[December 24]] — [[Jun Kawagoe]]
* [[December 27]] — [[Masashi Hironaka]]

[[Category:Real-world events by year]]

April 25

2025-04-25T14:03:03Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|4|25}}</noinclude>

* '''[[1949]] —''' [[Nicholas Kendall]] (director of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Power Surge (episode)|Power Surge]]") is born.
* '''[[1955]] —''' [[Tony Fuochi]] (Italian voice of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' [[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]], ''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Prime]]'' [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] and [[Sixknight]]) is born in Milano, [[Italy]].
* '''[[1957]] —''' [[Douglas Welbat]] (German voice of [[Megatron (ES)|Megatron]]) is born.
* '''[[1961]] —''' [[Marcella Silvestri]] (Italian voice of [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|''Animated'' Blackarachnia]]) is born.
* '''[[1967]] —''' [[Riccardo Lombardo]] (Italian voice of [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus]] [[Optimus Primal (ROTB)|Primal]] and [[Denny Clay]]) is born.
* '''[[1969]] —''' [[Gina Torres]] (voice of [[Airachnid (Prime)|Airachnid]]) is born just in the nick of time, making her a big damn hero.
* '''1969 —''' [[Iván Jara]] (Castilian Spanish voice of [[Scrapface]]) is born.
* '''[[1977]] —''' Part One Co., Ltd., owner of the [[e-HOBBY]] online store, is founded.
* '''[[1980]] —''' [[Rika Morinaga]] (Japanese voice of [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] in ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'') is born.
* '''[[1982]] —''' [[Josh Kelly]] ([[Stone]] in ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' and ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'') is born.
* '''[[1986]] —''' The ''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers]]'' episode "[[The Search for Alpha Trion|Finding Alpha Trin]]" premieres in Japan.
* '''1986 —''' [[Helena Coppejans]] (French voice of [[Strongarm (RID)|Strongarm]] in ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'') is born.
* '''[[1989]] —''' The ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' episode "[[Infiltration... The Uranium Mine]]" premieres in Japan.
* '''[[1993]] —''' [[Jessica Ángeles]] (Latin-American Spanish voice of ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' [[Airazor (BW)|Airazor]], [[Tina Lark]] and [[Nova Storm (ES)|Nova Storm]]) is born.
* '''[[1998]] —''' The ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' episode "[[Code of Hero]]" gets its regular syndication debut in the US.
* '''[[2000]] —''' ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars: Metals]]—[[Geneon Universal Entertainment#Beast Wars Metals|Yeah, I'm Back!'', ''Love Typhoon'']] and ''[[Cutting Edge|The Movie]]'' are released on VHS in Japan by [[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]].
* '''[[2003]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Legends of the Microns]]'' episode "[[Credulous|慢心 (おごり) - credulous]]" premieres in Japan.
* '''2003 —''' The ''[[Transformers: Space Pirates]]'' TPB is released by [[Titan Books]].
* '''[[2006]] —''' The ''[[Information Administration Teletraan 15 Go! Go!|15 Go! Go!]]'' chapter "[[Steeljaw Volume]]" is published in the June 2006 issue of ''[[Dengeki Hobby Magazine|Dengeki Hobby]]''.
* '''[[2007]] —''' "[[Spotlight: Kup]]" and ''[[Transformers: Cybertron: Balancing Act]]'' are released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''2007 —''' The ''15 Go! Go!'' chapter "[[Sparkbots Volume 5]]" is published in the June 2007 issue of ''Dengeki Hobby''.
* '''[[2008]] —''' First full day of [[BotCon 2008]]. Dealer room opens, panels, "Faction Feud", special preview showing of the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' episode "[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]]", [[Hasbro]] team live commentary on [[Transformers (film)|the ''Transformers'' live-action movie]].
* '''2008 —''' ''[[Transformers Adventures Volume 1]]'' is released in the UK by [[Titan Books]].
* '''[[2009]] —''' The ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'' episode "[[Human Error, Part II]]" premieres in the US.
* '''2009 —''' [[TakaraTomy]] releases [[Henkei! Henkei! Transformers (toyline)|Henkei! Henkei! Transformers]] C-20 [[Red Alert (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Alert]] and C-21 [[Smokescreen (G1)/toys#Henkei! Henkei!|Smokescreen]].
* '''2009 —''' [[Henkei! Henkei! volume 12]] is first published.
* '''[[2012]] —''' ''[[The Transformers: Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Devisive|#4]] is released in the US, and ''[[The Transformers: Autocracy]]'' [[Overthrown|#8]] is published online by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2013]] —''' ''[[Transformers Legends (mobile game)|Transformers Legends]]'' is (finally) released for iOS devices.
* '''[[2014]] —''' Pre-purchase tickets for the [[Transformers Expo]] [[exclusive]] "[[Slug (AOE)#TFExpoG1|"Slug G1 Color"]] toy are made available at Lawson stores in Japan.
* '''[[2015]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' episode "[[As the Kospego Commands!]]" premieres on [[Cartoon Network]] in the USA.
* '''2015 —''' The ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' series premieres in [[South Korea]] on Tooniverse.
* '''2015 —''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'' episode "[[The New Recruits]]" premieres on [[Discovery Family]].
* '''2015 —''' [[TakaraTomy]] releases ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)#Japanese toyline|Adventure]]'' [[Nemesis Prime (RID)#Adventure|TAV13 Nemesis Prime]], [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)#Adventure|TAV14 Ultra Magnus]] and [[Optimus Prime (WFC)/toys#Robots in Disguise|TED 06 Big Optimus Prime]], as well as ''[[Q-Transformers]]'' [[Nemesis Prime (AOE)#Q-Transformers|QT-18 Nemesis Prime]], [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#Q-Transformers|QT-19 Convoy]] and [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Q-Transformers|QT-20 Megatron]].
* '''2015 —''' [[Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Transformers: Age of Extinction]] makes its Latin American television broadcast debut on ''FOX1''.
* '''[[2017]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' episodes "[[King of the Hill (Part 1)]]", "[[King of the Hill (Part 2)]]" and "[[Blurred]]" premiere in [[France]].
* '''[[2020]] —''' [[TakaraTomy]] releases ''[[Studio Series]]'' [[Bumblebee (Movie)/toys#SS57|SS-48 Offroad Bumblebee]] and [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)#Studio Series|SS-49 Sentinel Prime]] and ''[[War for Cybertron: Earthrise|Earthrise]]'' [[Hoist (G1)/toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|ER-01 Hoist]] and [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|ER-02 Optimus Prime with trailer]], plus [[Soundbarrier#Toys|ER EX-01 Soundbarrier]] and [[Grapple (G1)#War for Cybertron: Earthrise|ER EX-02 Grapple]] are released as [[TakaraTomy Mall]] exclusives.
* '''2020 —''' The ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy (cartoon)|Rescue Bots Academy]]'' episodes "[[Trouble Cubed]]" and "[[My Favorite Rescue]]" premiere on [[Discovery Family]].
* '''[[2022]] —''' Chinese mobile company Redmagic announces new collaboration with Transformers including an [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]]-themed version of their 7 Pro mobile gamer phone and a [[Decepticon]]-themed variant as well.
* '''[[2023]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' episode "[[Outtakes]]" premieres in [[France]], [[Hungary]] and [[Turkey]].
* '''2023 —''' [[Imre Szélyes]] (Hungarian voice of numerous [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Primes]]) passes away at age 79.
* '''[[2024]] —''' A Transformers product reveal stream occurs on the [[Hasbro Pulse]] YouTube channel officially revealing the [[Robosen]] [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Robosen Flagship Edition|Megatron]] and ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Transformers: Legacy United]]'' wave 3.
* '''2024 —''' [[The Transformers Classics|The Transformers Classics Vol.7]] is released by [[Hero-X]].

April 13

2025-04-25T14:02:38Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

<noinclude>{{cal-date|4|13}}</noinclude>

* '''[[1947]] —''' [[Holger Schwiers]] (German voice of [[Dirk Manus]], [[Furg]], [[Scourge (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Scourge]], [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] and more) is born.
* '''[[1950]] —''' [[Ron Perlman]] (voice of [[Optimus Primal (ROTB)|Optimus Primal]]) is born, and asks where his goddamn shoe is.
* '''[[1952]] —''' [[Yasuyoshi Hara]] (Japanese voice of [[Tom Banachek]], [[Morshower]] and [[Devastator (ROTF)|Devastator]]) is born.
* '''1952 —''' [[Zhang Wenyu]] (Chinese voice of [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]] in ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'') is born.
* '''1952 —''' [[Achille Orsoni]] (French voice of [[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]] in the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|War for Cybertron]]'' videogame) is born.
* '''[[1953]] —''' [[Ricardo Schnetzer]] (Brazilian voice of [[Grapple (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|Grapple]], [[Blaster (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|Blaster]], [[Cosmos (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|Cosmos]], [[Nosecone (G1)#The Transformers cartoon|Nosecone]], [[Leadfoot (DOTM)#Dark of the Moon film|Leadfoot]] and [[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]] [[Scorponok (G1)#War for Cybertron Trilogy cartoon|Scorponok]]) is born.
* '''1953 —''' [[Esther Scott]] ([[Glen's grandmama]] in ''[[Transformers (film)|Transformers]]'') is born.
* '''[[1954]] —''' Writer [[Michael Cassutt]] is born.
* '''1954 —''' [[Michael Bideller]] (German voice of [[Wheeljack (ES)|Wheeljack]]) is born.
* '''[[1970]] —''' [[Lalo Capetillo]] (Mexican voice of [[Megatron (One)|D-16/Megatron]] in ''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]'') is born.
* '''[[1973]] —''' [[Tanja Schmitz]] (German voice of [[Sari Sumdac]]) is born.
* '''[[1974]] —''' [[Gwangju Jeon]] (Korean voice of [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] and [[Backstop (Cybertron)|Backstop]]) is born.
* '''[[1977]] —''' [[Makoto Ueki]] (voice of [[Colada]]) is born.
* '''1977 —''' [[Tero Koponen]] (Finnish voice of [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]], [[Trypticon (WFC)|Nemesis]], [[Bombshock (Prime)|Bombshock]], [[Blurr (Prime)|Blurr]], [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] and more) is born.
* '''[[1981]] —''' [[Daniel Lacy]] (Mexican voice of [[Manny (Movie)|Manny]]) is born.
* '''[[1988]] —''' [[Liu Beichen]] (Chinese voice of [[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)| Prime]] [[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]] and [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]]) is born.
* '''[[1990]] —''' [[Igor Lott]] (Brazilian voice of [[Jetfire (Animated)|Jetfire]]) is born.
* '''[[2009]] —''' A six-minute preview of the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' episode "[[Human Error, Part I]]" debuts on [[Cartoon Network]]'s website.
* '''[[2011]] —''' ''[[The Transformers (IDW)|The Transformers]]'' [[Revenge of the Decepticons Part 5: Enemy Mine|#18]] and ''[[Transformers: Rising Storm]]'' [[Rising Storm issue 3|#3]] are released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''2011 —''' Voting begins for the fans' choice entry in the 2011 [[Transformers Hall of Fame]].
* '''[[2015]] —''' Comic artist [[Herb Trimpe]] dies at age 75.
* '''[[2016]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 comic)|Robots in Disguise]]'' TPB is released by [[IDW Publishing]].
* '''[[2018]] —''' [[Thomas Petruo]] (German voice of [[Paralon (RID)|Paralon]]) dies at age 61.
* '''[[2024]] —''' The ''[[Transformers: EarthSpark (cartoon)|Transformers: EarthSpark]]'' episodes "[[What Dwells Within]]" and "[[Prime Time (episode)|Prime Time]]" premiere on [[Nickelodeon]] in the [[United States|U.S]].

Esther Scott

2025-04-25T14:00:23Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Wrong DOB

'''Esther Scott''' ([[April 13]], [[1953]] - [[February 14]], [[2020]]), was an American actress. In addition to recurring roles on sitcoms like ''The Geena Davis Show'' and ''Sister, Sister'', she had made a number of movie appearances (frequently playing grandmothers) in a number of films, ranging from ''Boyz n the Hood'' to ''You Got Served''.

Also, she was totally Wicket's mom in that ''Ewoks'' cartoon.

==''Transformers'' (2007)==
* [[Glen's grandmama]]

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0779126/ Esther Scott at the Internet Movie Database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Esther}}
[[Category:DreamWorks]]
[[Category:On-camera actors]]

G.I. Joe (2024) issue 6

2025-04-23T15:57:14Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' #6
|prev=G.I. Joe (2024) issue 5
|next=G.I. Joe Energon Universe 2025 Special story
|image=G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[April 23]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=April 2025
|written by=[[Joshua Williamson]]
|art by=[[Tom Reilly]]
|colors by=[[Jordie Bellaire]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editors=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|production design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''The opening salvo of G.I. Joe's fight against Cobra climaxes as Duke and Cobra Commander face off for the first time. But this is just the beginning of the war to come…'''

==Synopsis==
With [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] holding him at gunpoint, [[Cobra Commander]] decides to introduce himself to the [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] leader. Knowing Duke's history, the Commander says they're not so different: both men loyal to systems greater than them that found themselves betrayed. However, while Duke went back to the military, the Commander built something new. Duke rejects this notion, at which point the Commander fully activates the [[Brainwave Scanner|Brainwave Bomb]]. After explaining its effects, Duke orders Cobra Commander to shut it down, but the Commander tells him the only way to do so is to kill [[Doctor Venom|Doctor Monev]]. As the Commander turns to leave, Duke fires on him, but he blocks the bullets with his metal gauntlet and fires back with [[Energon]] blasts.

Meanwhile, [[Destro]] pursues the escaping Joes in a [[F.A.N.G.]]. As [[Baroness]] tries to evade his fire, [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]] insists that they go back to rescue Duke. Despite her objections, Clutch is able to goad her into turning around, much to Destro's shock. [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz|Chameleon]] reports to him that Cobra Commander has activated the Brain Bomb. With the likelihood of the Joes being caught in its blast, Destro orders the rest of Cobra to return to [[Springfield (G.I. Joe)|Springfield]].

As Duke and Cobra Commander continue their fight, the Commander taunts Duke that he's already lost. However, Duke counters that he doesn't need to win; he just needs to keep the Commander within the Brainwave Bomb's blast radius so that he dies too. The Commander says he's not afraid to die, but Duke counters that if he does, then Cobra will rule the world without him. In response, Cobra Commander turns and fires an Energon blast through Doctor Monev's head, shutting down the Brain Bomb. He then retrieves a small orb from the Brainwave Scanner. As the other Joes arrive, Cobra Commander takes his leave, telling Duke that he looks forward to their future battles.

In Springfield, Cobra regroups. Destro is outraged that Cobra Commander's actions have compromised [[M.A.R.S.]] so completely, but the Commander remains unperturbed. He reveals that while the Brainwave Bomb was but one means to an end, his real goal with merging the Brainwave Scanner and the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] shard was to unlock a piece of technology hidden inside. He decides it's time for Destro to know the truth about the [[Transformer|robots in disguise]] on [[Earth]].

At [[Pit (G.I. Joe)|The Pit]], the Joes recover. Duke reports to [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Colonel Hawk]] that they lost, but Hawk simply commends him on surviving the incident. Duke reaffirms that while the Joes need more training and time in the field together, their unique abilities is what made sure they survived. However, they can't lose focus on why the Joes were formed in the first place: finding [[Starscream (G1)|the robot]] that killed [[Frosting]]. Meanwhile, Clutch decides to go for a drive to clear his head, hopping into a jeep outside the Pit. As he drives into the desert, he is suddenly thrown from the vehicle… as it transforms into [[Hound (G1)|a giant robot]]!

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|h1=[[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]]|c1=
* [[Duke (G.I. Joe)|Duke]] (2)
* ''[[Rock 'n Roll]]'' (5)
* [[Clutch (G.I. Joe)|Clutch]] (6)
* [[Stalker (G.I. Joe)|Stalker]] (7)
* [[Cover Girl]] (8)
* [[Risk (G.I. Joe)|Risk]] (9)
* [[Baroness]] (10)
* [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|Hawk]] (21)

|h2=[[Cobra]]|c2=
* [[Cobra Commander]] (1)
* [[Astoria Carlton-Ritz|Chameleon]] (13)
* [[Destro]] (14)
* [[Tomax and Xamot]] (15 & 16)
* [[Scrap-Iron]] (17)
* [[Mercer]] (18)
* [[Ripper (G.I. Joe)|Ripper]] (19)

|h3=Others|c3=
* [[Doctor Venom|Archibald Monev]] (3)
* ''[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]'' (4)
* ''[[Golobulus]]'' (11)
* ''[[Nemesis Enforcer]]'' (12)
* ''[[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]]'' (20)
* [[Hound (G1)|Hound]] (22)
}}

==Quotes==
"You should have run. Like your team did.” 
"They only ran because I ordered them to. Luckily, they don't listen to me."
:—'''Cobra Commander''' and '''Duke'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Cobra Commander first learned about Duke from Destro in [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 1|the first issue of this series]]. However, he appears to know far more about Duke's recent history - including his encounter with the Transformers - than was gleaned from that brief exchange. While it is possible Destro, who learned the full ordeal of Duke's encounter with Starscream from [[General Flagg]]'s files back in ''[[Destro (comic)|Destro]]'' [[Destro issue 4|#4]], told him about it off panel, that seems dubious given Destro's distrust of the Commander.
* During Cobra Commander's “we're not so different” speech, we see flashbacks to the events of both ''[[Duke (comic)|Duke]]'' and ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]''.
* Cobra Commander was seen upgrading his energon blasting gauntlet, first seen in [[Cobra Commander issue 4|''Cobra Commander'' #4]], in issue #1.
* Duke is still mad about the death of Frosting from back in ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' [[Transformers (2023) issue 2|#2]].
* Hey kids, it's '''Hound'''! The Autobot tracker makes his Energon Universe debut in this issue, also marking the first proper appearance of a Transformer in the main G.I. Joe title. We had previously seen an arm that appeared to belong to Hound among the [[Autobot]] remains aboard the [[Ark (G1)|''Ark'']] in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|''Transformers'' #1]]. What is he doing here? We'll find out in the ''[[Energon Universe 2025 Special]]''!

===''Transformers'' references===
* As Hound transforms, the [[transformation#The noise|transformation sound effect]] is rendered in onomatopoeia.

===Other notes===
* Originally scheduled for release April 17, this issue was pushed back a week.

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Duke and Cobra Commander clash as everything burns around them, by Tom Reilly.
* '''Cover B:''' Baroness and Destro, by [[Derrick Chew]].
* '''Cover C:''' Cobra Commander is full of snakes, by [[Lorenzo de Felici]].
* '''Cover D (1:10 Copy Incentive):''' Connecting cover, by [[Karl Kerschl]].
* '''Cover E (1:25 Copy Incentive):''' Destro on an explosion background, by [[Travis Moore]] and Adriano Lucas.
* '''Cover F (1:50 Copy Incentive):''' Hound looms over Clutch, by [[Daniel Warren Johnson]] and [[Mike Spicer]].

<gallery>
File:G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover A.jpg|
File:G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover B.jpg|
File:G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover C.jpg|
File:G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover D.jpg|
File:G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover E.jpg|
File:G.I. Joe 2024 6 Cover F.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 18|#18]], the [[Energon Universe 2025 Special]], ''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' [[Transformers (2023) issue 20|#20]], and ''G.I. Joe'' #7.
* ''Invincible Universe: Battle Beast''
* ''Blood and Thunder''
* ''G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero: Silent Missions''

===Reprints===
* '''''G.I. Joe Volume 1: The Cobra Strikes!''''' ([[June 18]], [[2025]]) ISBN 1534328076 / ISBN 978-1534328075 
** Collects issues #1–6.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:G.I. Joe 2024 V1.jpg|'''''Volume 1: The Cobra Strikes!''''' – cover art by Tom Reilly and Jordie Bellaire
</gallery>

[[Category:G.I. Joe (2024) issues]]

Inferno (episode)

2025-04-17T15:52:17Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Animation and/or technical glitches */

{{disambig3|Inferno}}
{{episode
|series=Cybertron
|ep=52
|series2=Transformers: Galaxy Force
|ep2=2
|prev2=Fallen (episode)
|next2=Haven
|title="Inferno"
|japanese=トランスフォーマーとの遭遇
|romaji=Transformer no Sōgū
|translation=Encounter with the Transformers
|image=Cyb_ep52_burning_down_the_house.jpg
|caption=Fool! Pain is my friend...allow [[Inferno (BW)|me]] to introduce ''you'' to it!
|production code=
|production company=[[TV Aichi]], [[We've]], [[Tōkyū Agency]]
|writer=[[Hiro Masaki]]
|director=[[Kahoru Igusa]]
|animation studio=[[GONZO]]
|airdate=[[January 15]], [[2005]] (Japanese) [[October 2]], [[2006]] (English)
|continuity=[[Unicron Trilogy cartoon timeline|Unicron Trilogy cartoon continuity]]
}}

'''Some other things happen.'''

==Synopsis==
[[File:Cyb ep52 hauling landmine.jpg|left|thumb|upright=1.2]]

[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] and his [[Autobot]]s take a [[space bridge]] to [[Earth]], though [[Vector Prime]] warns that the evacuation of [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] is only delaying the inevitable; the [[Unicron Singularity|black hole]] will eventually consume all of reality if they do not stop it. To this end, the Autobots split into two teams: [[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]], [[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] and [[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] are assigned to accompany Vector Prime in pursuit of [[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]], to recover the [[Planet Map]] the [[Decepticon]] leader stole, while Optimus and [[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] search Earth for the missing [[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]].

Meanwhile, on Earth, [[Coby Hansen|Coby]] rushes to the garage of his engineering mentor Mr. [[Stanton]], looking for tools to help repair the injured Landmine. Coby claims he is going to "mine for gold", and the amused Stanton lets Coby borrow the tools, plus his ATV. Coby uses the ATV to help pull Landmine out of the impact crater he left when he fell to Earth, and he and his brother [[Bud Hansen|Bud]] proceed to lead the Autobot into the cover of the forest, where they meet with their friend [[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] and begin repairing his injuries and polishing his armor.

Elsewhere on Earth, Optimus is waiting for Scattorshot to scan a new [[alternate mode]]. He spies a billboard with what might be a war-movie advertisement on it and scans the vehicle from that: a half-track tank. Optimus is dubious, but Scattorshot gets suitably lippy and the two drive off.

[[File:Cyb ep52 planet map.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Remember, using chaff or entering Alert status will disable your map.]]

In outer space, Megatron and [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] arrive in an asteroid field, guided by the stolen map to the location of one of the [[Cyber Planet Key]]s. When Megatron breaks open the largest asteroid, however, he finds nothing, and almost crushes the map in anger, until Starscream stops him and points out that the map itself is ancient, and that the universe is constantly moving. Megatron muses that some adjustments need to be made, but then the Autobot strike team arrives. Vector Prime and Jetfire tackle Starscream while Overhaul and Hot Shot pile on Megatron. They put up a good fight, but even two-to-one, the Autobots are unable to take down the Decepticons.

[[File:LandmineFootprints.jpg|left|upright=1.2|thumb|I sure hope somebody needs a forest ranger around here sometime.]]
Back on Earth, the town sheriff and a crowd of people discover the giant footprints Landmine left behind, and begin searching the woods in search of the "[[Bigfoot]]" that has left the tracks. Word of this discovery travels fast, and Optimus Prime happens to overhear two gas station attendants talking about it. The Autobot leader quickly reads between the lines, and sets off for the forest to investigate.

Elsewhere, the Decepticon [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] arrives on Earth and scans a military jet for his alternate mode. Thundercracker soon spies Landmine and the kids, fleeing through the woods with the search party hot on their heels, and launches a volley of missiles at the Autobot. The fires that result from Thundercracker's incendiary attack send the rangers fleeing, at which point Optimus Prime arrives on the scene! Thundercracker lands and fires on Optimus, but can't take the heat, and returns to the air. Optimus follows in his flying form, and the two play cat-and-mouse in a nearby canyon until Optimus gets the upper hand and blows up a battery of Thundercracker's missiles right in the Decepticon's face, sending him hurtling away through a [[dimension gate]].

[[File:Cyb ep52 fire fighting.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Tay Zonday|Chocolate rain... some stay dry, while others feel the pain. Chocolate rain...]]]]

With Thundercracker disposed of, the Autobots have to turn their attention to the fire, and the humans trapped within the flames. Optimus Prime sucks up water from the nearby lake, and converts to [[Super Mode]], using his cannons to douse the inferno with a hyper-ionized blast of water. That to the Autobot leader's careful tactics, the humans think that it is simply raining, and walk away happy after the flames die out.

The other Autobots soon arrive on the scene, and more introductions are made between them and the kids. The Autobots are loathe to involve the human children in their mission, but that doesn't stop Bud from cozying up to Vector Prime inspecting his impressive clockwork inner workings. As Bud touches the ancient Transformers' armor, the [[Recon Mini-Con Team]] spring forth and scan their alternate modes from Coby's spilled books and magazines. Jolt recognizes the image on Lori's rock-band T-shirt is that of the [[Omega Lock]], one of the keys to stopping the black hole. Vector Prime muses that if that pattern is appearing on Earth, then maybe one of the Cyber Planet Keys is here...
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]] (1)
*[[Hot Shot (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Hot Shot]] (2)
*[[Jetfire (Armada)|Jetfire]] (3)
*[[Scattorshot (Cybertron)|Scattorshot]] (4)
*[[Vector Prime]] (5)
*[[Safeguard (Cybertron)|Safeguard]] (6)
*[[Overhaul (Cybertron)|Overhaul]] (7)
*[[Landmine (Energon)|Landmine]] (11)
*[[Jolt (Cybertron)|Jolt]] (18)
*[[Six-Speed (Cybertron)|Six-Speed]] (19)
*[[Reverb (Cybertron)|Reverb]] (20)

|c2=
*[[Megatron (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (15)
*[[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] (16)
*[[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (17)

|c3=
*[[Coby Hansen]] (8)
*[[Stanton]] (9)
*[[Bud Hansen]] (10)
*[[Lori Jiménez|Lori]] (12)
*[[Luke (Cybertron)|Luke]] (13)
*Sheriff (14)
}}

==Quotes==
"Just one question... are you standard or metric?" 
"You know, I never really thought about it."
:—'''Coby''' and '''Landmine'''

"A ''tank''?! Are you ''trying'' to draw attention to us?!" 
"As opposed to a firetruck with giant ''cannons''? Yeah, 'cuz that blends in ''so'' well with the scenery. Where'd you go? Oh, ''there'' you are, I didn't see you for a second! Huh. A tank is perfect! No parking tickets, they'll all get out of my way, ''and'' I can get up to sixty miles per hour on rough terrain!" 
"Yes... but a fire truck is bigger." 
"''Wanna race?''"
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Scattorshot''' discuss their alternate modes' disguise value

"Bigfoot in platform shoes?"
:—'''Random witness''' to the footprints Landmine left behind

"It's been real, gentlemen."
:—'''Optimus Prime'''

"If the Earth is in danger..." 
"Not ''if'', ''when''!"
:—'''Lori''' and '''Scattorshot'''

'''Jolt:''' "Um, where are we, anyway?" 
'''Lori:''' "This is Earth." 
'''Jolt:''' "Ooh-hoo-hoo! ''Earth!''" 
'''Coby:''' "You know it?" 
'''Jolt:''' "Never heard of it."
:—Jolt doesn't actually know which planet he's on

==Notes==
===Differences with ''Galaxy Force''===
*''Galaxy Force'' includes a "previously on" segment that summarizes the events of the first episode, which ''Cybertron'' drops. This sequence featured the revelation that Landmine had not been sucked into the black hole, but had in fact been warped to Earth by Vector Prime, but American audiences already knew this, so its removal meant nothing.
*While ''Cybertron'' has the characters talking about a "search party", ''Galaxy Force'' has them discuss the consumption of Cybertron by the black hole, a plot point consistently excised from the English version of the show.
*In both ''Galaxy Force'' and the first ''Cybertron'' version of the scene (in the episode "[[Fallen (episode)|Fallen]]", see below), Vector Prime suspects that the presence of the symbol of the Omega Lock means the device may be on the Earth. Rather inexplicably, in this ''Cybertron'' episode, he suspects it may mean a Cyber Planet Key is here (of course, both suppositions eventually prove correct, but still...)

===Animation and/or technical glitches===
[[File:Cyb ep52 wing clip.jpg|thumb|A bad case of ingrown tailfin]]

*The passenger side of Optimus' truck cab (his robot mode left shoulder and arm) is out of alignment as he orders Scattorshot to hurry up and find an alternate mode.
*Megatron's Decepticon [[insignia]] appears unfinished at several points, appearing as a flat grey placeholder.
*When Landmine is flexing his recently repaired hand, the support strut for his right arm's shovel-half is actually phasing through the shovel.
*When Optimus Prime thanks the gas station attendant, and later when he meets up with Landmine, his headlights do not flash as he speaks. You might think it's a dubbing error, but the effect is missing in ''Galaxy Force'' too.
*After Thundercracker transforms to [[robot mode]], as he fires at Optimus, his tail fin clips through his leg (see image at right).

===Continuity errors===
*A running error throughout these early episodes (well, early-continuity) is that characters have blatant Earth-[[alternate mode]] [[kibble]] on them before they scan an Earth alternate mode. Scattorshot and the Mini-Cons scan theirs this episode... and Landmine won't get ''his'' until his [[Landmine (episode)|titular episode]], quite a few down the line.
*The line: "You got those from Coby's book!"... is pronounced by Coby himself, but using Bud's voice! This is a ''Cybertron'' exclusive mistake, since in ''Galaxy Force'' the line was just: "You got those from '''the''' book!", and the voice was Coby's one.
*Despite getting a second chance to correct the error they made regarding it in "Fallen", ''Cybertron'' persists in claiming that the old T-shirt Lori wears in this episode is her brother's, when she doesn't ''have'' a brother.

===Transformers references===
*Optimus uses the old catchphrase "robots in disguise" when telling Scattorshot to hurry up and scan an alternate mode.

===Real-world references===
*The military jet scanned by Thundercracker is referred to as "Oceanic Flight 815", after the doomed airliner from the TV series ''{{w|Lost (TV series)|Lost}}''.
*Thundercracker hoots "Time to git 'r' done!", the catchphrase of popular hick-comedian {{w|Larry The Cable Guy}}.

===Trivia===
[[File:Cyb ep52 flying autobots.jpg|thumb|This year's Thanksgiving Day parade is sure to be an interesting one]]
*This episode originally aired in Japan as the second episode of ''Galaxy Force'', but was combined with the first episode to create "[[Fallen (episode)|Fallen]]", the first episode of the ''Cybertron'' dub. To fill out the full run of 52 dubbed episodes, this episode was dubbed as a "lost" episode that served as the 52nd and final episode of the series. When ''Cybertron'' was released on DVD in Malaysia, the episode was included as the second of the series, but when the series was released in the United States, it retained its iffy 52nd placement.
*This episode is the first in which several land-based Autobots fly under their own power in robot mode. It's not a feat they will repeat often.
*In this episode, as well as "[[Retreat]]" and "[[Revelation (episode)|Revelation]]", actress [[Chiara Zanni]] stands in for [[Sarah Edmondson]] as Lori.
*Vector Prime is capable of using his toes as laser cannons in [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]].

===Foreign localization===
'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Incontro'''" ("Encounter")
::*Stanton is not called by name in this episode.
::*When Stanton gives Coby the keys, the line: "Your ATV! Thanks!" becomes: "Your '''car'''! Thanks!", erm... what?! It really looks like the translator had no idea what an [[w:All-terrain vehicle|ATV]] is... although in the very next scene Coby is using one... (or maybe they considered that to be a car...)
::*"Flying fire engine" and "flying fire trucks" are both changed to "truck of flying firefighters"! Yes, now the firefighters are the ones flying, not the truck!
::*[[Fallen (episode)#Foreign localization|That horrible translation mistake]] about the kids laughing is not present here: the dialogues are now correctly translated. Thank God!

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2005 — ''Transformers: Galaxy Force'' — Vol. 01 ([[Victor Entertainment]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Ultimate Collection ([[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers: Cybertron'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Cybertron episodes]]

Body-type

2025-04-15T18:38:06Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Racing Motercycle */

[[Image:Bumblebeebodies.jpg|right|thumb|400px|Body-type available in dork, boxer, and chick.]]

{{quote|At least I'm not ugly.|[[Skywarp (WFC)|Skywarp]]}}
{{quote|Ugly? You and I look the same!|[[Thundercracker (WFC)|Thundercracker]]|''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron (360/PS3/PC)|Transformers: War for Cybertron]]''}}

A '''body-type'''<ref>Term yanked from "[[Withered Hope]]", as is the information from the rest of the introductory paragraphs.</ref> or '''model'''<ref>Term used in "[[Autoboot Camp]]" and "[[This Is Why I Hate Machines]]".</ref> is the basic design of a Transformer's chassis. The design can be shared with other Transformers, either with or without individualizing customizations.

In [[Transcendent Technomorph|some universes]], upgrading or refitting a Transformer from one body-type to another can be a [[Swindle, Swindle and Swindle|lucrative black market business]]. Individual body-types have identifying model numbers. For example, [[Bumblebee (G1)|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]], and [[Bug Bite (GoBots)|Bug Bite]] have all, in one [[universal stream|Primax Cluster universe]] or another, inhabited a "[[C1186-P0019]]" of various colors. That model is reportedly popular with scouts.

[[Transformers Animated (franchise)|Other universes]] also use numbers to identify body types. For instance, [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]], [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]], [[Wasp]], and many others are all body type [[65356-9292-346]].<ref>As shown in [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|The AllSpark Almanac II]].</ref>

Body-types are particularly common in the Transformers [[toy]] lines, where many [[redeco]]s are marketed as separate [[character]]s.<ref>This only applies to different-character toys based on the same sculpt that exist in the same universe. Redeco characters released under a line that places the new character in a different universe than other iterations of the sculpt are arguably cosmic coincidences.</ref> This article puts its focus on body-types with relevance in fiction and other outstanding qualities. Because otherwise, this list could go on forever.

==Outstanding examples==
===Generation 1===
===="[[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]" type====
[[File:AirWarriors MTMtE.jpg|thumb|200px]]
{{collist|5|
*[[Acid Storm (G1)|Acid Storm]]
*[[Air Warrior]]s
*[[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]]
*[[Dirge (G1)|Dirge]]
*[[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]]
*[[Ion Storm]]
*[[Nacelle (G1)|Nacelle]]
*[[Nova Storm (G1)|Nova Storm]]
*[[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]]
*[[Red Wing (G1)|Red Wing]]
*[[Sandstorm (G2)|Sandstorm]]
*[[Skywarp (G1)|Skywarp]]
*[[Slipstream (G1)|Slipstream]]
*[[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]]
*[[Sunstorm (G1)|Sunstorm]]
*[[Thundercracker (G1)|Thundercracker]]
*[[Thrust (G1)|Thrust]]
*[[Wheezing Arrow]]
*[[Itami Prime]]
}}

===="[[Battlecharger]]" type====
*[[Runabout (G1)|Runabout]]
*[[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]]

===="[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]" type====
*[[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]]
*[[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]]
*[[Smokescreen (G1)|Smokescreen]]
*[[Prowl (SG)|''Shattered Glass'' Prowl]]
*[[Bluestreak (SG)|''Shattered Glass'' Bluestreak]]
*[[Barricade (IDW)|Barricade]]

===="[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]" type====
*[[Sideswipe (G1)|Sideswipe]]
*[[Red Alert (G1)|Red Alert]]
*[[Clampdown (G1)|Clampdown]]
*[[Deep Cover]]
*[[Tigertrack]]

===="[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]" type====
*[[Sunstreaker (G1)|Sunstreaker]]
*[[Cordon]]
*[[Spin-Out (G1)|Spin-Out]]

===Beast Era===
====[[Maximal Command Security Force]]====
{{collist|4|
*[[9K]]
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (former cadet)
*[[Getout]]
*[[High Beam]]
*[[Nitrostreak]]
*[[Overshoot]]
*[[Shatterpoint]]
*[[Stopgap]]
*[[Switchblade (BW)|Switchblade]]
*[[Tigatron|Unit 2]]
}}

===Transformers Animated===
====[[256-OZU-004]]====
*[[Autotrooper (Animated)|Autotrooper]]
*[[Ironfist (Animated)|Ironfist]]
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]]
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]

====[[65356-9292-346]]====
{{collist|4|
*"[[AlbinoBumbleBee]]"
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]
*[[Bumblebee (SG Animated)|''Shattered Glass'' Bumblebee]]
*[[Bumper (Animated)|Bumper]]
*[[Carrera (Animated)|Carrera]]
*[[Chase (Animated)|Chase]]
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]]
*[[Freeway (Animated)|Freeway]]
*[[Furão]]
*[[Glyph (Animated)|Glyph]]
*[[Hubcap (Animated)|Hubcap]]
*[[Moscardo]]
*[[Rapier]]
*[[Searchlight (Animated)|Searchlight]]
*[[Sedan (Animated)|Sedan]]
*[[Siren (Animated)|Siren]]
*[[Tap-Out (Animated)|Tap-Out]]
*[[Volks (Animated)|Volks]]
*[[Wasp]]
}}

====[[09262-8765-001]]====
*[[Flip Sides (Animated)|Flip Sides]]
*[[Rosanna (Animated)|Rosanna]]

====[[65483-2483-321]]====
*[[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]]

===Live-action film series===
====Audi R8====
*[[Audi R8 Decepticon]]
*[[Dead End (ROTF)|Dead End]]
*[[Dino|Dino/Mirage]] (''Cyberverse'' and ''Lost Age Advanced'' toys only)
*[[Override (TF 2010)|Override]]
*[[Sideways (ROTF)|Sideways]]
*[[Wreckloose (ROTF)]]
*[[Stinger (AOE)|Stinger]] (Legion class toy from [[Walmart]] two-pack only)

====Corvette Stingray Concept====
*[[Sideswipe (Movie)]]
*[[Bluestreak (Speed Stars)]]
*[[Swerve (Movie)]]
*[[Darksteel (DOTM)]]

====MiG-29 "Fulcrum"====
*[[Dreadwing (Movie)]]
*[[Overcast (Movie)]]
*[[Fearswoop (ROTF)]]
*[[Class Alpha drone unit]]

====Bulldog II Armored Truck====
*[[Payload (Movie)]]
*[[Dispensor]]
*[[Class Beta drone unit]]

====Ford F-350 Tow Truck====
*[[Longarm (Movie)]]
*[[Hoist (Movie)]]

====Pickup Drone====
*[[Dropkick (Movie)]]
*[[Salvage (Movie)]]
*[[Trailbreaker (Movie)]]

====Transport Hovercraft====
*[[Sea Spray (TF 2010)]]
*[[Deep Dive]]

====Chevrolet Camaro====
*[[Bumblebee (Movie)]]
*[[Cliffjumper (Movie)]]

====F-22 Raptor====
*[[Starscream (Movie)]]
*[[Thundercracker (Movie)]]
*[[Ramjet (Movie)]]
*[[Skywarp (Movie)]]

====Sector 7 Assault Buggy====
*[[Landmine (Movie)]]
*[[Armorhide (Movie)]]
*[[Comettor (DOTM)]]

====Strike Helicopter====
*[[Tomahawk (TF 2010)]]
*[[Vortex (Movie)]]

====F-35 Lightning====
*[[Breakaway (ROTF)]]
*[[Thrust (Movie)]]
*[[Air Raid (Movie)]]

====Cadillac Escalade SUV====
*[[Gears (ROTF)]]
*[[Stockade (Movie)]]

====Racing Motorcycle====
*[[Knock Out (ROTF)]]
*[[Reverb (ROTF)]]
*[[Trenchmouth]]
*[[Backfire (TF 2010)]]

====Chevrolet Cobalt====
*[[Swindle (Movie)]]
*[[Camshaft (Movie)]]

====Osprey====
*[[Blazemaster]]
*[[Springer (ROTF)]]
*[[Tailwhip]]

====Buffalo MPV====
*[[Bonecrusher (Movie)|Bonecrusher]]
*[[Buffalo MPV Decepticon]]

====Constructicon bulldozer====
*[[Bonecrusher (ROTF Constructicon)|Bonecrusher]]
*[[Rampage (ROTF)|Rampage]]
*[[Skipjack (ROTF)|Skipjack]]

====Constructicon mining excavator====
*[[Demolishor (ROTF)|Demolishor]]
*[[Scavenger (ROTF)|Scavenger]]

====[[Constructicon Scout]]====
*[[Scrapper (ROTF)|Scrapper]]
*[[Scrapmetal (ROTF)|Scrapmetal]] (film only)
*[[Trench]]

====[[Constructicon Warrior]]====
*[[Canopy]]
*[[Garagebot]]
*[[Long Haul (ROTF)|Long Haul]]
*[[Onslaught (ROTF)|Onslaught]]
*[[Payload (Movie)|Payload]] (''Transformers'' 2010 toys only)

====Pontiac Solstice====
*[[Jazz (Movie)]]
*[[Smokescreen (Movie)]]
*[[Runamuck (ROTF)]]
*[[Dead End (ROTF)]]

====Dread #1====
*[[Berserker]]
*[[Crankcase (DOTM)|Crankcase]]
*[[Enforcer]]

====Dread #2====
*[[Crowbar]]
*[[Dreadbot]]

====Dread #3====
*[[Assaulter]]s
*[[Hatchet (DOTM)|Hatchet]]
*[[:File:TF-TLK-Dread-Alternate-Concept-Art-03.jpg|Unknown]]

====Jetfire Model====
*[[Jetfire (Movie)|Jetfire]]
*[[Lieutenant]]

====Lensmeter====
*[[Lensmeter Decepticon]]s
*[[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]]

====M1 Abrams====
*[[Brawl (Movie)|Brawl]]
*[[Brawler]]
*[[M1 Abrams Decepticon]]s
*[[Tankor (ROTF)|Tankor]]

====Super Stallion====
*[[Blackout (Movie)|Blackout]]
*[[Chopter]]
*[[Dropkick (Movie)|Dropkick]] (''Tiny Turbo Changers'' Chopper Mode toy only)
*[[Evac (Movie)|Evac]]
*[[Grindor (ROTF)|Grindor]]
*[[Grindor drone]]s
*[[Spinister (ROTF)|Spinister]]
*[[Whirl (ROTF)|Whirl]]

===Aligned===
====Transformers: Prime====
* [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] and [[Tailgate (Prime)|Tailgate]], who were both [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s partners, shared the same body type, only different in their color scheme. Maybe Arcee has a type.
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] and [[Ultra Magnus (WFC)|Ultra Magnus]] shared a body type with minor differences before Optimus got reformatted. [[Orion Pax, Part 2|While Optimus was brainwashed into Megatron's service]], he encountered his own file, illustrated with the schematics of what would later be revealed to be Ultra Magnus' body.

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

==See also==
*[[Character model]]

[[Category:Transformer anatomy]]

Topspin (DOTM)

2025-03-28T04:02:22Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|wreckers|NEST}}
{{disambig3|Topspin}}
:''Topspin is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (franchise)|Dark of the Moon]] portion of the [[movie continuity family]].''

[[File:Topspin-dotm-nizzi-production.jpg|right|thumb|400px|YOU DON'T DESERVE TO KNOW MY NAME!]]

If it doesn't result in at least a few dings and scraped paint, '''Topspin''' isn't interested. To him, buckled and burnt armor are signs of a life well-led. As one of the [[Wreckers]], he's proud of being one tough bot, and is more than happy to wear the scars to prove it. He is sometimes called '''Volleybot'''.

==Fiction==
===Movies===
====''Dark of the Moon'' film====
[[File:DOTM-Topspinchicago.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Spy's sappin mah sentry!]]

Topspin, Leadfoot, and Roadbuster - collectively called the [[Wreckers]] by [[Charlotte Mearing]] - had arrived with the second wave of Autobots aboard their ship, the ''[[Xantium (DOTM)|Xantium]]''. Rarely allowed out of the [[NASA]] base because of their attitude, they would spend most of their time repairing their ship with help from some human engineers, notably [[Robert Epps]].

When [[Sentinel Prime (ROTF)|Sentinel Prime]] announced that all other Autobots were to be exiled or the [[Earth]] would face the wrath of hundreds of Decepticons, the three were tasked with preparing their ship for launch. They accompanied [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|Optimus Prime]] and the others aboard as it lifted into the atmosphere, where it was promptly targeted and blown to smithereens by [[Starscream (Movie)|Starscream]], seemingly killing everyone aboard. Despite the loss, the Autobots' human allies planned to launch an incursion into Decepticon-held [[Chicago]].

[[File:TopspinDaytona500trailer.jpg|thumb|right|250px|"Talkin'boutthattheredangol'"Wreck'nRule!"man..."]]

Fortunately for the humans, the Autobots hadn't actually boarded the ship - rather, they'd staged their deaths in order to keep the Decepticons from following up on their global threat. Topspin and the other Wreckers swung into action immediately, rescuing Epps, [[Sam Witwicky]], and a group of soldiers from a [[Orbital Assault Carrier|Decepticon fighter]] and executing the pilot before heading into the battle zone.

While the Autobots were scouting a route to the building containing Sentinel's [[Space bridge]] pillars, [[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]] and his pet [[Driller]] were able to separate Optimus from his weapons trailer. Optimus ordered Topspin and the other Wreckers to create a distraction so that he could retrieve it; they were successful in drawing the Decepticon's attention by peppering him with automatic fire in their armored racecar modes. When forced to retreat, they unknowingly left behind [[Wheelie (ROTF)|Wheelie]] and [[Brains]], who had hitched a ride with them. When Optimus became entangled in a construction site's exposed cables, the Wreckers managed to free him before rejoining the battle. They were later seen fighting against [[Devcon (DOTM)|Devcon]]. Following Optimus's execution of the enemy leaders, Topspin stood with the other survivors, accepting that Cybertron was gone forever and that Earth was their new home. {{storylink|Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon}}

{{note|Topspin’s involvement in the preceding events, or events mostly similar, were also chronicled in the novels "[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (novel)|Transformers: Dark of the Moon]]," and "[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon: The Junior Novel]]," the comic mini-series "[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon Movie Adaptation]]," and the storybooks "[[Optimus Prime's Friends and Foes]]" and "[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon Mix & Match]]."}}

====''Age of Extinction'' film====
After the battle for Chicago, [[Harold Attinger]]'s "[[Cemetery Wind]]" began hunting down the Autobots in addition to the remaining Decepticons on Earth. Topspin received a message from Optimus Prime, instructing all Autobots to flee for their lives.

Five years later, Optimus questioned Topspin's absence, to which [[Hound (Movie)|Hound]] replied that it was uncertain if anyone else evaded Cemetery Wind. {{storylink|Transformers: Age of Extinction (film)|Age of Extinction}}

====''The Last Knight'' film====
[[File:TLK-Volleybot-waits-to-play-volleyball.jpeg|thumb|300px|Change, change, change!]]
{{Voiceactor|[[Steven Barr]] (credited as "Volleybot")|[[Zhang Yaohan]] (Chinese), [[Raymundo Armijo]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Waldemar Barwiński]] (Polish)}}

Over 5 years after the Chicago war, Topspin (now sporting a [[Facial hair|beard]]) was among several Autobots that were granted asylum in [[Cuba]] by [[Raúl Castro|Castro]]. He constantly pestered [[Seymour Simmons]] to play volleyball with him; at one point, he had been badgering Simmons during an important phone call with [[Edmund Burton|someone]], which led to visible annoyance. Still, once the call was over, Simmons went to the beach with him. {{storylink|Transformers: The Last Knight (film)|The Last Knight}}
{{-}}

===''The Creation Revoltech!''===
[[File:Creation Revoltech Wreckers.jpg|thumb|right]]
Topspin and the other Wreckers cheered Optimus Prime on when he used the power of the [[Revoltech Unit]] to send [[Megatron (Movie)|Megatron]] packing. {{storylink|The Creation Revoltech!}}
{{-}}

===''BeCool'' shorts===
'''Blue Sports Car''' (青のスポーツカー ''Ao no Supōtsu Kā'') was part of the audience of ''Quiz! BeCool''. {{storylink|The Story of Quiz! BeCool}}

==Games==
===''MechTech Weapons Challenge''===
Bumblebee could use Topspin's combat claw to aid him in his missions to retrieve MechTech weapons technology stolen by the Decepticons. {{storylink|MechTech Weapons Challenge}}

===''Bot Shots Battle Game!''===
[[File:Bsbg-topspin.jpg|thumb|Eyyyyyyy!]]
Topspin participated in numerous one-on-one matches against other Autobots and Decepticons, using his fists, his sword, or his gun to defeat his opponents. Sometimes, he even faced off against himself! {{storylink|Bot Shots Battle Game!}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''Dark of the Moon''===
====''Cyberverse''====
[[File:DOTM_Cyberverse_Topspin_toy.jpg|thumb|300px|Transforms from NASCAR racer to bemulleted, Razorblade-sporting NASCAR fan.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' (Cyberverse Legion Class, [[2011]])}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''1'''
:*''Number:'' '''004'''
:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''CV10'''
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (Hasbro)}}

: Part of the first wave of [[Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]] toys, Topspin is a [[Legends Class (2005)|Legion-scale]] figure that transforms into a [[NASCAR]] {{w|Chevrolet Impala#NASCAR Sprint Cup|Sprint Cup Chevy Impala}} stock car, specifically {{w|Jimmie Johnson}}'s Lowes and Kobalt sponsored #48 car. Like the other NASCAR-based ''DOTM'' toys, both versions of Topspin lack the multiple small "contingency" sponsor decals found on a full-sized NASCAR racer.

: He's a [[shellformer]] with a two-step transformation and as a consequence, his robot mode is very small compared to the Legion Class toys of his two fellow Wreckers. In addition, unlike the his two fellow Wreckers, his vehicle mode is an unchanged version of the real-life stock car he's based on, even though the movie depicted all three Wreckers with their weapons permanently exposed in vehicle mode. Thus, he stands out next to Leadfoot and Roadbuster in ''both'' modes.

:The [[stock photography|stock photos]] depicted on his [[packaging]] (see also the image to the left), which feature a hand-painted [[prototype]], show him with his forearms/hands swapped compared to the final toy: In the stock photos, it's the ''right'' hand that's an articulated claw while the ''left'' hand is sculpted to hold Cyberverse weapons or clip onto [[C joint]] bars, whereas the respective arms can be found on the opposite sides on the final toy. The [[instructions]], which depict an ''unpainted'' resin prototype, match up with the final toy, thus implying that the prototype used for the stock photos was [[misassembly|misassembled]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2011/Autobot/LegTopspin/topspin.htm More information on Cyberverse Topspin at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Deluxe}}

====Deluxe Class====
[[File:DOTM_Deluxe_Topspin.jpg|thumb|300px|Well no wonder he's won five championships in a row. Look at that thing.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' (MechTech Deluxe Class, 2011)}}</ul>
:*''Japanese ID number:'' '''DA10'''
:*''Accessories:'' MechTech blaster/combat claw, two small guns, two large guns
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] and [[Joe Kyde]] (Hasbro)}}

: Part of the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (toyline)|Dark of the Moon]]'' Deluxes, Topspin transforms into a heavily modified version of the same #48 Sprint Cup car as the Cyberverse Legion toy, with two sets of two differently-sized removable guns mounted onto [[5 mm post|5 mm post holes]] on the roof and sides of the vehicle. As part of the [[MechTech]] series, he has a blaster that converts into a "combat claw", and this weapon, as well as his four removable guns, can be used by other ''Dark of the Moon'' MechTech toys or any other ''Transformers'' toy with 5 mm post holes. The back halves of his vehicle mode can be folded back together into a more compact kibble backpack.

:Though he has prominent claws on his arms, Topspin does have fists sculpted onto his forearms.

:The Japanese release comes packed with a character card and an accompanying transparent plastic card of his MechTech weapon for the MechTech Wars online game.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2011/Autobot/Topspin/topspin.htm More information on Deluxe Topspin at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|AutobotArmor}}
[[File:DOTM_Deluxe_Autobot_Armor_Topspin.JPG|thumb|300px|After much consideration, Topspin joins [[X-Men|X-Force]].]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Armor Topspin''' (MechTech Deluxe Class, 2011)}}</ul>
:*''Japanese ID Number:''
:*''Accessories:'' MechTech blaster/combat claw, two small guns, two large guns

: A [[redeco]] of the Deluxe Topspin, "Armor Topspin" now is cast in light gray, gunmetal, and black, and has Kobalt Tools as his primary sponsor instead of Lowe's. He does, however, have Lowe's and Spring logos on his body. His MechTech weapon has now been redecoed to be completely black.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2011/Autobot/ArmorTopspin/topspin.htm More information on Autobot Armor Topspin at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|AutobotRacers}}
[[File:DOTMAutobotTeamRacers.jpg|thumb|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Team Racers''' ([[Target]] [[exclusive]] MechTech Deluxe Class 2-pack, 2011)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' MechTech blaster/combat claw, two small guns, two large guns

:This two-pack was originally represented at the [[BotCon 2011]] Hasbro slide show by stock photography of an unaltered deluxe Topspin (as a new character named Twin Twist) and, uh, ''Human Alliance'' Leadfoot. It has since been announced to be canceled along with some of the other US releases. A later [[eBay]] auction of this unreleased two-pack revealed that [[Leadfoot (DOTM)#AutobotRacers|Leadfoot]] (now the Deluxe Class toy) would have come with an completely unaltered Topspin figure (instead of Twin Twist), while Leadfoot himself would have featured his sponsor logos, such as the bullseye logo on his gut.<ref>[http://www.allspark.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=87087 Thread about eBay auction of Target-exclusive "Autobot Team Racers" two-pack]</ref>

{{canceledtoy}}
{{-}}{{anchor|DOTMActivators}}

====Robo Power====
[[File:DOTM_Activators_Topspin.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"I ain't go no fingers!"]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' (Activators, 2011)}}</ul>
{{toydesigner|[[Lenny Panzica]] (Hasbro)}}

:Released as part of the [[Robo Power]] subline of Activators, Topspin features a one-step transformation: squeezing down on his orange exhaust pipes will cause him to transform into robot mode, and squeezing down again on them will transform him right back into vehicle mode. Topspin features articulation at his shoulders, and has both pincers and hands molded onto his arms. Although he has his NASCAR logos in place (including the Lowe's and Sprint Cup logos), his windows are unpainted.

:Topspin was released in an open package that allowed children to touch him. Transformation was prevented by way of twist ties and a plastic tray.
{{-}}

===''Bot Shots''===
[[File:Bot_Shots_Topspin.jpg|thumb|right|300px|"That's what we tell ourselves, isn't it Boomhauer.."]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' ([[2012]])}}</ul>
:*''Series'': '''1'''
:*''Number'': '''B011'''
:**''Fist strength'': '''660'''
:**''Blaster strength'': '''470'''
:**''Sword strength'': '''490'''

:Released as part of the third wave of ''[[Bot Shots (toyline)|Bot Shots]]'', Topspin transforms into a weaponized stock car. Topspin's main car body, arms and legs are also used by ''Bot Shots'' [[Barricade (Movie)/toys|Barricade]], [[Bumblebee (G1)/toys|Bumblebee]], [[Lockdown (ROTF)|Lockdown]], [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]], and [[Prowl (G1)/toys|Prowl]].

:This mold was also used to make [[Wildrider (G1)|Brake-Neck]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2012/Autobot/BSTopspin/topspin.htm More information on Topspin at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''BeCool''===
[[File:BotShots_BeCool_BlueSportsCarTopspin.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Blue Sports Car (Topspin)''' (2012)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''B09'''

:''[[Bot Shots (toyline)#BeCool|BeCool]]'' "Blue Sports Car" is practically identical to the ''Bot Shots'' Topspin toy, the only difference being that his stickers don't depict power levels but instead drawings of his vehicle mode, a couple of tires and a gas pump.
{{-}}

===''Movie Edition''===
[[File:TTC-toy Topspin.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' (Tiny Turbo Changer, [[2020]])}}</ul>
:*''Series'': '''5'''
:*''ID code'': '''C'''

: Released in series 5 of the ''Movie Edition [[Tiny Turbo Changers]]'', "Autobot Topspin" is a small, minimally-painted soft-plastic figure that transforms from armored stock car to robot in just a few short steps. Since his hands are big clamps, he has two small post holes sculpted on his wrists so he can still hold 3 mm weapons like many other Tiny Turbo Changers.

: He comes in a [[blindpacking|blind-packed]] bag, 2 per case of 24 figures; luckily, the ID code indicating the figure inside is stamped into the lower-right corner of the back of the bag.

: Series 5 only ''barely'' made it to retail. Very few retailers and virtually no online outlets offered this Series, and the few places they could be found, like [[Target]], apparently got very very few of them.
{{-}}

===''Studio Series''===
[[File:Studio-Series-63-Deluxe-Topsin.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|For screen-accuracy for ''The Last Knight'', replace his head with Leadfoot's.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Topspin''' (Deluxe Class, 2020)}}</ul>
:*''Movie'': '''''Dark of the Moon'''''
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''63'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''SS-56'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[September 26]], 2020
:*''Accessories'': Left & right machineguns, two clamps, "Battle of [[Chicago]]" backdrop (1st version)

: Part of the tenth wave of ''[[Studio Series]]'' Deluxes, this iteration of Topspin is heavily accurate to his appearance in ''Dark of Moon'', transforming into a heavily-armored version of {{w|Jimmie Johnson}}'s #48 [[NASCAR]] {{w|Chevrolet Impala#NASCAR Sprint Cup|Sprint Cup Chevy Impala}} stock car, albeit without the Lowe's/Kobalt logos (as Lowe's had stopped sponsoring Johnson after his disastrous 2018 season, the first where he went winless). Just like his fellow teammates, his wheels feature "ULTRA" and "WRECKERS" labels. In robot mode, his clamp accessories are designed to peg neatly just behind his wrists, and while the machineguns cannot peg on the underside of his forearms (where they go on the movie model) you can at least get close by pegging them into the holes on the clamps. In vehicle mode, the machineguns go just behind his doors and the clamps store on his car-mode underside. He also includes a cardboard backdrop display depicting a war-torn Chicago.

: Although this figure is mostly a brand new mold, he shares some parts with his fellow ''Studio Series'' [[Roadbuster (DOTM)#Studio Series|Roadbuster]]: his elbows, hands, rear wheels and double-ended shoulder kibble joints are the exact same molded pieces, just in different colored plastics.

: His guns (including the top two on the roof of the car that aren't removable) and clamps are cast in ''very'' soft plastic and may be deformed right out of the package. They can be brought back to intended shape by dipping them in boiling water for a few seconds or applying a little bit of heat with a hairdryer.

: The tips of all four of Topspin's guns are compatible with blast effect pieces from any of the figures released in the ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' toylines.
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Speed Stars''===
====Mini-Vehicles====
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' (2011)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Stealth Force'''
:*''Number:'' '''3 of 5'''

:A repaint of the concurrently released Leadfoot from the same line, Topspin is a weaponized NASCAR stock car with a newly molded relief sculpture of his robot mode on the vehicle underside. Topspin's ''[[Speed Stars]]'' toy and packaging art are strange. It uses [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]]'s vehicle mode for the most part, with the minor alteration of Topspin's hood armour, and of course, the Jimmie Johnson Lowes sponsored #48 car deco.

:As with other Speed Star vehicles, the figure displayed on the back of Topspin's card has several color variations compared to the final product, such that the figure on the cardback is much brighter in several regards:

:*The cardback depicts greyish weapons being mounted on the vehicles, while the final product mounts weapons that are almost black.

:*The cardback depicts a bright blue and an equally bright red, while the final product uses duller shades. The result is that while the robot mode on the final figure is almost the same color as the black backing, the robot mode on the cardback is clearly visible.

:*The cardback depicts white paint on the lip of the car, which is clearly visible above his head in robot mode; this strip is absent on the final product.

{{picsneeded}}
{{-}}

====''Stealth Force''====
[[File:DOTM_StealthForce_Topspin.jpg|thumb|300px|Of course it's stealthy, he's {{w|Dazzle camouflage|dazzle-painted}}!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Autobot Topspin''' (Basic, 2011)}}</ul>

: ''[[Stealth Force]]'' Topspin is a non-transforming (to a robot, that is) stock car. Instead, he features an [[attack mode]] of sorts, wherein pulling or pushing his spoiler will deploy/retract various weapons from his rear wheels, running boards/door halves, side windows, front wheels, and hood. He uses [[Sticker|decal]]s for the "LOWE'S" marking on his trunk, and for the small sponsor markings near his front wheels.
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:DOTM-Topspin-Tempest-protoform-concept-art.jpg|thumb|right|What the ..!? Is he holding a XENOMORPH!?|290px]]
* Like his fellow Wreckers, Topspin appears to be patterned after a sunglasses-wearing, big chinned, {{w|Mullet (haircut)|majestically mulleted}} NASCAR fan stereotype.
* According to a profile during FOX's coverage of the 2011 Daytona 500, the real-world Topspin prop car has 510 horsepower and a 11:1 compression ratio. The real NASCAR #48 has 850 horsepower and a 12:1 compression ratio.
* As part of the promotion for ''Dark of the Moon'', the film prop versions of Topspin, [[Roadbuster (DOTM)|Roadbuster]], and [[Leadfoot (DOTM)|Leadfoot]] made appearances at the [[2011]] Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway on [[February 20]]. They appeared both off the track as display cars, and on the track, participating in the ceremonial first lap.
** As an aside, FOX commentator Mike Joy referred to Topspin as "Wrecker", which is the name of his team, not the character's actual name.
* Early working names for him included '''Tempest''' and '''Warpath'''.<ref name="nizzi">[http://www.joshnizzi.com/TF3.htm Josh Nizzi DOTM concepts.]</ref>
* In January 2011, an Idaho newspaper<ref>[http://magicvalley.com/news/local/article_d4f374a4-d960-5589-8d0c-be37df66fc40.html?mode=story "Rupert's Fagerbakke finds a voice that is truly golden"]</ref> announced [[Bill Fagerbakke]] as the voice of a "Chevy Impala stock car" that would appear in ''[[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|Dark of the Moon]]'' (presumably meaning one of the three [[Wreckers]], who share that base altmode). Why Fagerbakke did not end up voicing any of the Wreckers in the final cut of the film is unknown. Considering Topspin never spoke in the film, it's possible his voice would have been provided by Faggerbakke had he been in the film.
** Since then, Topspin was the only one of the three Wreckers (and for that matter, the only new Autobot in the third film) not to have any spoken lines. That is eventually fixed six years later in ''The Last Knight'', where he speaks in a Southern accent.
* Despite showing kibble based on {{w|Jimmie Johnson}}'s Lowe's sponsored Chevrolet Impala SS, his concept art shows him with the headlights of a Toyota Camry.
* Concept art was produced of Topspin's [[protoform]] stage, but ultimately never made its way into the film proper.
* In ''The Last Knight'', Topspin somewhat inexplicably sports Leadfoot's head. This may be because, as Topspin had no dialogue in ''Dark of the Moon'', his own head model had never been rigged to speak, but this is purely conjectural.
** When the film was released, it was unclear whether or not "Volleybot" was meant to actually be a new character or Topspin. A later Transformers Fan Favorite poll held on the Transformers Movie web site credited Topspin as appearing in both ''Dark of the Moon'' and ''The Last Knight'', along with using a picture of Volleybot as his mug shot, confirming that Volleybot is in fact Topspin.<ref>[http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/official-confirmation-that-volleybot-is-topspin.1122432/]</ref>

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Topspin''' (トップスピン ''Toppusupin'')
*''Mandarin:'' '''Shàngxuàn''' (China, 上旋, "Topspin")

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Bot Shots Autobots]]
[[Category:Cyberverse]]
[[Category:Dark of the Moon Autobots]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Studio Series Autobots]]
[[Category:The Last Knight Autobots]]
[[Category:Wreckers]]

Daytonus

2025-03-18T03:16:33Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{faction|autobot}}
:''Daytonus is an [[Autobot]] from the [[Robots in Disguise continuity family]].''

[[File:RID-toy Daytonus.jpg|upright=2|thumb]]

'''Daytonus''' is one of many Autobots who guard planet [[Earth]] from the ambitions of [[Megatron (RID)|Megatron]]. He's one of the heroic [[Spychanger]]s!

==Fiction==
===Ask Vector Prime===
When [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] accidentally poisoned all of Earth's energon on [[Viron 1103.12 Gamma]], Daytonus and the other twelve Autobots had to downsize into Spychangers. Daytonus got the last laugh when he and [[X-Brawn]] blew up the Predacons' energon stash! {{storylink|Ask Vector Prime#Facebook|Ask Vector Prime, 2015/08/18}}

==Toys==
===''Robots in Disguise'' (2001)===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Side Burn / Daytonus''' (Basic Class 2-pack, [[2001]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Rifle
{{toydesigner|[[Masakatsu Saito]] (concept artist)}}

: Released in the second wave of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' "Basics", Daytonus transforms into a Porsche 962 Le Mans-style race car, specifically, a Kremer Racing 962CK6. His wheels use a "through-axle" style of construction, which lets him zip along very quickly on smooth surfaces, and his toy is scaled to be used on ''[[Hot Wheels]]'' and ''Matchbox'' style race tracks. He was only available in a two-pack with [[Side Burn (RID)#Spychanger|Side Burn]].

: This mold was later [[redeco]]ed to make ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' [[Wheeljack (G1)/toys#Universe (2003)|Wheeljack]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Autobot/Daytonus/daytonus.htm More information on Daytonus at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
[[File:G2Go-BotGTPRacer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|He's like Four-Legged Man, but with wheels!]]
* Daytonus' name is derived from the {{w|24 Hours of Daytona}} race held annually in {{w|Daytona Beach, Florida}}, which features Le Mans-style race cars of similar type to Daytonus.
* Daytonus was the first official release of a mold originally intended to be released as part of the ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' [[Go-Bot (G2)|Go-Bots]] sub-line. Presently, the original identity of the mold is unknown, assuming Hasbro got that far along in ideas, but in [[2016]], the unused original deco became the basis of the character [[Crash Test (G2)|Crash Test]].
* Though the toy shares its origins with and is packed like the [[Hasbro]] releases of the [[Spychanger]]s, he was not labeled as a member of that team until a 2015 [[Ask Vector Prime]] entry declared him to be one.

[[Category:Robots in Disguise (2001) Autobots]]
[[Category:Spychangers]]

File:MarvelUS-50.jpg

2025-03-17T16:51:05Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Fixed formatting

{{MarvelUScover|Supreme [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]]!|50|Dark Star|[[José Delbo]] and [[Danny Bulanadi]]|88}}

[[Category:Images by José Delbo]]
[[Category:Images by Danny Bulanadi]]

Transformers (2023) issue 18

2025-03-12T14:17:37Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{Comicstory
|seriesissue=''[[Transformers (2023 comic)|Transformers]]'' #18
|prev=Transformers (2023) issue 17
|next=Transformers (2023) issue 19
|image=Transformers 2023 18 Cover A.jpg
|caption=
|title=
|publisher=[[Image Comics]] [[Skybound Entertainment]]
|date=[[March 12]], [[2025]]
|coverdate=March 2025
|written by=[[Daniel Warren Johnson]]
|art by=[[Jorge Corona]]
|colors by=[[Mike Spicer]]
|letters by=[[Rus Wooton]]
|editor=[[Ben Abernathy]]
|publication design=[[Andres Juarez]]
|production=[[Ashby Florence]]
|continuity=[[Energon Universe]]
|chronology=
}}

'''While the Autobots on Cybertron have gained a powerful new ally, their comrades on Earth face enemies old and new.'''

==Synopsis==
On [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], outside the [[Well of All Sparks|Well of Sparks]], [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]], [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]], and [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] are pinned down by a trio of attacking [[Decepticon]]s: the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seeker]]s [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] and [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] and the bestial [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]]. Bluestreak tries to call [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]], but sadly can't get through to the [[Autobot]] commander. However, as Carnivac prepares to chow down on Bluestreak, he is saved by the timely intervention of a black van crashing into the Decepticon wolf. [[Shredhead]] transforms and uses their energy sword to quickly dispatch the three Decepticons. The Autobots are then joined by [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] and Elita, who believes their newest soldier has just turned the tide.

On [[Earth]], [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]], [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike]], and [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] camp inside [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]' makeshift fort on the [[San Juan Islands]] while [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] confers with her [[Iron Intercessor]]. Like the other Autobots, Magnus is captivated by the beauty of Earth, but admits that he's unable to appreciate it, so clouded by the trauma of his imprisonment at the hands of [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]]. Arcee tries to assure Magnus that they can still face the future, but the mighty warrior is too despondent. Carly sympathizes with Magnus, as she and Spike also had their lives destroyed by the Decepticons. She thinks that their pain is what brings them together, reassuring Magnus that he’s not alone. However, at that moment, Magnus sees [[G.I. Joe (team)|a group of soldiers]] moving towards the fort. In a panic, he fires on them. Arcee tries to get him to stop, but the group is quickly beset by attack helicopters, triggering flashbacks to Magnus' imprisonment and causing him to attack them. Beachcomber and Spike escape, but a tranquilizer dart knocks out Carly. Arcee grabs her [[iron apprentice]], but an explosion knocks them to the ground. As she recovers, she can only watch as both Carly and Ultra Magnus are carried away by the soldiers.

[[File:TF2023 no. 18 - Megatron Returns.jpg|thumb|Dad's home.|150px|left]]

Meanwhile, in [[Seattle]], the remaining Autobots do what they can to evacuate the humans from the chaos caused by the brawl between [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Unfortunately, they can only do so much as the two combiners tear through the city. [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] provides the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticon]]s air support aboard [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]], but is taken down by [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] ejecting [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]], sending Astrotrain crashing onto the top of a skyscraper. Bruticus goes to rescue his leader with Devastator in pursuit, each giant climbing the tower. As they near the top, Devastator grabs Bruticus in a chokehold, sending them both crashing back to Earth and leveling a city block, much to [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s horror.

Soundwave corners Starscream on the roof, berating him for how low his actions have brought him and readying to execute him. Starscream then gets a second wind and retaliates, ripping open Soundwave's chest compartment and pulling out [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]]’s still inactive body, mocking Soundwave’s concern for his tapes. However, their fight is interrupted by the return of [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]], who orders them to stop with a single word. He picks up Ravage and, using his own spark, reactivates him as a reward for Soundwave’s loyalty. As Optimus looks up in horror to see his old nemesis alive, he gives his fellow Autobots a single order: retreat.

{{--}}

==Featured characters==
Characters in ''italic text'' appear only in flashbacks. 
{{Featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bluestreak (G1)|Bluestreak]] (1)
* [[Warpath (G1)|Warpath]] (2)
* [[Blurr (G1)|Blurr]] (3)
* [[Shredhead]] (7)
* [[Elita One (G1)|Elita One]] (8)
* [[Cliffjumper (G1)|Cliffjumper]] (9)
* [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]] (10)
* [[Arcee (G1)|Arcee]] (11)
* [[Beachcomber (G1)|Beachcomber]] (14)
* [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] (16)
* [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] (17)
* [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] (20)
* [[Trailbreaker (G1)|Trailbreaker]] (21)

|c2=
* [[Bitstream (G1)|Bitstream]] (4)
* [[Carnivac (G1)|Carnivac]] (5)
* [[Hotlink (G1)|Hotlink]] (6)
* [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] (18)
* [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] (19)
* [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] (22)
* [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] (23)
* [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]] (24)
* [[Rumble (G1)|Rumble]] (25)
* [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] (26)
* [[Megatron (G1)|Megatron]] (27)
* [[Laserbeak (G1)|Laserbeak]] (28)

||c3=
* [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] (12)
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]] (13)
* [[G.I. Joe (team)|G.I. Joe]] soldiers (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"You guys ready to shred?"
:—'''Shredhead''' to the Decepticons

"But all I see now is the unknown. The vastness. The dark. Shockwave ruined it all." 
"But… he’s gone now. He can’t hurt us anymore. Prime made sure of it." 
"It’s too late, Arcee. Shockwave taught me the depths of what one Cybertronian can do to another. How can I believe in anything anymore?"
:—'''Ultra Magnus''' and '''Arcee'''

"NO, NO, '''NO!''' WHY CAN'T '''ANYTHING''' GO MY WAY?!" 
"Because you are stupid Starscream. Guided only by fear. Hate. Selfishness. You cannot even move yourself without the Earthlings' technology. What a pathetic end for you."
:—'''Soundwave''' to '''Starscream'''

"What a good soldier you are, [[Ravage (G1)|small thing]]. And what a faithful servant [[Soundwave (G1)|your father]] is."
:—'''Megatron'''

==Notes==
===Continuity notes===
* Rumble is still missing his right piledriver arm after losing it to [[Jazz (G1)|Jazz]] back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 5|issue #5]].
* We saw firsthand what became of Magnus while he was captured by Shockwave back in [[Transformers (2023) issue 7|issue #7]], and the debilitating effects it had on him when he fled from battle in [[Transformers (2023) issue 11|issue #11]].
* Arcee tells Magnus that Shockwave can no longer hurt him, having been killed by Optimus Prime in [[Transformers (2023) issue 12|issue #12]].
* The soldiers that attack Magnus and company are shown to be wearing the star emblem of G.I. Joe, making it the first explicit reference to the highly trained special mission force in this series. While these soldiers are mere nameless troops, not the more colorfully costumed individuals we’re used to seeing from the main team appearing in the [[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|''G.I. Joe'' series]], the [[G.I. Joe Energon Universe Special story|''G.I. Joe'' segment]] of the ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]'' did hint that the organization was larger than initially seemed.
* Soundwave has been trying to repair Ravage ever since Optimus shot him in [[Transformers (2023) issue 1|the first issue]].
* Starscream is shocked to see Megatron alive, believing he had killed the Decepticon leader in the [[Transformers Energon Universe Special story|''Transformers'' segment]] of the ''Energon Universe 2024 Special''. However, readers of ''[[Cobra Commander (comic)|Cobra Commander]]'' know that Megatron was found by the secret society of [[Cobra-La]] before escaping and being found by Laserbeak in [[Transformers (2023) issue 16|issue #16]].
* Astrotrain has been nursing his own grudge against Megatron, for reasons not yet fully revealed, though issue #16 hinted Megatron was responsible for killing Astrotrain’s love.

===''Transformers'' references===
* Bitstream and Hotlink were both originally generic Seekers that appeared as the "welcoming committee" in the first episode of the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]], "[[More than Meets the Eye, Part 1]]". They were given names and personalities when released as exclusive toys for [[BotCon 2013]].
* Elita’s comment that they’ve “turned the tide” echoes Kup’s line from ''[[The Transformers: The Movie]]''.

===Errors===
* On page 1, panel 6, Carnivac interrupts Hotlink, but based on their colors, it's Bitstream who was talking (that, or Hotlink was just consistently miscolored as Bitstream and vice versa).

===Other notes===
* The cover art for this issue was originally created for Skybound's pitch to Hasbro.<ref>https://www.felixcomicart.com/gallerypiece.asp?piece=34417</ref>

===Covers===
* '''Cover A:''' Starscream and Bruticus, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover B:''' Megatron and Laserbeak, by Jorge Corona and Mike Spicer.
* '''Cover C:''' Connecting cover by [[Karl Kerschl]].
* '''Cover D:''' Two teenage Transformers fans watch Bruticus and Devastator battle, by
* '''Cover E:''' Optimus and Arcee, by [[Oliver Ono]].
* '''Cover F:''' Shredhead, by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 18 Cover A.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 18 Cover B.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 18 Cover C.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 18 Cover D.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 18 Cover E.jpg|
File:Transformers 2023 18 Cover F.jpg|
</gallery>

===Advertisements===
* Explore the Energon Universe in ''[[G.I. Joe (2024 comic)|G.I. Joe]]'' [[G.I. Joe (2024) issue 5|#5]], ''[[Void Rivals]]'' [[Void Rivals issue 18|#18]], and ''Transformers'' #17.
* Energon Universe hardcovers
* ''Invincible Universe: Battle Beast''

===Reprints===
* '''''Transformers Volume 3: Combiner Chaos''''' ([[May 28]], [[2025]]) ISBN 153432559X / ISBN 978-1534325593 
** Collects issues #13–18 and the [[Transformers Energon Universe Special story|''Transformers'' story]] from ''[[Energon Universe 2024 Special]]''.
** Trade paperback format.

<gallery>
File:Transformers 2023 V3.jpg|'''''Volume 3: Combiner Chaos''''' – cover art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer
</gallery>

==External links==

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Transformers (2023) issues]]

File:Ps2tatakai gamemechanics.jpg

2025-02-19T18:25:12Z

TheAmazingPoncho: TheAmazingPoncho uploaded a new version of "File:Ps2tatakai gamemechanics.jpg": Taken on PCSX2

{{TF2003cap|[[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] notices a pattern.}}

File:Ps2tatakai callofthefuture.jpg

2025-02-19T18:07:23Z

TheAmazingPoncho: TheAmazingPoncho uploaded a new version of "File:Ps2tatakai callofthefuture.jpg": Taken on PCSX2

{{TF2003cap|The title screen from ''[[The Transformers (G1 PS2)|The Transformers]]''.}}

File:Megalo Minis.jpg

2025-02-13T15:08:31Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Don't have to jump thru another page.

The [[Steel Reinforcement Team|Megalo Microns]] [[Saw Boss|Zigzag]] (left), [[Repeater (Cybertron)|Zapmap]] (center), and [[Rock Krusher|Gritbit]] (right). Promo image from Takara's Transformers website.

{{Cybertronstock}}
[[Category: Cybertron Mini-Con toy images]]
[[Category: Gigantion toy images]]
[[Category: Japanese promotional toy images]]

Shockblast

2025-02-08T19:11:57Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Energon */

{{factions|decepticon|primusvanguard|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3.5|the ''Energon'' Decepticon|the Generation 1 Decepticon whose ''Alternators'' toy was named "Shockblast"|Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave}}
{{disambig2|the Transformer|the weapon|Shock blast cannon}}
:''Shockblast is a [[Decepticon]] from the [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family]].''

[[File:Shockblast energon.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|No, the toy doesn't have that hose. Or that arm joint.]]
'''Shockblast''' packs an incredible amount of strength and firepower inside his chassis, and he knows it. He's brash, arrogant, sarcastic, and fearless, even willing to challenge the might of [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] directly, which, along with the fact that he seems averse to following orders, often puts them both at odds. He's also a sociopath, casually killing solely for the fun of it, whether it be someone on the other side, or someone he's supposed to be allied with. He revels in destruction, and he's not particularly bothered which side is doing the exploding.

Shockblast is the brother of [[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]]. He has an unspecified history with [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]; the two hate each other, probably because Shockblast is a jerk.

{{bigquote|Don't trust Shockblast. Shockblast BAD.|[[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]]|"[[Shockblast: Rampage]]"}}

==Fiction==
===Toy pack-in comics===
[[File:Energon V4 Decepticons.jpg|thumb]]

When [[Slugslinger (Energon)|Slugslinger]] and [[Sharkticon (Energon)|Sharkticon]] attempted to break into an [[Autobot]] island facility, Shockblast scrambled the security system with an electromagnetic pulse from orbit. However, when the plan went wrong, [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] nailed Shockblast with cannon-fire, despite the Decepticon being in low orbit. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 3}}

Later, Shockblast was part of the Decepticon party that had cornered [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]] and a wounded [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Hot Shot]]. However, Shockblast was blown away by the combined power of Optimus and the newly arrived [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]. {{Storylink|Energon Volume 4}}
{{--}}

===''Energon'' cartoon===
{{voiceactor|[[Brian Drummond]] (English), [[Nobutoshi Canna]] (Japanese)|[[Fredrik Beckmann]] (Swedish), [[Leopoldo Ballesteros]] (Spain - Spanish), [[Carlos Vitale]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Ossi Valo]] (Finnish, unknown episodes), [[Veeti Kallio]] (Finnish, unknown episodes), [[Fabio Boccanera]] (Italian), [[Yoann Sover]] (French)}}

{{noteslonly}}

[[File:Energon-Shockblast-Prison.jpg|thumb|left|Minor setback!]]

''Following the end of the war for the Mini-Cons, when the Autobots and Decepticons began working together, Shockblast and his brother [[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]] refused to lay down their arms, and began attacking their fellow Decepticons as well as the Autobots, leading to their capture and imprisonment.'' {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}}

[[File:Shockblast Breaks In.jpg|thumb|150px]]
Shockblast was held prisoner deep inside [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]], under near-constant supervision due to his status as a dangerous Decepticon war criminal. During a Decepticon uprising following Megatron's return, Shockblast escaped and slaughtered most of the Autobot guards, and even a few Decepticons as he made his way to freedom. {{storylink|Alpha Q: Identity}} In the chamber of [[Primus]] he used [[Padlock (Energon)|Padlock]] as a shield to secure safe passage, then shot the 'bot dead from behind once he got free. This earned him the ever-lasting hatred of [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Dagger]], Padlock's partner. Shockblast radioed Megatron from the surface, offering his services in destroying Cybertron's energon towers in exchange for passage off the planet. Megatron decided to add Shockblast to his team, and dispatched Tidal Wave to Cybertron to retrieve him. The two immediately began to squabble, reviving their old enmity. Shockblast damaged Cybertron's [[Energon grid (technology)|energon grid]] before fleeing the planet, leaving a gap in the Autobots' defenses. {{storylink|Shockblast: Rampage}}

Shockblast proved difficult to work with, and spent much of his time insulting and belittling the other Decepticons—so much so that when Unicron began attacking his "tenants", Tidal Wave initially blamed Shockblast. {{storylink|Survival Instincts}} Nonetheless, he was quickly given command of Megatron's troops and told to lead an assault on Cybertron to destroy the rest of the energon grid. Wing Dagger attempted to capture Shockblast during this attack, but Shockblast maneuvered him beneath a toppling Energon Tower. Unfortunately, Tidal Wave was severely damaged as the tower fell due to Shockblast's own carelessness, and the Decepticons under his command pulled back. {{storylink|Each One Fights...}}

[[File:Energon-Shockblast-Rides-Tidal-Wave.jpg|left|thumb|"Mush my slave, mush!"]]

Shockblast led a group of Terrorcons on another raid to Cybertron, blasting open the energon core so that the Battle Ravages could feed off Primus's power directly. The raid was largely successful, and Megatron even complimented Shockblast on a job well done, but Shockblast regarded Megatron with a high level of contempt. {{storylink|Unicron Unleashed}} As the Autobots invaded Unicron during his reactivation phase, Shockblast openly declared his desire to overthrow Megatron to anyone who would listen. Megatron heard his boasting echo through the bowels of Unicron, but paid it little mind. Shockblast then ran wild throughout Unicron, blasting Optimus Prime as he was about to approach Megatron for personal combat. Shockblast stormed into Megatron's throne room himself to take control, but faced Starscream's blade instead. {{storylink|Open Fire!}} As Optimus and Megatron clashed again, Shockblast interrupted them once more, but soon fell into the spatial rift that had opened due to the conflict over Unicron's power. {{storylink|Ripped Up Space}}

[[File:E28 titlecard.jpg|thumb|Still a minor setback!!]]
On the other side of the [[Rift|rift in space]], Shockblast crashlanded alone on [[Iron Planet]]. Surrounded by Autobots, he was confronted by the reborn Wing Dagger, now known as [[Wing Saber (Energon)|Wing Saber]]. The former detention guard was given the opportunity to fulfill his duty, and Shockblast and Wing Saber fought an extended one-on-one duel until Wing Saber ultimately triumphed, securing Shockblast and avenging Padlock. Shockblast was chained to a rock and held prisoner by the Autobots. {{storylink|Protection}} Shockblast whiled away the time imprisoned insulting his guard [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]]. For a time, Megatron refused to rescue him, ignoring Shockblast's radio calls for help. He finally freed Shockblast, but subsequently demoted him to the bottom of the ranks for his treachery. {{storylink|Imprisoned Inferno}} This left him in the unenviable position of relying on the likes of [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]] for keen, tactical observations in combat. Shockblast churned with anger at having to deal with his nit-witted commanding officers. {{storylink|Jungle Planet (episode)|Jungle Planet}} Still, Megatron continued to offer him opportunities to blow stuff up, so Shockblast wasn't completely depressed. He destroyed [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]]'s shuttle while the Autobots prepped an energon tower from Cybertron to defend Jungle Planet. {{storylink|Bulkhead (episode)|Bulkhead}} Bulkhead got his revenge, though, when he beat Shockblast up and down [[Ocean Planet]] like the amateur whippersnapper he was. {{storylink|Farewell Inferno}}

''Shockblast was painfully schooled by Bulkhead again on the rebirthed [[Planet Q]]. Bulkhead just casually leaned on his staff giving orders while pinning Shockblast helplessly to the ground. {{storylink|Return! Our Scorponok}}''

[[File:Shockblast tentacles.jpg|thumb|left| Another minor setback!!]]
Shockblast's habit of muttering insults to Megatron came back to haunt him when the Decepticon leader overheard the quips. He spent the next little while kicking Shockblast's aft up and down Unicron until [[Starscream (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|Starscream]] stepped in and reminded Megatron that Shockblast was still a useful pawn. {{storylink|Crash Course}}

When Megatron dispatched the Decepticons into battle for one last supply of energon, Shockblast secretly remained behind aboard Unicron. He seemed to have mischief in mind, but a shockwave caused him to stumble out of his hiding place in Megatron's throne room before he could carry out any plots against his leader. {{storylink|Omega Supreme (episode)|Omega Supreme}} Shockblast briefly appeared in the battle on Unicron's surface with the Autobots, inadvertently showing [[Ironhide (Energon)|Ironhide]] an entrance passageway into the Chaos-Bringer's interior. {{storylink|A Heroic Battle}}

[[File:Shockblast smoosh.jpg|thumb|'Tis but a scratch.]]
Shockblast eventually tricked Megatron and attempted to assume control of Unicron in his stead. The full power of Unicron proved too much for him to handle, however; it drove him insane, sending him on a mindless rampage under Unicron's control. He crashed on [[Blizzard Planet]], where Optimus Prime battled him while trying to reach past Unicron's influence to reawaken the real Shockblast. Prime's words worked, and Shockblast managed to free himself. He turned his firepower on Unicron, but the Chaos Bringer brought one fist down on the surface of Blizzard Planet, and Shockblast was crushed to death before Prime's horrified eyes. {{storylink|The Power of Unicron}}

Sometime later, a virtual copy of Shockblast appeared in an Autobot training simulation alongside his brother, Six Shot. {{storylink|Distribution}}

===''Energon'' comic===
Shockblast intercepted the [[Ocean City]] schematics [[Slugslinger (Energon)|Slugslinger]] used to infiltrate the Autobot installation. {{storylink|Perspective}}

{{Unreleased energon comic}}
Later on, Shockblast and [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]] expressed concern that Megatron was losing his edge, after ordering a series of attacks on minor energon installations instead of going after greater scores. {{storylink|Armageddon Part 2}}

===''Q-Robo Transformer''===
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|Q-Robo Transformer}}}}

===Precursor World===
A [[Primus Vanguard|Warrior of the Seven Lights]] resembling Shockblast was a member of the [[Purple Order]] of the [[Primus Vanguard]]. Through a screen, he oversaw the containment of [[G1 World|interdimensional]] warlord [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity#Generations Selects Special Comic (1)|Ultra Megatron Omega]] and his turncoat [[Straxus (G1)#Precursor World|Straxus]] followers by the Order's [[Pretender Monster]] creations such that his commander [[Purple Wicked Convoy]] could propose an alliance. {{storylink|God Neptune comic 1}}

==Toys==
===''Energon''===
[[File:Energon Shockblast toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|I transform into nothing!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Shockblast''' (Mega Class, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Laserwave''' (レーザーウェーブ)
:*''Takara ID number'': '''SD-14'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[2004]] [[May 27]]
:*''Accessories'': Missile
{{toydesigner|[[Takio Ejima]] (TakaraTomy)}}

: Released in the third wave of the ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' Mega Class assortment, Shockblast transforms into a Cybertronic laser-tank, plus has a third satellite-cannon-thing mode (which the cartoon depicted as a kind of jet mode). His cannon-arm contains a spring-loaded missile launcher and an electronic sound gimmick, which is activated by a sliding switch. Advancing the switch down the cannon activates a droning laser sound effect that does not stop playing until the switch is moved to either end of the slider. The switch also activates clear-plastic prongs along the side of the cannon, which stick up as the switch is moved down the gun. His right arm features a cannon and claw with a moveable thumb. His head has a small port for [[light-piping]]. His design is obviously a [[homage]] to the [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] Decepticon [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]].

: Many specimens of this toy have a problem in satellite mode wherein a peg on one of his legs will not fit into the corresponding slot to hold the mode together. Additionally, the waist hinge's quality varies; some are loose, causing the figure's upper torso to wobble. As it turns out, the pinhole for the hinge is badly deformed on the inside, which is the cause of the looseness and can eventually lead to breakage.

: Shockblast was released in the eighth wave of Takara's ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)#Takara Super Link toyline|Super Link]]'' toyline (and was the only item in said wave) as "Laserwave", without the electronic sound gimmicks, and with some small deco differences. His gray plastics are now a more stony-blue shade rather than the Hasbro version's warmer gray, and some parts that are black plastic on Shockblast (like his antennae, twin-blaster barrels and missile) are now dark purple. He loses a significant amount of black paint on his twin-blaster-cannon, but gains silver paint on all four of his treads, along with a few other bits of extra silver here and there.

: This mold was also used to make ''Energon'' [[Six Shot (Energon)#Toys|Six Shot]], and was the model for the non-toy Cybertron-mode [[Cryotek (RID)#Fiction|Cryotek]] and [[Shockwave (SG)|''Shattered Glass'' Shockwave]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Decepticon/Shockblast/shockblast.htm More information on Shockblast at TFU.info]''

==Notes==
[[File:Tvmag6-3.jpg|thumb|upright=1]]
*Evidently designed as "Shockwave", Shockblast received his final name due to [[Hasbro]] not having the [[trademark]] for "Shockwave" at the time. This issue would also affect [[Shockwave (G1)/toys#Alternators|the ''Alternators'' Shockwave toy]], which was released as "Shockblast". Hasbro has subsequently reclaimed the "Shockwave" trademark and uses it for ''Transformers'', while the "Shockblast" trademark is maintained for [http://www.yojoe.com/action/08/shockblast.shtml new toys] of a ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' character who was previously named "Shockwave". Shockblast is considered part of the Shockwave archetype, regardless of his name, and is featured alongside other Shockwave incarnations in Hasbro media.
*There is an older, pink color variant of the Shockblast's [[character model]] used in a few short instances in the cartoon, most notably in the episode "[[Shockblast: Rampage]]". This same variant appeared in an issue of ''[[TV Magazine]]'' in Japan around the time of the character's debut (see right).
*Shockblast never uses his tank mode in the cartoon, unlike his brother, [[Six Shot (Energon)|Six Shot]].
*Shockblast's right shoulder-armor was used for the shoulders of the [[Autobot nurse]] [[generic]] model in the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]].
*Shockblast's design was also used as the model for [[Cryotek (RID)|Cryotek]]'s pre-beast body in "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" and ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' [[Shockwave (SG)|Shockwave]].

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Laserwave''' (レーザーウェーブ ''Rēzāwēbu'')
*''Hungarian:'' '''Pöröly''' ("Sledge"), '''Sokkoló''' ("[[Optimus Prime vs Megatron: The Ultimate Battle]]", "Shocker")
*''Mandarin:'' '''Zhèndàngbō''' (China, 震荡波, "Shockwave")
*''Russian:'' '''Vzryvala''' (Взрывала, "Exploder")

==See also==
{{OtherVersions
|charname=Shockblast
|disambig=Shockwave (disambiguation)
|body=
*[[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]], the logical Decepticon who's to blame for everything from [[The Transformers (franchise)|Generation 1]].
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]], the loyal Decepticon spy from [[Transformers Animated (franchise)|''Animated'']].
*[[Shockwave (Movie)|Shockwave]], the Decepticon beastmaster and killing machine from [[Transformers: Dark of the Moon (film)|''Dark of the Moon'']].
*[[Shockwave (WFC)|Shockwave]], the logical Decepticon scientist from the [[Aligned continuity family]].
*[[Shockwave (Cyberverse)|Shockwave]], the Decepticon mad scientist from [[Transformers: Cyberverse (franchise)|''Cyberverse'']].}}

[[Category:Energon Decepticons]]
[[Category:Hall of Fame characters]]
[[Category:Purple Order]]
[[Category:Satellites]]
[[Category:Triple Changers]]

Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys

2025-01-29T13:45:24Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Notes */ (Super) Ginrai placed third

{{factions|hofsilver}}
{{suite}}
[[File:OptimusPrimeUT-Armada.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Hiyaaah...]]
Like [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|other Optimuses]], [[Unicron Trilogy]] '''[[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]]''' has a lot of toys.

{{TOCclear}}

==''Armada''==
{{anchor|SuperBase}}
[[File:Superbase ArmadaPrime.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Stand up and be counted, container! (''Hasbro version pictured'')]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Super Base, [[2002]]/[[2003]])}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Convoy Super Mode'''
:*''Sonokong name'': '''Super Optimus'''
:*''Takara/Sonokong ID number'': '''MC-01'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[December 26]], 2002
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/base/armor, light-up rifle, missile, left & right smokestacks
{{toydesigner|[[Aaron Archer]] (Hasbro), [[Hironori Kobayashi]] (Takara)}}

: The first [[Unicron Trilogy]] Optimus Prime toy transforms into a long-nose truck cab of made-up model. His clear-plastic smokestacks can detach and form a double-barrelled pistol that he can hold in [[robot mode]], and a button on top of his head causes his [[mouthplate]] to jiggle up and down as if he were talking (the irony being that while this was a familiar trait of [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|G1 cartoon Optimus Prime]], in the ''Armada'' animated series, this Prime's mouthplate remained static when he talked). He can also hold a large cannon—inspired by his G1 counterpart's [[ion blaster]]—that is stored within his [[trailer]], and his chest flips down to reveal a (non-removable) [[Matrix of Leadership/toys|Matrix of Leadership]]. He is packaged with his Mini-Con partner [[Sparkplug (Armada)#Toys|Sparkplug]]. His tires are branded with the fictional tyre company "[[Monster Convoy|MONSTER CONVOY]]".<ref>{{citesocial|quote=So it was never going to be called Monster Convoy, but I think I wanted something on the wheels. Again, I wanted an ultimate sense of storytelling that wherever you're looking at these things you're getting- it's just some sort of brand, the fake-out brand they use on Cybertron or whatever. Nothing other than that, it was never a name of the character or any of that.|link=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_iWRrz1W1o&t=932s|name=Aaron Archer|site=''The Toy Armada''|title="11 - Creating A Legend: Transformers Armada Optimus Prime"|year=2023|month=11|day=03}}</ref>

: The toy's primary gimmick is its auto-transforming trailer, which assumes one of three configurations when [[motorized movement|triggered]] by an infra-red signal transmitted from the cab robot. Transforming the cab into robot mode will cause the trailer to automatically flip open into a battle station for Mini-Cons, which Prime can stand in the centre of. The base features a central tower with a pop-out artillery emplacement and a mount for Prime's large cannon; a rotating missile-firing turret; two Mini-Con storage bays, one of which featured a manually-activated tab to launch Mini-Cons out; and two live [[Powerlinx]] hardpoints, one of which pops up a non-firing turret, the other activating a laser noise.

[[File:Armada JetOptimusMegaweapon toy.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Gunjob Spacepants! (''Jet Optimus on the left, Optimus Prime Megaweapon on the right'')]]
: Prime's cab and trailer can also combine to form his "[[Super Mode]]". Transforming the cab into the torso portion sends the transformation command to the trailer, which raises itself up off the ground to become a pair of immobile, statuesque legs (as long as you're not playing with it on carpet), and when the pair are connected, the Super Mode head pops up with a metallic shriek sound effect. Pressing the Autobot symbol on the figure's chest activates a pulsing laser sound effect, and the small grey button on his right shoulder illuminates his fist with a red LED, which can illuminate either of his guns, as well as the [[Star Saber (Armada)#Toys|Star Saber]] (the Star Saber was specifically cast in clear plastic for this purpose, but in practice, the light failed to carry even halfway up the blade). Prime's firing missile and Mini-Con activated gimmicks remain accessible in this mode, but look a bit doofy if you deploy them. The initial [[Hasbro]] release of Prime had tabs in its Super Mode shoulders that prevented them from rotating above the horizontal default position, so as not to break the wires that run through the toy's right arm. Coupled with the limited elbow joints, this left Optimus Prime able only to point his weapons towards the ground, and the tabs were removed on subsequent editions of the figure.

[[File:LOTM Convoy.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|(''Takara version pictured'')]]
: Instead of his trailer, Prime can alternately combine with ''Armada'' [[Jetfire (Armada)#Toys|Jetfire]], who forms a pair of legs, as "'''Jet Prime'''" ('''Jet Optimus''' in the cartoon and Korea; "'''Jet Convoy'''" in Japan). In addition to this, ''Armada'' [[Overload (Armada)#Toys|Overload]] (Ultra Magnus in Japan and Korea) can form a pair of massive cannons that attach to either Prime's base mode, or mount over the shoulders of his Super Mode torso (with either his trailer or Jetfire as legs), forming '''Optimus Prime Megaweapon''' ('''Magna Convoy'''/'''Magna Jet Convoy''' in Japan; '''Magna Optimus'''/'''Magna Jet Optimus''' in Korea). When combined with Overload, Prime's smokestacks have to be removed, so that his smaller robot forearms' [[5 mm post]]s can plug into the designated ports on Overload. It appears that Overload wasn't entirely designed with the Jetfire combination in mind, as Jetfire's cockpit section interferes with Overload's speaker box, causing the cockpit to either pop off the friction hinge, or Overload to not sit properly in his designated spot with the 5 mm posts in Prime's smaller robot forearms, so one either has to remove the cockpit or leave Overload hanging "loosely" in the friction slots, without the 5 mm posts and ports lined up.

[[File:LOTM Convoy Combos.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|'''From left to right:''' "Jet Convoy", "Magna Convoy", and "Magna Jet Convoy".]]
: The [[TakaraTomy|Takara]] ''Legends of the Microns'' '''Convoy Super Mode''' and [[Sonokong]] ''Eunha Yeongung: Cybertron'' '''Super Optimus''' releases of Optimus Prime from the following year made a few changes, noticeably replacing the gold paint and plastic of the Hasbro toy with bright yellow and much brighter gold. The deco had been tweaked to be a bit closer to the original prototype glimpsed in early catalogs, with yellow added back to cab Prime's feet, the cab grill painted silver, and the Super Mode's waist getting much more paint. This version of the figure was never burdened with the mobility-inhibiting shoulder tabs of the initial Hasbro release. Completing the Super Mode combination triggers a new clip of Prime shouting "Convoy, Super Mode!" in Japanese instead of generic mechanical sounds. It's currently unknown what sounds the Korean release makes. There are two variants of the Takara packaging: one uses artwork closer to the toy's design and the other closer to the animation model.<ref>[https://x.com/doratimus_prime/status/1878032142548263130 MC-01 Convoy Super Mode package art variants]</ref>

: Care must be taken while articulating the toy's base-robot elbow joints, as the lower joint has been known to snap. This doesn't appear to be [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] like many in the [[fandom]] have hastily concluded—instead, it seems likely that the break occurs when the elbow joint is moved while the arms are positioned on the back of the combined mode, and have been forced ''just'' enough for them to break. To prevent this, pull the shoulder out and bend the elbow at the red joint first, before moving the arm in any other direction. Other uses of the mold have been known to break in the same place, in the exact same way, and with ''very'' noticeable stress marks, indicating no form of GPS is present. Remember, kids: if a figure breaks and leaves visible cracks and stress marks, it's ''not'' GPS. GPS occurs with no warning signs, and leaves a clean break. The rivets and pins in the elbows being misfired also likely play a big part in these breaks too.

: As the flagship toy of the line, this set was central to a number of [[campaign item|store-exclusive promotional freebies]] in Japan. Ito Yokaido offered one of the three [[Destruction Mini-Con Team#Undergrove|Undergrove Edition Destruction Microns]] with purchase in [[January]]. [[Toys"R"Us]] offered one of three [[Land Military Mini-Con Team#Ultimate|Ultimate Edition Land Military Microns]] in [[March]], with Hello Mac stores having the same offer in [[May]]. Most infamous though was [[AEON|JUSCO]] stores' [[Destruction Mini-Con Team#SpaceGalaxy|Space Galaxy Edition Destruction Micron]] promotion, where one member of this team was [[blindpacking|blind-packed]] into the actual Convoy Super Mode boxes in May. Yes, ''inside''. Good luck.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Armada Super Base Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ArmadaSuperBaseOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|Super-Con}}
[[File:Supercon ArmadaPrime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Fans typically refer to this mold as "Bendy Prime", but it's really more of a shimmy-shimmy Prime. Mini-Con-activated shimmy-shimmy.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Super-Con Class, 2002)}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''STD Convoy'''
:*''Takara ID number'': '''MC-06'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[December 26]], 2002
:*''Accessories'': Left & right smokestacks
{{toydesigner|[[Aaron Archer]] (Hasbro), [[Hironori Kobayashi]] (Takara)}}

: This highly-poseable "Super-Con Class" version of ''Armada'' Optimus Prime is an entirely original mold, retaining the ability to tow Super Base Optimus Prime's trailer, though he cannot combine with it. He comes with the Mini-Con [[Over-Run (Armada)#Toys|Over-Run]] (Surge in Japan), who can transform into a gun for him, or can peg onto the Powerlinx plug on Optimus's back to activate a double-fisted "punching" action. Like the Super Base figure, Prime has a flip-down chestplate, but in a deliberate choice he lacks a molded-in Matrix (though he does have a molded gap in the center where the Matrix would go, which ''does'' match the end of the show, after he [[:File:Armada 52 - Prime and no Matrix.jpg|relinquishes]] it).<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Dlx Optimus does Not combine with Jetfire. He is able to pull the "big" optimus trailer. Dlx Optimus Mini-con feature is a punching feature, Arms move side to side. Dlx Optimus Mini-con Over-Run (silver-jet) will probably not be in the show. 98% of the Autobots/Decepticons are in the show. 65% of the available Mini-cons are in the show. with redecos and partner Mini-cons we are talking almost 75 Mini-cons! That is way to many to include in the show. To plate on Dlx Optimus opens up like "big" Optimus but the Matrix is not there.... (story TBD) "big" Optimus combines with Jetfire and a item to be shown later. SUPER COOL. Dlx Megatron is NOT planned. Thats the facts,|name=Aaron Archer|site=TFW2005|year=circa 2002}}</ref><ref>{{citesocial|quote=He might get small in the show for an episope, but it is not final. It would be a way to explain the scale change.|name=Aaron Archer|site=TFW2005|year=circa 2002}}</ref><ref>"So our idea was there that, yeah we had already done it for the 'super build' part of the torso and I think my thought process at the time—remember this is early days, I don't know everything future me would know—I was like well maybe he's this little guy and when he puts the Matrix in his chest that's when he becomes super. So the little guy wouldn't have the Matrix just sitting there, or maybe he hasn't earned it yet, or just some other… and you noticed it right, that it ''wasn't'' there so… that was the point."—[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow2iKv7DrL4&t=1948s Aaron Archer on ''The Toy Armada'', 2022/10/25]</ref> His smokestacks can be removed (and in many cases will simply fall off), but cannot peg together as a gun. Shipping in a great many waves throughout most of the later run of the line, Super-Con Optimus became a notorious [[shelfwarmer|pegwarmer]].

: The initial release of the figure featured silver lights on his roof; later on, the lights were changed to yellow, and later still, an Autobot emblem was added to the hood of the vehicle. These changes were not made on the Japanese release of the figure, which bore the unfortunate appellation of "STD", meaning "standard".<ref>Written in Japanese as {{ruby|STD|スタンダード}}コンボイ (''Sutandādo Konboi''). "STD" is actually a common naming format used in Japanese toylines that release a toy in two different sizes or price points; these usually being the smaller, "Standard" or "STD" release, and the larger "Deluxe" or "DX" (or something else along those lines) release. ''Legends of the Microns'' "Convoy Super Mode" (aka ''Armada'' Super Base Optimus Prime) would be the equivalent of a "DX" figure. Takara notably used these two price points and titles quite a bit during the [[Brave series|''Brave'' series]].</ref>

: The toy is notable for being one of the earliest instances of an important character receiving a second, more affordable toy without this being rationalised as an entirely new body in-fiction—as not all markets would receive the bigger price-points.<ref>"There was a very literal sense, even with ''Beast Wars'' and stuff, where we had to come up with a whole new gimmick for a reason to redo a different guy, right? We had to have Transmetals, Transmetals 2, and Fuzors and stuff like that. […] It had been traditionally: go, well, you put your high-end, most important characters, the leaders, in the highest price point—or a higher price point—so that you guarantee a certain level of sale I guess, or you're putting your best foot forward because you certainly don't want to have a high-end Rando, that would be even worse. So this was an opportunity where we were also, as co-development goes, trying to get more global, trying to expand the reach of just ''Transformers'' being in- England, Japan, Italy, […] North America let's call it. But there were still parts of the globe that couldn't engage with ''Transformers''; the price points weren't right, the scales weren't right, the- various things. So what that Optimus originally did—and would continue to do until the molds literally fell apart—was offer a more affordable leader character that is the primary character in the animation. So that was a very important step in this whole process to get Optimus at a ten-dollar-or-under price point."—[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow2iKv7DrL4&t=1765s Aaron Archer on ''The Toy Armada'', 2022/10/25]</ref>

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/SuperConPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Armada Supercon Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ArmadaSuperConOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|GoldArmada}}
[[File:Armadatoy gold convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''''Kinpika'' Convoy''' (Lucky Draw figure, [[August]] 2003)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Trailer/armor, light-up rifle, missile, left & right smokestacks

:This Japanese-exclusive [[vacuum metallizing|vacuum metalized]] golden redeco of Convoy Super Mode, whose name means "Shining Golden", was available as a prize in several draws, including a colouring contest held in the pages of ''[[TV-Kun]]'' magazine, and in-store lottery draws at Tobu Department Stores. Between the draws, at least 58 "''Kinpika'' Convoy" toys are known to have been given away, making it one of the more widely available [[Lucky Draw figure]]s, comparatively speaking. It came packaged in a plain white box, and including all the accessories and features of the standard release of the figure, including a gold-chromed "Prime" Micron.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/gold+super+mode+convoy/1084/gold+super+mode+convoy.html More information on Kinpika Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''
{{ArmadaSuperBaseOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|Powerlinx}}
[[File:Powelinx Armadaprime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Dracula Prime?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Powerlinx Optimus Prime with Corona Sparkplug''' (Super Base, 2003)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Trailer/armor, light-up rifle, missile, left & right smokestacks

: A late-run extensive redeco of the Super Base ''Armada'' Optimus Prime toy, "Powerlinx Optimus Prime" sports the darker color scheme the character takes on in the [[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|''Armada'' cartoon]] episode "[[Origin]]" following a Mini-Con power-up, but he is not precisely [[show-accuracy|show-accurate]]—the deco would later be fine-tuned with more accurate details for release in Japan as the Magna Convoy DX giftset ([[#MagnaConvoyDX|see below]]). In addition to now sporting fully-mobile Super Mode arms without the movement-impeding tabs, Prime still comes with all his features and accessories, though for this release, his Mini-Con partner Sparkplug got retooled with a new rear chassis and a blinged-out golden chrome body as "Corona Sparkplug".

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Powerlinx Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Crystal}}
[[File:Armada CrystalConvoy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Optimus Prime can't avoid his toy contracts even when he's dead!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Crystal Convoy''' (Lucky Draw figure, [[October]] 2003)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Surge Mini-Con, left and right smokestacks

: A Japanese ''[[TV Magazine]]''-[[exclusive]], this release of the STD Convoy toy has almost all of his parts cast in translucent coloured plastics—hence the "crystal" moniker—representing the character's disembodied [[spark]] after his destruction in the ''Armada'' cartoon episode "[[Crisis (Armada)|Crisis]]" and resurrection in "[[Miracle (episode)|Miracle]]". What that means for poor "Surge" (Over-Run), also cast in translucent plastic, we couldn't say! Available via mail-order, only 5000 pieces were distributed in October of 2003.
{{ArmadaSuperConOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|MatrixMultipack}}
[[File:Armada-optimus-prime-gold-kmart.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Battle for the Matrix''' (Multi-pack, 2003)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Trailer/armor, light-up rifle, missile, left & right smokestacks

: A K-Mart-exclusive set released on "[[Black Friday (event)|Black Friday]]" (the day after Thanksgiving, the most hellishly busy shopping day of the year), this set consists of Super Base "Powerlinx Optimus Prime" (not to be confused with the ''actual'' Powerlinx Optimus Prime), "[[Jetfire (Armada)#MatrixMultipack|Powerlinx Jetfire]]" (again, not really), their respective partner Mini-Cons "Corona Sparkplug" (seriously, not that ''actual'' Corona Sparkplug) and [[Comettor (Armada)#MatrixMultipack|Comettor]], the [[Adventure Mini-Con Team#MatrixMultipack|Adventure Mini-Con Team]], and oddly enough, [[Longarm (Armada)#MatrixMultipack|Longarm]]. Optimus Prime's red plastics and paint were replaced with gold, the only changes made to anyone in the set. It is this set from which the name of Optimus Prime's combined mode with Jetfire, "Jet Prime", comes.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/KMartPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Battle for the Matrix Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ArmadaSuperBaseOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|MagnaConvoyDX}}
[[File:Armada MagnaConvoyDX1.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|I think he needs another gun.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Magna Convoy DX Set''' (Multi-pack, 2003)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''MC-XX'''
:*''Release date'': [[November 19]], 2003
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, light-up rifle, missile, left & right smokestacks

: This set is a [[Toys"R"Us]] Japan exclusive, consisting of "Convoy Final Battle Coloration" (Powerlinx Optimus Prime), redecoed with more show-accurate colours, principally a silver [[mouthplate]] instead of red and varying color saturation from the Hasbro version), "[[Overload (Armada)#MagnaConvoy|Ultra Magnus Special Clear Version]]", and an exclusive [[Exdimensions]] redeco of the [[Street Action Mini-Con Team#Exdimension|Street Action Microns]]. This set is entirely "new" content not available in the normal mass-retail ''Legends of the Microns'' line, and is also the last release of Exdimensions Microns. Rather than come with individual bio cards for the various characters, the set came with only a single card for the combined "Magna Convoy" form.
{{--}}

==''Built to Rule!''==
{{anchor|AmradaBTR}}
[[File:BTR-toy Optimus-Armada.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|"My Matrix for a quick death." (How could this happen to me?)]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (2003)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 2 missiles

:''Armada'' ''[[Built to Rule!]]'' Optimus Prime transforms into a fair approximation of his [[alternate mode|vehicle mode]], but the robot mode is quite inaccurate, due to the very broad, flat Trans-Skeleton with thin, stick-like limbs attached to it. The set came with a very simplistic "Mini-Con" Sparkplug partner kit that did have a more dedicated "Powerlinx" connector than the standard construction pegs, though these are a bit too thin to be used as attachment points for regular Mini-Cons (they stay, sort of, but it's a very loose connection). The 101-piece set also features pressure-launch missile-firing "smokestack" cannons.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2003/Autobot/BTROptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Built to Rule! Armada Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|EnergonBTR}}
[[File:BTR EnergonPrime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Blocktimus Prime]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Built to Rule!, [[2005]])}}</ul>
**''Accessories'': 2 missiles''

: The ''Energon'' version of ''[[Built to Rule!]]'' Optimus Prime was designed with a much more solid skeleton with larger, blockier limbs. He can be rebuilt from a Cybertronic truck cab with a trailer-mounted, pressure-launch dual-missile cannon (with electronic lights and sounds) to a robot, to basically whatever you feel like doing with the parts.

: Unfortunately, due to the slow performance of the ''Built to Rule!'' line overall, the ''Energon'' versions only had a limited, test-market release initially in and around Cincinnati, Ohio. The sets later filtered out into many Tuesday Morning and Ollie's chain stores at drastically dropped prices.
{{--}}

==''Energon''==
{{anchor|EnergonSuper}}
[[File:Energon Prime toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Form feet and legs! Form arms and body! And I'll form... the head!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Leader Class, [[2003]]/[[2004]])}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Grand Convoy'''
:*''Takara ID number'': '''SC-01'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[December 25]], 2004
:*''Accessories'': "Fire-1", "Copter-2", "Digger-3", "Submarine-4", trailer, rifle, missile
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] (Hasbro), [[Takashi Kunihiro]] (Takara)|[[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] (detailing)}}

: Leader Class ''[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|Energon]]'' Optimus Prime transforms into a Cybertronic short-nosed truck cab. A switch on his back offers four selectable sound effects, each one corresponding to one member of the [[Prime Force]] ("Grand Force" in Japan), the four drone vehicles contained within Prime's parallelogram-shaped trailer. A tiny, slightly recessed button above the switch activates the sounds. When Prime transforms to [[robot mode]], the trailer stands upright to become a launch base of sorts for the Prime Force, with three of the trailer's four storage compartments featuring launching mechanisms that propel the vehicles into action. The Prime Force consists of "Fire-1", a fire truck with an extending ladder and rotating turret; "Copter-2" ("Gyro-2" in Japan), a helicopter with spinning rotors; "Digger-3", a drill tank with a gear-wheel-activated spinning drill; and "Submarine-4", a submarine with opening capture claws beneath its bow. The four interchangeable drones can combine with Prime to create his [[Super Mode]]; any drone is capable of forming any limb. When in Super Mode, Prime's chest panels are opened, in turn pressing a button on his side that creates more electronic sounds and lights up a red LED in his chest, representing the [[Spark of Combination]].

: Prime is armed with a spring-loaded missile launcher that stores on the rear of his truck mode (which becomes the backpack of his robot mode) when not in use. Like most of the weapons of the ''Energon'' line, it sports a [[5 mm post]], allowing it to be held by most every ''Energon'' figure, to combine with assorted other weapons and [[energon weapon]]s released in the series, and to peg into numerous compatible ports shared by many figures, like the hole in the radar of Prime's own trailer, or even conveniently placed 5mm screw holes like those of the Prime Force.

[[File:Energontoy prime combinations.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
:In lieu of combining with the Prime Force, Optimus Prime can also merge with ''Energon'' [[Wing Saber (Energon)#Toys|Wing Saber]] in a similar fashion, with Wing Saber splitting into four components that connect to Prime as limbs. Wing Saber's red and white torso components can become arms for Prime while his legs attach to Prime's own, creating Prime's "Flight Mode", but the parts can also be swapped around, with Wing Saber's legs deploying large missile launchers and becoming arms to make Prime's "Fight Mode" (both forms are just called "Wing Convoy" in Japan). Alternately, Prime can combine with ''Energon'' [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] to form what his packaging calls "Powerlinx Omega Supreme" ("Optimus Supreme" in the cartoon; "Omega Convoy" in Japan). The Prime Force drones can attach to four connectors on Optimus Supreme's body.

: The earliest releases of ''Energon'' Optimus Prime have no ridges on the inside of the chest windows, and a different head sculpt featuring an [[Optimus Primal (BW)|Optimus Primal]]-style mouth-slit in his mouthplate. This was soon replaced with a full mouthplate, and it was this version of the toy which appeared in the [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|''Energon'' cartoon]] and was released by Takara. Other changes made to the Takara ''Super Link'' "Grand Convoy" release of the toy involved a chromed front grill, more vibrant plastic colors on Digger-3 and Submarine-4, a darker blue plastic on Prime himself, and more intricate [[paint operation]]s. Takara's release also lacks the electronic sound effects seen in Hasbro's version, which were also commonly gutted for the Japanese releases of any Autobot toys who had them, though Prime still retains his light-up chest.

: The Takara's Grand Convoy was also tied to a number of [[campaign item|store-exclusive promotional items]], namely a series of unique-colors [[energon weapon]]s. In late December/early January, buying the toy at [[AEON|JUSCO]] stores netted you the [[:File:En-toy EnergonSpear-CoronaFlame F2F.jpg|Energy Spear Corona Flame Edition]], the [[:File:En-toy EnergyAxe-BlackHole.jpg|Energy Axe Black Hole Edition]] at Ito Yokado, and finally the [[:File:En-toy EnergonSpear-RoyalClear F2F.jpg|Energy Spear Royal Clear Edition]] came with buying Grand Convoy at Hello Mac, Posful, Pelican, Joshin Denki & Heiwado stores. Later in [[July]], Grand Convoy and Wing Saber were the promo-buy-items for the [[:File:En-toy EnergyCutter-DaylightAttack.jpg|Energy Cutter Daylight Attack Edition]] and [[:File:En-toy EnergonBlade-PhantomNight F2F.jpg|Energy Blade Night Phantom Edition]], but this promotion was never advertised, and the most information anyone could get out of Takara's customer service after the fact was that they were available at "1500 select stores".

: The mouth-plated version of this mold was redecoed into ''[[Transformers: Platinum Edition|Platinum Edition]]'' "Year of the Snake" [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Platinum Edition|Optimus Prime]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Energon Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|EnDx}}
[[File:Energontoy sl grand convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|Those upper legs vs. [[Chun-Li]]'s - whose are more powerful??]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''SL Grand Convoy''' (2004)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''SC-13'''
:*''Release date'': [[March 25]], 2004
:*''Accessories'': Rifle

: As had first been done in the ''Armada'' line, Takara elected to supplement their release of the Leader-sized Grand Convoy figure with a new-mold Combat Class-sized toy called "SL Grand Convoy" ({{ruby|S|スーパー}}{{ruby|L|リンク}}グランドコンボイ, pronounced "Super Link Grand Convoy"). Coming without his trailer, the Grand Force, or electronics, this Grand Convoy discarded the larger toy's ability to form his Super Mode in favor of being able to [[Powerlinx]] with the other compatible toys of the ''Super Link'' line, forming either a torso or a pair of legs that the other Cybertrons (Autobots) could connect to. Like the ''Legends of the Microns'' "STD Convoy", this one too was on the small side for its "size class", but just as that figure could, this small Convoy can still tow the Leader-sized figure's trailer.

: Customers who bought this toy at [[AEON|JUSCO]] stores received the [[:File:En-toy EnergyAxe-VioletCluster.jpg|Energy Axe Violet Cluster Edition]] as a [[campaign item|freebie]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/PXOptimusPrime/pxoptimusprime.htm More information on SL Grand Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Kicker2pack}}
[[File:En-toy OptimusPrime SLGrandKicker.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Kicker! I have escaped from the box! I'll come back for you!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''SL Grand Convoy & Kicker''' (multi-pack, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''SS-03'''
:*''Release date'': March 25, 2004
:*''Accessories:'' Rifle

:A slight redeco of Takara's Combat Class-size Grand Convoy was released as part of a special set commemorating both the 20th anniversary of ''Transformers'' and the 30th anniversary of its progenitor, ''[[Microman]]''. Coming with an exclusive metallic redeco of Takara's [[Kicker Jones|Kicker]], which was based on the ''Microman'' body, this Grand Convoy featured a chromed grill where the original had painted plastic, and supposedly slightly shinier plastics. ''Very'' slightly.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Cybertron/AnnivGrandConvoy/grandconvoy.htm More information on 20th Anniversary SL Grand Convoy at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|OprimusMegsTRU}}
[[File:Energontoy prime vs megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Powerlinx Optimus Prime versus Megatron''' (2-pack, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Rifle

: The SS-03 version of Takara's Combat Class-sized Optimus figure, based on the Anniversary release, was released in Hasbro markets in a two-pack with the smaller Japanese Mega Class-sized "[[Megatron (Armada)/toys#Energon|Galvatron]]" figure (aka Takara's release of Megatron). There are some tiny but notable differences between this and the Anniversary figure; the Hasbro version uses a more neutral dark-gray for the main body as opposed to the Takara version's blue-tinted dark-gray, plain dark-blue plastic rather than dark-blue-with-sparkles, and plain yellow paint for the cab's lights rather than sparkly-yellow/gold.

: This set was a Toys"R"US-[[exclusive]] in the US, but sold at pretty much any retailer that wanted to carry it elsewhere in the world.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/PXOptimusPrime/pxoptimusprime.htm More information on Deluxe Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|EnergonGold}}
[[File:Energontoy gold grand convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|"Core Change: '''Re-Rising Gundam!'''"]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Gold Grand Convoy''' (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' "Fire-1", "Gyro-2", "Digger-3", "Submarine-4", trailer, rifle, missile

: This golden-chromed redeco of the Leader-sized Grand Convoy figure was initially offered as a prize to five lucky winners of a colouring contest held in the pages of the ''TV Magazine''. Additional units were later given away via in-store draws at Toys"R"Us Japan; precisely how many is unknown, but the regularity with which the toy appeared on auction sites throughout 2005 suggests it was quite a few.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/gold+grand+convoy/1094/gold+grand+convoy.html More information on Gold Grand Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|FireSL}}
[[File:Firegrandconvoy.JPG|upright=1.67|thumb|Am I Fire Guts or Burning Convoy? I can't decide!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Fire SL Grand Convoy''' (''TV Magazine''-exclusive, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Rifle

: This vibrant red and orange redeco of the Combat Class-sized Grand Convoy figure was a ''TV Magazine'' exclusive, limited to 3,000 pieces. It shipped in a unique monochrome red version of the traditional ''Super Link'' packaging, and did not include a character card.

{{-}}{{anchor|EnergonSLGold}}
[[File:Energontoy gold sl convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''SL Grand Convoy Mekki Version''' (Lucky Draw figure, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Rifle

: Released as part of the "W Convoy" campaign ("Double" Convoy, that is!) alongside a silver chrome version of "[[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus Convoy]]", this gold chrome "Mekki" ("plating") version of the Combat Class-sized Grand Convoy toy was available only as a prize in a mail-in [[Robot Point]]s contest. Initially limited to 20 units in the original draw, it appears that many more were made available through toy store drawings, given how many went on to appear on online auction sites through 2005 and 2006.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/gold+sl+grand+convoy/1091/gold+sl+grand+convoy.html More information on SL Grand Convoy Mekki Version at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|CostCoOverload}}
[[File:Energontoy costco prime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|How many times has this set been reused?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Overload with Rollout & Optimus Prime with Corona Sparkplug''' (Multi-pack, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories:'' Trailer/armor, light-up rifle, missile, left & right smokestacks

: A [[Costco]]-exclusive redeco of the ''Armada'' Super Base Optimus Prime toy in black, yellow, and brick red, it also came with a redeco of ''Armada'' [[Overload (Armada)#Energon|Overload]]. It is from this set that the name of Prime's combined form with Overload, "Optimus Prime Megaweapon", comes (though the term "Megaweapon" first appeared on Powerlinx Optimus Prime's packaging).

: The stock images to the right are not accurate to the final product. All of Optimus Prime's translucent parts on the final figure are yellow. This includes the windshield, the smokestacks, his rifle, the sensor on the trailer, and the flip-up screen in the trailers' base mode.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2004/Autobot/CostcoPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Costco Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ArmadaSuperBaseOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|CustomColorEnergon}}
[[File:Energontoy custom color prime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Grand Convoy Custom Color Version''' (Lucky Draw Figure, 2004)}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''SC-01'''
:*''Accessories:'' "Fire-1", "Gyro-2", "Digger-3", "Submarine-4", trailer, rifle, missile

: The color scheme of this special redeco of the Leader-sized Grand Convoy was decided through a colouring contest held in the [[December]] 2004 issue of ''TV Magazine'', in which entrants coloured in lineart of Convoy in the scheme they wanted to see. The winning entry rendered Convoy in a… ''distinct'' palette of grey, cream, dark red, and purple chrome, with blue, white, and yellow drones. It was limited to only ten pieces, making it one of the rarer ''Transformers'' toys in existence.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/custom+grand+convoy/1105/custom+grand+convoy.html More information on Custom Color Grand Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Santa}}
[[File:Energontoy unreleased prime.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Leader Class, unreleased)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': "Fire-1", "Copter-2", "Digger-3", "Submarine-4", trailer, rifle, missile

:A redeco of the Leader Class Optimus Prime mold with a primarily red cab, much deeper blue, and a Prime Force uniformly colored in black was planned to be released with ''[[Smallest Transforming Transformers]]'' [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys|Generation 1 Optimus Prime]] as a [[Target]]-exclusive. The toy got far enough along in development to have package artwork created by [[Dan Khanna]], which was later revealed online, but it was canceled shortly before making it to full production. Its red, white, and black coloration earned it the festive nickname of "Santa Prime" among fans online.

::*''[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/energon-autobots-166/optimus-prime-with-mini-optimus-prime-unreleased-4079/ More information on this unreleased Optimus Prime at TFW2005]''
{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

==''Cybertron''==
[[File:Cybertrontoy leader optimus prime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|"Well... a fire truck is bigger." (''Hasbro version pictured'')]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Leader, 2004 / 2005)}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Galaxy Convoy'''
:*''Takara ID number'': '''GC-01'''
:*''Takara release date'': [[December 28]], 2004
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Matrix [[Cyber Key]]
:*''Cyber Key Code'': '''l8p3'''
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] (Hasbro), [[Takashi Kunihiro]] (Takara)|[[Hirofumi Ichikawa]] (detailing), [[Marcelo Matere]] (packaging artist)}}

: The first ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Optimus Prime toy transforms into a heavily-armed fire truck of made-up model, topped with two large cannons. The cannons and the sides of the truck fold down to create an unlikely flight mode for the vehicle. His right-side cannon fires a spring-loaded missile, while plugging a [[Cyber Key]] into its key jack pops two more spring-loaded missile launchers out from its sides. Plugging a Cyber Key into his left-side cannon opens up the cannon's outer casing, revealing the inner barrel, lighting the red LED at its tip and playing an electronic "charging up" noise. Pressing the small blue button just over the battery casing plays a "firing" sound effect with accompanying light flash. In this mode, he can also deploy ''another'' pair of (non-firing) cannons from under the main cannons.

: In true Prime style, the forward portion of the vehicle mode detaches to become Optimus himself, while the rear "trailer" transforms into a gun emplacement. In robot mode, the barrel of the missile-launching cannon detaches to become a hand-held rifle. Atypical of most Unicron Trilogy figures, Prime's hands are ''not'' designed to accommodate weapons with [[5 mm post]]s, instead featuring a small peg-hole in his palm that allows him to tightly grip objects designed to fit there, like his own rifle, [[Overhaul (Cybertron)#Toys|Leobreaker]]'s whip, ''Cybertron'' [[Wing Saber (Energon)#Cybertron|Wing Saber's]] swords, and ''Cybertron'' [[Metroplex (Cybertron)#Toys|Metroplex]]'s [[Sparkdrinker|axe]]. However, Wing Saber's sword hilts ''can'' be used as adaptors, allowing Prime to hold and use 5mm weapons. His chest has a compartment to hold his removable Matrix of Leadership accessory; Prime's gigantic hands mean that he can't hold it especially ''neatly'', but he can certainly get a grip on it.

: Of course, Optimus can transform into a Super Mode by combining with his vehicle-mode back end, which becomes a massive winged backpack with under-slung main guns, and a pair of large boots, with the non-firing cannons ending up around his knees. To complete his Super Mode look, a small lever of the back of Prime's head raises his traditional mouthplate into place, covering his Optimus Primal-style mouth slot, and two "crests" fold out from either side of his helmet. Hasbro's instructions and stock photography awkwardly orient the wings so that the two cannons point ''over'' Prime's shoulders; the cartoon portrayed them in the under-slung orientation, as would all subsequent Hasbro redecos of the toy. In Super Mode, Prime is a rather top-heavy robot, and his hip joints are not that tight, which makes standing him up a challenging prospect.

: In Super Mode, Optimus Prime can combine with [[Overhaul (Cybertron)#Voyager|Leobreaker]] to form "Savage Claw Mode", which sees the feline Autobot become a gigantic clawed arm for his leader. Alternately, if Prime's backpack is removed, he can merge with [[Wing Saber (Energon)#Cybertron|Wing Saber]] into "Sonic Wing Mode", with the aerial ace forming a new winged backpack and chestplate for Optimus, and providing him with new hand-held sword weapons and firing missile launchers that connect to his Super Mode boots. The nature of the combination means that the two partners cannot combine with Prime at once—at least, not without physically removing one of Prime's own arms.

: The Takara ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)#Takara Galaxy Force toyline|Galaxy Force]]'' "Galaxy Convoy" version of the toy was released first, and features a number of paint differences from the later Hasbro ''Cybertron'' release. The most immediately-noticeable is that Galaxy Convoy's unique Matrix-shaped Cyber Key has its "frame" painted gold, where Optimus's is unpainted clear-blue plastic, save for the Autobot symbol and the Hasbro-only [[Cyber Key Codes|Cyber Key Code]] printed on its back. The other differences are small but numerous: Galaxy Convoy has more thoroughly painted knees, main cannons and leg-armor cannons, the signal lights above the cab are painted yellow, his leg-wheel hubcaps are painted gold, and his nose is inexplicably painted silver. Galaxy Convoy's wings are also held in place with long metal pins, where the Hasbro version has them just held in place with friction so they can pop off rather than ''break'' off if the toy is dropped.

: Galaxy Convoy was three-part [[AEON|JUSCO]] promotion, tied to the release of Ligerjack and the ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Hybrid Style|THS-01 Galaxy Convoy]] in late April: buying him netted you the free all-white version of [[Hellflame Mini-Con Team|Hellflame Micron]] [[Quasar]]. (Buying the other two toys got you the other two all-white Hellflame Microns.)

: Optimus is slightly mistransformed in the image to the right: in vehicle mode his chest windows should be folded around to the sides of the cab to cover the arm sockets.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Cybertron Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|LOC1}}
[[File:LOC CybertronPrime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Takara's version pictured on the left, Hasbro's version pictured on the right.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2005)}}</ul>

: [[Legends Class (2005)|Legends of Cybertron]] Optimus is a very simplified version of ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime, with no weapons or trailer, just the front portion of the truck. It transforms into the standard robot mode, with a very similar transformation scheme to the full-sized toy, and has no useful articulation of the shoulders.

: The figure was released in Japan under the "EZ Collection" banner, in the same packaging as the Hasbro release but with a small card insert featuring the Japanese logo and nomenclature, similar to a [[USA Edition]]. As with all the EZ Collection figures, this release features a substantially greater number of paint operations that increase Optimus's resemblance to his larger figure.

: This mold was redecoed to create ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[Menasor (G1)#Classics|Menasor]] and ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'' [[Hot Spot (G1)#Universe (2008)|Hot Zone]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Autobot/LOCOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Legends of Cybertron Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|MegaloConvoy}}
[[File:GF MetallicGalaxyConvoy Legends toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|To [[scale]] with something? Blasphemy!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Megalo Convoy''' (Leader Class, 2005)}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''GC-23'''
:*''Release date'': [[August 29]], 2005

: A special metallic-paint version of Legends of Cybertron Optimus Prime was included with the Takara ''Galaxy Force'' release of [[Metroplex (Cybertron)#Toys|Megalo Convoy aka Metroplex]], as a demonstration of their actual size difference as depicted on the television series.

{{-}}{{anchor|GoldGF}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy gold galaxy convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Galaxy Convoy Gold Version''' (Leader Lucky Draw figure, 2005)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Force Chip

: This gold-chrome and clear-plastic redeco of the Leader-class Optimus Prime figure was first offered as a prize in a mail-in contest held through ''[[TV Magazine]]'' alongside a silver chrome version of the same toy ([[#SilverGF|see below]]). Both figures were later made available again as prizes in a second contest in the September 2005 issue of ''TV Magazine'', together with "Galaxy Convoy Custom Color Version" (again, [[#CustomGF|see below]]).

: Optimus is slightly mistransformed in the image to the right, in vehicle mode his chest windows should be folded round to the sides of the cab to cover the arm sockets.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/gold+galaxy+convoy/1099/gold+galaxy+convoy.html More information on Gold Galaxy Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|SilverGF}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy silver galaxy convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Galaxy Convoy Silver Version''' (Leader Lucky Draw figure, 2005)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Force Chip

: This silver-chromed redeco of the Leader-class Optimus Prime figure first saw the light of day as a prize in a ''TV Magazine'' mail-in, offered alongside a gold chrome version of the same toy ([[#GoldGF|see above]]). Both figures were later made available again as prizes in a second contest in the September 2005 issue of ''TV Magazine'', together with "Galaxy Convoy Custom Color Version" ([[#CustomGF|see below]]). Despite being offered in equal quantities in these contests, this silver version is apparently much harder to come by.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/silver+galaxy+convoy/1797/silver+galaxy+convoy.html More information on Silver Galaxy Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|CustomGF}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy custom color convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67|It's not that easy being Prime.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Galaxy Convoy Custom Color Version''' (Leader Lucky Draw figure, 2005)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Force Chip

: One of the single rarest [[Lucky Draw figure]]s in existence, this "Custom Color" redeco of Super Optimus Prime was limited to only ''one'' in the world. It was the grand prize of a coloring contest held in September 2005's ''TV Magazine'', in which entrants colored in line-art of Prime with the deco they wanted to see. The winning entry was in green, blue and gold, while ten runners-up received one of five gold or five silver Lucky Draw versions of Prime.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/custom+colour+galaxy+convoy/1104/custom+colour+galaxy+convoy.html More information on Custom Color Galaxy Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|EZClear}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy ez clear optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''EZ Collection Clear Set''' (Multi-pack, 2005)}}</ul>

: A Takara exclusive multi-pack of "EZ Collection" [[Megatron (Armada)/toys#EZClear|Megatron]], Optimus Prime and [[Starscream (Armada)/toys#EZClear|Starscream]] recast the figures using primarily clear plastics; in Prime's cast, both his blue and red plastics became translucent. A mail-away exclusive to ''[[TV Magazine]]'' in October 2005, the set was limited to 3000 pieces.

::*''[http://plasticcrack.net/archives/2007/07/photo-review-takara-galaxy-force-ez-telemag-exclusive-3pack More information on the EZ Collection multi-pack at PlasticCrack.net]

{{-}}{{anchor|SonicConvoy}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy sonic convoy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|I'm gorgeously shiny!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Sonic Convoy''' (Multi-pack, 2005)}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''EX-02'''
:*''Accessories:'' Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Force Chip

: This redeco of Leader-class Optimus Prime replaced most of the plastics in the cab robot with colored translucent equivalents. He also has numerous chromed parts, including chrome-silver wrist-pipes, red chrome window frames and side-cannons, and a chromed Autobot symbol on his Key. His trailer remained opaque, but was cast in much deeper red plastic, with a more metallic silver used for his cannons. He also lacks the weird silver nose-paint, and has the Hasbro trailer assembly with the pop-off-able wings.

: He was available only in a [[Toys"R"Us]] Japan exclusive giftset released in October 2005, packed in with a redeco of [[Wing Saber (Energon)#SonicConvoy|Wing Saber]] and the [[Cobybot|Coby ''Sen'yō'' Ramble]].

: None of the toys in this box set were given bio cards. Aww.

::*''[http://www.tfw2005.com/resources/galaxy-force-cybertrons-341/galaxy-convoy-clear-2412 More information on Sonic Convoy at TFW2005]''

{{-}}{{anchor|GoldMetroplex}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy gold ez convoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Megalo Convoy Gold Version''' (Leader Lucky Draw figure, 2005)}}</ul>

: A golden-chrome redeco of ''Cybertron'' Metroplex was offered as a contest prize in the December 2005 issue of ''TV Magazine'', and came with an equally blinged-out Legends/EZ Collection Optimus Prime figure. Fifteen of this set were available as prizes in the initial contest; a single Metroplex was later offered as one of many prizes in a Takara website contest, but this version came only with the standard metallic paint version of Prime.

::*''[http://www.luckydrawtransformers.com/toy/gallery/review/gold+galaxy+convoy/1103/gold+galaxy+convoy.html More information on Gold EZ Collection Galaxy Convoy at Lucky Draw Transformers]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Magnus2-pack}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy ridprime magnus 2pack.jpg|right|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Ultra Magnus & Optimus Prime''' (Multi-pack, 2005)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Cannon, 2 missiles

: A red redeco of the 2003 ''Universe'' [[Optimus Prime (RID)#Cybertron|Optimus Prime]] was sold with a repackaged version of the ''[[Transformers: Universe (2003 toyline)|Universe]]'' version of [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 toyline)|2001 ''Robots in Disguise'']] Ultra Magnus in a [[Costco]]-[[exclusive]] multi-pack in 2005. Sold under the ''Cybertron'' banner, their continuity of origin was ambiguous for years until clarified in 2015 by the Facebook edition of [[Ask Vector Prime]].

{{-}}{{anchor|LeaderGalaxyForce}}
[[File:Cyb GalaxyForceOptimusPrime.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Sowing confusion on message boards everywhere.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Galaxy Force Optimus Prime''' (Leader, 2006)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Cyber Key
:*''Cyber Key Code'': '''lo9x'''
{{toydesigner|[[Eric Siebenaler]] (Hasbro)|[[Marcelo Matere]] (packaging artist)}}

: Released in fourth and final wave of ''Cybertron'' Leaders, this redeco of the Leader-class Optimus Prime figure introduced a new color scheme that several other tail-end releases would emulate. Taking its name from the Takara version of ''Cybertron'' and with a bio noting that this new body depicts Prime after he embarks on his galaxy-spanning mission at the end of the ''Cybertron'' cartoon, "Galaxy Force" Optimus Prime replaces the original toy's blue parts with black and the translucent blue with smokey clear, and molds several—but not all—grey parts out of red plastic, including the toy's rifles, rail gun covers, missile launchers, and Super Mode leg guns. In the realm of new paint operations, Prime now sports all four Cyber Planet Key symbols on his shoulders, and his unique Matrix-shaped Cyber Key finally has a gold-painted border, as it had always had in Japan. Additionally, Prime's hip joints were tightened up with this release, making it easier to stand him up in Super Mode.

: This toy was later re-released in a [[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|2008 ''Universe'']] multi-pack ([[##VsCrumplezone|see below]]).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/GFOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Galaxy Force Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.transformers-universe.com/include.php?path=content/ToyDB_Info.php&Toy_ID=1839 More information on Galaxy Force Optimus Prime at Transformers Universe]''

{{-}}{{anchor|CybDx}}
[[File:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|You've [[:File:Supercon ArmadaPrime.jpg|already]] [[:File:Armada CrystalConvoy.jpg|bought]] [[:Nemesis Prime (Armada)|me]] [[:Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Universe|five]] [[:File:Cybertron OptimusPrime deluxe toy.jpg|times!]]]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Deluxe, 2006)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Left and right smokestacks, Cybertron Cyber Key
:*''Cyber Key Code'': '''d56b'''
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (deco artist)|[[Marcelo Matere]] (packaging artist)}}

: Premiering in the eighth wave of ''Cybertron'' Deluxes, this Optimus is a redeco of the ''[[Transformers: Armada (toyline)|Armada]]'' [[#Super-Con|Super-Con ''Armada'' Optimus Prime]], recolored in red and black to resemble the Leader Class Galaxy Force Optimus Prime figure.

: He does not come with the mold's nominal Mini-Con partner. Instead, Optimus Prime and his [[wave]]-mate [[Demolishor (Armada)#Cybertron|Demolishor]] debuted a new brand of Cyber Key: [[retool]]ed from the standard Cybertron style key, this version lacked a sculpted [[insignia]], so that any symbol could be [[tampograph]]ed on to it, and featured a [[Mini-Con]]-style [[Powerlinx]] socket on the back, allowing it to operate the figure's formerly-Mini-Con-activated "punching" feature without the figure itself having to be retooled.

: The key sports a tampographed Autobot insignia, a red border, and the [[Cyber Key Codes|Key Code]] "d56b" tampographed on the back. This code, when entered on Hasbro's website, was ''supposed'' to unlock additional information on the character or the toy, but due to an error on behalf of Hasbro, it unlocked information intended for his wave-mate Demolishor. Optimus Prime's information was instead unlocked using the code "dt67", which was on the back of Demolishor's Cyber Key.

: As was the case with the ''Universe'' [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)#Universe .282003.29|"Battle in a Box" Ultra Magnus]] release of this sculpt, initial shipments of Optimus Prime had the forearms [[Misassembly|swapped]], leaving his elbow joints useless. This was corrected for later shipments. A further [[variant|running change]] saw tampographed graphics depicting the four planet symbols added to the truck mode's cab.

: This sculpt was later redecoed once again for a 2008 ''Universe'' [[#Universe (2008)|multi-pack version of ''Cybertron'' Optimus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/DlxOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Deluxe Cybertron Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ArmadaSuperConOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|LOCGalaxyForce}}
[[File:Cybertron GFOptimusPrime Legends toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Cause we gotta little ol' convoy, rockin' through the night]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Legends of Cybertron, 2006)}}</ul>

: Like the Deluxe Class figure before it, this redeco of ''Legends of Cybertron'' Optimus Prime was designed to resemble the Leader class Galaxy Force Optimus Prime figure, essentially replacing the blue with black, the yellow with silver and adding the Cyber Key symbol tampographs onto his shoulders. It was released in the fourth and final wave of the ''Cybertron'' Legends-class assortment.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/LOCGFOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on "Galaxy Force" Legends Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Gorilla}}
[[File:Cybertron OptimusPrime beast toy.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|It's a Double [[Garry Chalk]].]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime''' (Deluxe, 2006)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories''" "'Jet-powered' flying board", missile, Jungle Planet Cyber Key
:*''Cyber Key Code'': '''d7s9'''
{{toydesigner|[[Marcelo Matere]] (packaging artist)}}

: Available in the ninth and final wave of ''Cybertron'' Deluxes, this unusual iteration of Optimus Prime is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Optimus Primal]], transforming into a robotic gorilla in the pseudo-[[technorganic]]-looking style of the other [[Jungle Planet (colony)|Jungle Planet]] toys. He comes with a "'jet-powered' flying board" with two [[5 mm post|5mm post]]s at the base, allowing him to ride it in his gorilla mode, or hold it in robot mode via the 5mm posts on his robot palms/gorilla feet. When a [[Cyber Key]] is inserted at the rear of the board, a spring-loaded extending "assault blade" deploys, and a trigger is revealed to allow one to use the spring-loaded missile launcher at the tip. Though it is not intended to be removed, the blade can be popped off and held in Primal's hand thanks to his poseable thumbs.

: This figure contains an unusual amount of sculpted detail on the inside of the plastic. The gorilla mode's chest has a ribcage, and the inside of the gorilla's face has a sculpted microphone, which lines up perfectly with the robot mode's head! Also, opening this toy's chest in robot mode reveals sculpted detail resembling the [[Key to Vector Sigma]] as it appeared in ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Machines]]''. His beast mode features a painted scar over his one eye, a seeming homage to Peter Jackson's ''[[King Kong]]'' (released the previous year).

: While this mold was first released as part of the ''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary'' line and is obviously meant to be Optimus Primal, it was developed to fit in with ''Cybertron's'' Jungle Planet aesthetic, "in case" the ''Beast Wars'' Anniversary release didn't pan out (according to [[Aaron Archer]]'s statements at [[BotCon 2005]]).

: This mold was also used to make [[BotCon 2014]] [[Apelinq (BM)#Timelines|Apelinq]] and [[Primal Prime#Timelines|Primal Prime]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Jungle Planet Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Costco2pack}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy prime wingsaber 2pack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Optimus Prime / Wing Saber''' (Multi-pack, 2006)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, 3 missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Cyber Key

: Released in Fall of 2006, this Costco-exclusive two-pack bundled the original version of the Leader-class Optimus Prime figure with his combination partner [[Wing Saber (Energon)#Cybertron|Wing Saber]] and a DVD including the [[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|''Cybertron'' cartoon]] episode "[[United (episode)|United]]".

: This set comes in a particularly huge box, and sold for $35.99, five dollars less than the MSRP for Optimus Prime by ''himself''. Now that's a deal!

{{-}}{{anchor|LOCTarget4pack}}
[[File:Cybertrontoy LOCtarget4pack.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Megatron / Soundwave / Jetfire / Optimus Prime''' (Multi-pack, 2007)}}</ul>

: This four pack of Legend-class Optimus Prime, [[Megatron (Armada)/toys#LegendsMegs|Megatron]], [[Jetfire (Armada)#LOC|Jetfire]], and [[Soundwave (Cybertron)#Legends|Soundwave]] was exclusive to [[Target]] stores. All of the toys were identical to their individual releases.
{{-}}

==''Hybrid Style''==
{{anchor|THS01}}
[[File:HybridStyletoy galaxyconvoy.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Galaxy Convoy''' ([[2006]])
**''ID number:'' '''THS-01'''
**''Accessories'': Trailer/backpack, leg armor (x2), standard head, Super Mode head, left and right fists, left and right pointing hands, left and right open hands, left and right gripping hands, Matrix of Leadership, Force Chip (x2)

:The first in TakaraTomy's ''[[Hybrid Style]]'' series, Galaxy Convoy is a partly die-cast figure with scaled-down equivalents of the accessories that came with the Leader-class figure. This highly-intricate figure retains all the transformation abilities of the original figure—vehicle, flight mode, robot, and Super Mode—and even its Cyber Key-activated features (even coming with two keys so they can be deployed simultaneously), with additional touches like spring-loaded mechanisms that snap his cannons into place, and hand-grips on the weapons for Super Mode. While he does lack electronics or firing missiles, Prime still includes his Matrix, super-tiny yet still removable, and has four alternate sets of hands: two clenched fists, two with pointing index fingers, two with splayed palms, and two curved hands for holding his various weapon handles. Given the figure's small size, a reconfigurable head was infeasible, so it also comes with an alternate Super Mode head with a mouthplate and crests deployed, though the standard head must be attached in order for the figure to be transformed to vehicle mode.

: Starting in late April, customers who purchased this toy at [[AEON|JUSCO]] stores received an exclusive all-white version of the [[campaign item|promotional freebie]] [[Hellflame Mini-Con Team|Hellflame Micron]] [[Graviton (Cybertron)|Graviton]].

::*[http://www.tfu.info/2005/Cybertron/HybridGalaxyConvoy/galaxyconvoy.htm More information on Hybrid Style Galaxy Convoy at TFU.info]
{{--}}

==''Classics''==
[[File:Classicstoy legends cybertron prime.jpg|thumb|125px]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (Legends, [[2007]])

: Bizarrely enough, Optimus Prime was one of three ''Cybertron'' Legends toys straight-released in ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' packaging, though with the modifier "Cybertron Collection" printed on the cardfront. The toy itself is identical to the ''Cybertron'' release.
{{--}}

==''Transformers'' (2007)==
[[File:TargetGenerationsLegends.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Generations Legends''' (Target exclusive multi-pack, 2007)

: A Target exclusive, this four-pack of Legends Class figures contains two versions of both Optimus Prime and Megatron, namely Legends of Cybertron Optimus Prime, [[Optimus Prime (Movie)/toys|Movie Legends Optimus Prime]], Legends of Cybertron Megatron and [[Megatron (Movie)/toys|Movie Legends Megatron]]. The toy itself is identical to the ''Cybertron'' release.
{{--}}

==''Universe'' (2008)==
[[File:Universe2008toy BftCPK optimus.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Battle for the Cyber Planet Keys''' (Sam's Club exclusive multi-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories'': Left and right smokestacks, Cybertron Cyber Key
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Kyde]] (deco artist)}}

: For ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 franchise)|Universe]]'', a redeco of the ''Armada'' Super-Con [[#Super-Con|Optimus Prime]] in more Generation 1-inspired colors was released in a [[Sam's Club]] exclusive five-pack alongside [[Runamuck (Cybertron)#Universe (2008)|Runamuck]], [[Longrack (Cybertron)#Universe (2008)|Longrack]], [[Buzzsaw (Cybertron)#Universe (2008)|Buzzsaw]], and [[Blurr (Cybertron)#Universe (2008)|Blurr]]. Optimus was the only toy in the set different from the original releases. He came with a translucent red version of the remolded style of Cyber Key previously included with this mold's release during the ''Cybertron'' line, featuring a Powerlinx port to activate his punching gimmick.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Autobot/SamsClubOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Universe Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{ArmadaSuperConOptimusPrimeMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|VsCrumplezone}}
[[File:Universe2008CybOptimusPrimeAndCrumplezone.jpg|thumb|upright=1.67]]
*'''Optimus Prime vs Crumplezone''' (Costco exclusive multi-pack, 2008)
**''Accessories'': Trailer/armor, rifle, three missiles, Matrix of Leadership, Cyber Key

: This Costco exclusive set contains [[#LeaderGalaxyForce|Leader-class "Galaxy Force" Optimus Prime]] and the original [[Crumplezone (Cybertron)|''Cybertron'' Crumplezone]]. Both toys were unchanged from their previous individual releases.
{{--}}

==''Bot Shots''==
{{anchor|BotShotJumpShot}}
[[File:BotShots JumpShot Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (2013)
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Number'': '''B004'''
***''Fist strength'': '''515'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''625'''
***''Sword strength'': '''475'''

: Part of the second wave of ''Bot Shots'' Series 2 single-packs, this new-mold Optimus Prime is heavily based on ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (franchise)|Cybertron]]'' [[Optimus Prime (Armada)|Optimus Prime]], transforming from a robot armed with a gun, into a futuristic firetruck. As a Jump Shot, he springs up when auto-transforming.

:He was redecoed into [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Bot Shots|Ultra Magnus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BSJSOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on Jump Shot Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BotShot3pack}}
[[File:BotShots 3pack Optimus Prime.jpg|thumb|right|300px]]
*'''Optimus Prime / Cindersaur / Autobot Jazz''' (Multi-pack, 2013)
**''Series'': '''2'''
**''Number'': '''BP008'''
***''Fist strength'': '''404'''
***''Blaster strength'': '''854'''
***''Sword strength'': '''362'''

: Part of the second wave of ''Bot Shots'' Series 2 three-packs, this redeco of Jump Shot Optimus Prime has a brighter red, a painted silver forehead crest and "nose-strap", blue windows, and glossy blue paint on his legs, head, and firefighting section, among other minor deco changes. He comes with [[Cindersaur (G1)|Jump Shot Cindersaur]] and [[Jazz (G1)/toys#SuperBot|Super Bot Autobot Jazz]].

:The second wave of Series 2 three-packs didn't reach mass retail in the United States, only showing up in discount stores like Ross.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2013/Autobot/BSJS3pkOptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm More information on 3-pack Jump Shot Optimus Prime at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==''Platinum Edition''==
[[File:PlatinumEditiontoy-YOTSOptimusPrime.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|Platimus.]]
*'''Optimus Prime''' (Year of the Snake exclusive, 2013)
**''Accessories:'' Firetruck drone, helicopter drone, drill tank drone, submarine drone, trailer, rifle, missile
{{toydesigner|[[Andrew Scribner]] (deco artist)}}

: ''[[Transformers: Platinum Edition|Platinum Edition]]'' "Year of the Snake" Optimus Prime is a redeco of [[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|''Energon'']] [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Energon|Super Class Optimus Prime]] inspired by his [[Show-accuracy|Generation 1 color scheme]]. In lieu of combining with his drones, Optimus Prime can also combine with ''Platinum Edition'' [[Omega Supreme (WFC)#Platinum Edition|Omega Supreme]] to form what his instructions ''also'' call "Super Optimus Prime". The drones are color-matched to Omega Supreme, and can attach to four connectors on his body. In an undocumented feature, Prime can also merge with ''Energon'' [[Wing Saber (Energon)#Energon|Wing Saber]].

:Though the [[stock photography]] shows the original mouthed-face head and smooth inner chest windows, the final toy uses the face-plated head and ridged inner windows. The [[packaging]]'s [[bio]] is every [[Optimus Prime (disambiguation)|Optimus Prime]] bio ever (well, [[Optimus Prime (SG)|mostly]]), [[Ask Vector Prime]] would eventually declare him to be a version of Unicron Trilogy Optimus.

:''Platinum Edition'' Optimus Prime is exclusive to BigBadToyStore and Amazon.com in America, but was also released at Philippine mass retail in limited quantities, in Australia as a Kmart exclusive and in Canada as a [[Toys"R"Us]] exclusive. All electronics have been omitted from this version, even the light-up feature retained by Takara's Superlink release, trading the LED for an open hole in the chest.
{{--}}

==''Kre-O''==
*'''Optimus Prime''' (Mini-Con Combiners, unreleased)
**''Accessories'': Bazooka, [[Phaser (weapon)|phaser]], Uzi, scoped pistol, [[Klingon]] blaster

:"Mini-Con Combiner"' Optimus comes with one standard Kreon and four ''Cityville''-syle mini-Kreons of the same character, each one a different incarnation from various franchises. With some extra parts, the mini-Kreons become limbs to make a larger combiner-bot.

: Two of his limbs are based on ''Armada'' Optimus Prime; one "normal" (Inferno helmet), one pre-[[Earth]]-body (Knock Out helmet). The main torso-bot is based on Generation 1 Optimus's original body. Another limb-bot is based on [[Optimus Prime (Movie)|live-action Optimus]] (Soundwave helmet), and the remaining one (Ironhide helmet)... actually looks to be based on the Optimus-like-but-not-Optimus [[Micromaster]] [[Overload (G1)|Overload]]! The heck?

:[https://www.seibertron.com/events/fullsize.php?event_id=400&size=1&image=29 First shown at New York Toy Fair 2015], the Mini-Con Combiners were apparently cancelled without fanfare... a decision that must have come late in the day, as they went on to star in their own promotional animation, "[[Stuck in a Tree]]", released about eight months after the trade show.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

==''War for Cybertron: Siege''==
[[File:WFC-Siege-WFC-S40-Leader-Class-Galaxy-Upgrade-Optimus-Prime.jpg|upright=2.2|thumb|Technically not ''Cybertron'' Optimus by this wiki's classification.]]
{{main|Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#S40}}

:The [[2019]] ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege|Siege]]'' subline of ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)|Generations]]'' includes "Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime", which is based heavily on ''Cybertron'' Optimus Prime in its vehicle and Super modes.
{{--}}

==Canceled prototype==
[[File:Generations_Armada_Convoy_Prototype.jpeg|thumb|''Life could be a dream...'']]
*'''Armada Convoy'''
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]]}}

:Revealed as a grayscale prototype at the [[Wonder Festival]] [[2019]] Winter convention, this Voyager-sized Optimus Prime mold is modelled after his ''Armada'' design, though adding many stylized details. Though a pair of hands are visible in the hollows of his legs, the prototype was not designed with a super-mode conversion<ref>{{citesocial|quote=When I [pitched ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus Prime] to TT, I actually sent over the Wondercon Takara Tomy prototype image that was shown at that event. They explained to me that the grey model their domestic team showed off did not have the super mode combining ability.|link=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr2DhHyscWT/|name=Mark Maher|site=Instagram|year=2023|month=05|day=05}}</ref> (and was likely too early in its production to be able to change at all).

:TakaraTomy claimed at Wonder Festival [[2020]] Winter that this figure was not "cancelled", but was not a development priority at that time, and that its proper toyline was not determined.<ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/2020-winter-wonder-festival-information.1188365/page-21#post-17643985 Report from Gamerlingual on the TFW2005 Forums, 9 February 2020]</ref> [[#Legacy|An entirely different tooling of the character]] was later released as part of the ''Legacy'' line; Hasbro had requested the prototype model from Takara, but by that point it had been misplaced, so the Commander Class toy was developed from scratch.<ref>{{citesocial|quote=The Takara Prime was developed by a different team at Takara that doesn’t work with the Hasbro toy team, the Hasbro team asked for it but the model couldn’t be located, so the Commander toy was made from scratch. I think it turned out for the better.|link=https://news.tfw2005.com/2023/07/28/sdcc-2023-hasbro-show-floor-qa-legacy-studio-series-video-games-more-488215|name=Evan Brooks|site=TFW2005|title=SDCC 2023 Hasbro Show Floor Q&A – Legacy, Studio Series, Video Games, More!|year=2023|month=07|day=28}}</ref> However, the unproduced prototype did make one final appearance in the ''Legacy: Evolution'' box art mural (the stylized chest grill and curved forearm smokestacks being a dead giveaway), presumably because it was the reference material on hand at the time.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

==''Legacy''==
[[File:TF-Legacy-Commander-Class-Armada-Optimus-Prime.jpg|thumb|upright=2.2|The time has come for...SUPER Bendy Prime!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1|'''Armada Universe Optimus Prime''' (Commander Class, [[2023]], [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''TL-48'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[November]], 2023
:*''Accessories'': Ion blaster, Matrix, insignia plate, left and right smokestack guns
{{toydesigner|[[Mark Maher]] (Hasbro), [[Shogo Hasui]] (TakaraTomy)}}<ref>[[April 4]], [[2023]]'s [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qv8dh66d48 Hasbro Pulse Transformers Fanstream] on YouTube, with [[Ben MacCrae]], [[Evan Brooks]], [[Mark Maher]], [[Sam Smith]], [[Shogo Hasui]] and [[Delaney Norris]]</ref>

: Marking the 20th anniversary of the ''Armada'' franchise, ''[[Transformers: Legacy|Legacy: Evolution]]'' "Armada Universe Optimus Prime" is a Commander Class figure modeled after the original Super Base toy listed above, but trades the trailer's remote-controlled autotransformation [[gimmick]] and primary robot's electronics for markedly superior articulation in both regular and "super" robot modes. The deco and some elements of the sculpt are heavily based upon Prime's appearance in the [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/Cartoon continuity|anime]], hence the regular robot mode's silver fists, black chest stripes, and the layout of the gold waist deco on the super mode. The gold itself is a compromise between the original Hasbro figure's darker gold and Takara's bright yellow.

: He comes with a large ion blaster that can be held in both robot modes and smokestacks that can detach and combine (though they cannot form into a singular gun like the original toy) with the rifle as part of his [[Evo-Fusion]] feature; however, the gimmick's logo is oddly absent from the box itself. His trailer unfolds into a base mode and combines with him to form his super mode. The smaller robot is a roughly Voyager-sized figure with a removable [[Matrix of Leadership|Matrix]]. An undocumented feature beneath the Matrix chamber is what appears to be a spark chamber modeled after the one seen inside ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Leader Class Optimus Prime's chest. The Autobot insignia on his truck roof/super mode chestplate is also removable — a sign of [[Jetfire (Armada)|things to come]], perhaps? He also has an extra point at the back of his trailer that appears to be meant to pull a second trailer, for possibly [[Overload (Armada)|another future feature.]]

: The turret section for Optimus' trailer/base comes separated in the packaging and must be attached by slightly reconfiguring the trailer, bending the turret's hinges appropriately, then finally pegging it in and tabbing the trailer back into place. The blaster can also be stored on the super mode's back via a 5mm hole.

: The instructions for transforming Optimus into super mode have the torso clip into the backpack first, then drop down onto the legs. You technically ''can'' do these steps in reverse to better replicate the original ''Armada'' super mode transformation, but doing so makes hooking Optimus into the backpack much more difficult. Also, the instructions don't show how the clips work; you need to fold the small red flap all the way out and push the grey tabs on the hips in in order to unlatch them. On another note regarding the super mode, all Hasbro photography has the trailer's stabilizer posts mistransformed in super mode. As the instructions show, they're meant to flip out and peg into the gold sections on Super Optimus' shins, mimicking the cannon detailing of the original Super Base toy.

: An undocumented feature involves a conspicuous rectangular red port located on the trailer/base section which forms Super Optimus' backpack. If you have an ''Armada'' [[Overload (Armada)#Toys|Overload]] figure in cannon-pack mode on hand, you can slot Overload into this port and the gap just above it to form "Megaweapon" Optimus! Unfortunately, due to the connection point being on the trailer base for ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus instead of being on the cab like the original ''Armada'' Super-Base Optimus, Overload will sit further back when combining and make ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus become extremely back heavy. This changed position will also make Overload's cannons be further back, making the shoulder stocks of Overload sit behind ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus' shoulders instead of in front of them, thus making them useless if they were real shoulder stocks. Additionally, because of how Overload's gun-feet are molded, the cannons won't sit horizontal due to clearance issues with Optimus' shoulder armor. Easy way to get around this is to just have ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus strike a pose while wearing Overload.

: The extra port at the back of ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus' trailer can also be used to tow Overload as a second trailer. However, unlike the original ''Armada'' Super-Base Optimus' trailer there is no lip to secure the hitch, and the port is much lower, causing him to be towed at an angle that causes his robot mode shoulders to drag on the ground despite his wheels still making contact with the floor. Additionally, the lower port location prevents him from having enough clearance to have [[Rollout (Armada)|Rollout]] provide structural support. Also, due to the cab-side of the hitch of ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus' being a port rather than a peg, he cannot tow ''Armada'' Overload by himself.

: While it needs to be transformed in place for the two modes, the butt-end of the blue-colored frame (the one that holds the wheels) can hinder the full rotation of the golden Super Mode hands.

: He was officially revealed on the [[April 4]] [[Hasbro Pulse]] Fanstream, and went up for pre-order on [[April 18]].

: The Japanese release of this figure comes in an additional outer sleeve that features the Hasbro version's package art with the Japanese ''Legacy: Evolution'' logo and the toy's Japanese name on the front, and a modified reprint of the package art for [[Optimus Prime (Armada)/toys#Super Base|the original Super Base]] toy on the back of the box. Inside the sleeve, however, is the normal Hasbro version's packaging with additional stickers in Japanese.

: ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus Prime was reissued in mid-2024 with preorders listed on April of that year.

:*''[https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr2DhHyscWT/ Designer commentary on ''Legacy'' Armada Optimus Prime (and the above prototype) from Mark Maher on Instagram]''
{{-}}

==Notes==
[[File:MonsterConvoy.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Arise, Bigfootimus Prime.]]
* The first test shots of Superbase Optimus Prime had a [http://www.behindthetoys.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7661 molded and recessed Autobot insignia] on the chest button rather than a flat surface with a tampographed symbol. It is unknown why this change was made.
* One of the earliest ''Armada'' Optimus Prime concepts depicts him as being an ENORMOUSLY HUGE MONSTER TRUCK.
* Pre-dating Powerlinx Optimus Prime, designer Aaron Archer asked fans on the TFW2005 forums what they'd want out of a redeco of the large toy—throwing out ideas such as a Scourge deco, a modified vehicle mode, new SFX, a transparent trailer, an added sword accessory, and the remote possibility of a new Mini-Con!<ref>{{citesocial|quote=Okay I give. If we did redeco the Elec. Optimus item as is (no new tools) what would you like to see to make you buy it again? Deco excatlly like Scourge? or another ? VM? New sound FX? New Mini-con probably wouldn't happen but what would be a good Vh for a evil Optimus? Clear trailer? Added Sword weapon? Keep this orderly and helpful, I have timing and cost issues to deal with so if you want to complain about next getting a new trailer and that we are killing you with cost them I understand but keep it to yourself. If you want to help make this worth rebuying them let me hear it...!|name=Aaron Archer|site=TFW2005|year=circa 2002}}</ref> In the end, Prime's Mini-Con was in fact retooled into the [[Bumblebee (G1)|Goldbug]]-like Corona Sparkplug.
* ''Energon'' Optimus Prime's combination with the Prime Force is...well, it's pretty much as close to a Sentai Robo that ''Transformers'' has ever gotten. It's also highly reminiscent of Voltron, as noted by our captions for that toy's image. That being said, Transformers characters who combine with non-sentient drones have become more common in the years since ''Energon'', so it seems less unusual now than when it was new.
*Under his various Japanese names, Optimus was ''three'' candidates in [[TakaraTomy]]'s [[Fan polls#Masterpiece Fan's Choice|''Masterpiece'' Fan's Choice]] poll, which asked fans to determine which Autobot/Maximal leader from the franchise's then-30 year history should receive a new toy in the prestigious ''[[The Transformers: Masterpiece|Masterpiece]]'' line. ''Armada'' Optimus placed second (with 24.3% of the votes), ''Energon'' Optimus placed tenth (with 1.5%), and ''Cybertron'' Optimus placed seventh (2.5%).
* ''Cybertron'' Optimus's design would see re-use for the [[Optimus Prime (G1)|''original'' Optimus]] many years later, with the 2018 ''[[War for Cybertron: Siege]]'' toyline's "[[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generations toys#S40|Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime]]".

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.tfu.info/2002/Autobot/OptimusPrime/optimusprime.htm Optimus Prime at TFU.info]
*[http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d75/binalternator/unreleased/optimus_prime_mini_optimus_prime/ Energon Optimus Prime redeco with Smallest Transformers Optimus Prime gallery]

[[Category:Amazon exclusives]]
[[Category:Armada Autobots]]
[[Category:Armada combiners]]
[[Category:Attacktix]]
[[Category:Autobot leaders]]
[[Category:Bot Shots Autobots]]
[[Category:Built to Rule!]]
[[Category:Costco exclusives]]
[[Category:Cybertron Autobots]]
[[Category:Cybertron combiners]]
[[Category:Energon Autobots]]
[[Category:Energon combiners]]
[[Category:Kmart exclusives]]
[[Category:Legacy Autobots]]
[[Category:Matrix bearers]]
[[Category:Platinum Edition]]
[[Category:Sam's Club exclusives]]
[[Category:Toys"R"Us exclusives]]
[[Category:Toys"R"Us Japan exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]

Cogless

2025-01-28T17:41:46Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Notes */

[[File:TransformersOne-CoglessMiners.jpg|thumb|right|upright=2.4|I'm literally neurodivergent and a miner.]]

Born in the wake of the [[Quintesson]] war, '''Cogless''' Transformers are a caste of manual laborers who occupy the bottom-most rung of the [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertronian]] hierarchy. Although smaller and weaker than other Cybertronians, their work in the planet's subterannean layers—most prominently the miners who physically extract [[energon]] from Cybertron's crust—is vital to the continued existence of Cybertronian society. True to their name, they lack the [[transformation cog]]s innate to other members of the species, and as a result don't possess [[alternate mode]]s or the ability to access their built-in weapons.

==Fiction==
===''One'' film===
Cogless Transformers were created at some point after [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]] took office after he allied with the Quintessons, deposed the [[Thirteen|Primes]] and lost the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. Without free access to [[energon]], Sentinel began removing the transformation cogs from newborn Transformers and press-ganged them into a life of manual labor, and successfully convinced the citizens of Cybertron into believing that they had simply been born without transformation cogs. Over the next fifty cycles, Cogless laborers came to fill many low-ranking positions in Cybertronian society such as sanitation work, but the most important job of all was mining whatever usable veins of energon remained from the Cybertronian strata: under Sentinel Prime's leadership, most of that energon was funneled away to appease his Quintesson masters, leaving little for the people of Cybertron. Despite the long hours and extremely dangerous working conditions, miners received little respect from the other citizens of [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]]. When not mining energon, miners lived together in a large communal barracks.

When a small group of cogless Transformers—[[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]], [[Megatron (One)|D-16]], [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], and [[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]]—discovered [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]] in [[Mouth of Unicron|the grave of the Primes]], Trion revealed that the circumstances of their birth were a lie, and that Sentinel had actually removed their transformation cogs before they came online. However, Trion also bequeathed them four of the original transformation cogs from the Primes, which caused them to spontaneously grow into stronger forms capable of transformation.

During the subsequent battle to overthrow Sentinel Prime, Orion roused many of his former cogless comrades to action, who battled Sentinel Prime's [[Tracker]]s using their jet packs and mining equipment. After Orion Pax—now Optimus Prime—received the Matrix of Leadership, the cogless 'bots all received transformation cogs of their own; the caste was presumably abolished in favor of the newly autonomous "[[Autobot]]s". {{storylink|Transformers One (film)|One}}

==Notes==
[[File:TFOneCoglessMinersConceptArt.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Minin' away/I don't know what to mine/I'll mine this anyway]]
*Many of the Cogless [[generic]]s have color schemes that evoke existing Transformers characters: a yellow, black and red [[Jazz (One)|Jazz]] resembles [[Jackpot (G1)|Jackpot]], an orange and purple [[Moonracer (One)|Moonracer]] resembles [[Lancer]], a recolor of "[[Not Chromia]]" seems to be based on [[Greenlight]], a ''different'' Not Chromia could be [[Lug (IDW)|Lug]], a blue [[Sideswipe (One)|Sideswipe]] looks like [[Deep Cover#War for Cybertron Trilogy|''War for Cybertron Trilogy'' Deep Cover]], an orange and pink [[Arcee (One)|Arcee]] resembles [[:File:G1ArceeProto.jpg|her cancelled prototype from the original toyline]] and a white-and-blue [[Brawn (One)|Brawn]] seems intended to evoke [[Twin Twist (G1)|Twin Twist]]. A [[Barricade (IDW)|purple-crested, gold-faced]] [[Prowl (One)|Prowl]] can also be seen in the crowd during Orion's big speech. Since none of these characters have been officially named (and they all appear multiple times across the same scenes, though the same is also true of most of the named Cogless), we're considering these to be [[homage]]s rather than actual appearances of these characters.

==See also==
* [[Monoformer]]

[[Category:One subgroups]]

File:DeathsaurusAndRedGeist.jpg

2025-01-28T17:20:19Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Fixed Brave portion in the description

On the left is the [[character model]] for [[Deathsaurus (G1)|Deathsaurus]] from ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' and on the right the character model for Red Geist from ''[[Brave (franchise)|Brave of Legend Da-Garn]]''. Though very different, the models are based on the same toy (in different colors only).

''Transformers: Victory'' © [[1989]] [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], [[Toei Animation|Toei]] 
''Brave of Legend Da-Garn'' © [[1992]] Takara, {{w|Bandai Namco Filmworks|Sunrise}}

{{Stockmodel}}

[[Category:Brave images]]
[[Category:Comparison images]]

Megatron (One)

2025-01-26T00:08:03Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Notes */

{{factions|decepticon|hofsilver}}
{{disambig3|Megatron}}
:''Megatron is a [[Decepticon]] from [[Transformers One (franchise)|One]].''
[[File:Megatron (One).jpg|right|300px|thumb|Upright=1.66|"SENTINEL! Your miner has returned! I bring the destruction of Iacon!"]]

The humble energon miner known only as '''D-16''' was a stickler to protocol, a [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]] fanboy who believed strict adherence to the system and its rules would one day allow him to ascend to greater heights. His attitude often served as a reality check and grounding presence to his best friend, the bold and adventurous [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]]. However, after experiencing events that left his entire worldview turned upside down, D-16 would embark on a path consumed by anger and revenge... a path that corrupted him into a despotic villain even worse than the one he rose up to fight against. A villain called '''Megatron'''.

{{bigquote|The age of [[Thirteen|Primes]] has ended! No more [[Sentinel Prime (One)|false prophets]]! Follow me, and you will never again be deceived!! RISE UP!!!|D-16 declaring a new era|''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]''}}

==Fiction==
===''One'' film===
{{voiceactor|[[Brian Tyree Henry]] (English), [[Subaru Kimura]] (Japanese)|[[Baptiste Marc]] (European French), [[Alexandre Fortin]] (Canadian French), [[Lalo Capetillo]] (Latin-American Spanish), [[Erick Selim]] (Latin-American Spanish, first trailer), [[Gerardo Vásquez]] (Latin-American Spanish, tv spot), [[Carles Lladó]] (Spain Spanish), [[Jan-David Rönfeldt]] (German), [[Romulo Estrela]] (Brazilian Portuguese), [[Simone Mori]] (Italian), [[Jussi Chydenius]] (Finnish), [[Wojciech Żołądkowicz]] (Polish)}}

A cogless energon miner and big [[The Fallen|Megatronus Prime]] fan, D-16 often found himself bailing his best friend, [[Optimus Prime (One)|Orion Pax]], out of trouble. On one such occasion, after Orion had been caught trespassing in the archives, he gave D-16 a rare sticker of Megatronus to wear proudly on his shoulder. During a mining expedition with their captain [[Elita-1 (One)|Elita-1]], D-16 and Orion broke protocol when an unstable energon vein caused a collapse, staying behind to free the trapped [[Jazz (One)|Jazz]].

After a transmission from Cybertron’s leader, [[Sentinel Prime (One)|Sentinel Prime]], announced that the [[Iacon 5000]] race was happening the following day, Orion tricked his friend into entering, using [[jet pack]]s to compensate for their inability to transform. Despite briefly taking the lead, the two ultimately placed last after D-16 was injured on the final stretch. Berating Orion for the trouble they were about to be in for daring to enter, the two friends were surprised when Sentinel Prime paid them a visit in the medbay and congratulated them for inspiring the other miners, promising they would be patched up in his quarters. However, before [[Airachnid (One)|Airachnid]] could escort them there, [[Darkwing (One)|Darkwing]], furious at almost being beaten by two miners, tossed them down to sublevel 50, where they met the energetic [[Bumblebee (One)|B-127]].

[[File:TF-One-D-16.jpg|thumb|right|150px|He’s getting the touch, he’s getting the power!]]
While being shown B-127's garbage statues, Orion discovered a transmitter that gave coordinates on the possible location of the [[Matrix of Leadership]], which had been lost for cycles, causing the energon to stop flowing. Though initially skeptical, D-16 eventually agreed to accompany Orion and B-127 to the surface to search for the artifact. Hitching a ride on a transport train with Elita-1 trying to stop them, the quartet was thrown from their transport after reaching the surface. After convincing Elita to join them on their quest, they arrived at an ancient cave containing the bodies of the fallen Primes. Although the Matrix was nowhere to be found, the four discovered that [[Alpha Trion (One)|Alpha Trion]]’s spark still flickered and revived him with an energon cube. Trion told them of the lie they had been living, about how Sentinel betrayed the Primes in favor of making a deal with the invading Quintessons and removed the transformation cogs from newly born Cybertronians so they could mine energon for the Quintessons.

Enraged by this revelation, D-16 vowed to kill Sentinel, unnerving his comrades. Trion granted the four transformation cogs, taken from the bodies of the fallen Primes.<ref>In the film, [[Prima|Prima Prime]]'s cog is shown going to D-16, while the film's novelization states he received [[Onyx Prime]]'s. It doesn't ultimately have a significant effect on the story as a whole, so deciding which cog he got somewhat becomes a matter of [[personal canon]].</ref> Fleeing from Sentinel's Death Trackers, the former Cybertronian High Guard captured the four. Unwilling to back down, D-16 fought the Guard's leader, [[Starscream (One)|Starscream]], defeating him and damaging his throat, and manifesting his [[fusion cannon]] for the first time. Though he ultimately chose not to execute Starscream, he promised it would be the last time he showed mercy, earning the respect and seizing control of the Guard. Before they could launch an attack, however, they were found by Sentinel’s forces, with D-16, B-127 and several others being captured and brought to Sentinel’s tower. D-16 refused to kneel before the false Prime who, noticing his Megatronus decal, painfully cut the symbol into his chest and revealed that he stole Megatronus' transformation cog after killing him.

After being freed in a siege led by Orion and Elita-1, D-16 seized the opportunity to attack Sentinel. Despite being outmatched, a citywide broadcast of Airachnid's memories revealing Sentinel's treachery gave D-16 the opening to overpower Sentinel, ripping off his wings and preventing his escape. Aiming his fusion cannon at the false Prime, D-16 was horrified when his shot hit an intercepting Orion, who had attempted to stop him from becoming like Sentinel. Eventually deciding he was done saving his friend, D-16 let Orion fall into Cybertron's core and tore Sentinel in half, seizing Megatronus' cog from his chest and declaring himself "Megatron". Rallying the High Guard to ransack the city, Megatron briefly fought B-127 and Elita-1 before Orion, repaired and empowered by the Matrix of Leadership into Optimus Prime, returned to the surface. In the ensuing battle, Optimus overpowered Megatron and banished him from Iacon, lamenting to his former friend about how he had chosen to destroy Cybertron like Sentinel had. Declaring that this wasn't over, Megatron and the High Guard retreated.

In the shadows, Megatron rechristened his new followers "[[Decepticon]]s" and swore revenge on Optimus. {{storylink|Transformers One (film)|One}}

{{-}}
===''One: New Adventures''===
{{stub}}
{{storylink|Energon Trick Shot Challenge!}} {{storylink|Crate Dodging Challenge: Last Bot Standing}}
{{--}}

==Toys==
===''One''===
[[File:TF-One-Mega-Changers-Megatron-D-16.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron/D-16''' (Mega Changers, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Fusion Cannon
:Another repackage of the ''[[Transformers Authentics|Authentics]]'' Titan Changer [[Megatron (G1)/toys#TitanChanger|Megatron]], released as part of the rebranded "Mega Changers" line of [[Transformers One (toyline)|''Transformers One'' toys]]. He transforms from a thin robot to a tank. The fusion cannon can be mounted on either arm or held in either fist via a 5 mm post. His only articulation is at the ball-jointed shoulders.

{{-}}{{anchor|Mega4pk}}
[[File:TF-One-Mega-Changers-4pk.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Bumblebee/B-127, Optimus Prime/Orion Pax, Megatron/D-16, & Starscream''' (Mega Changer 4-Pack, 2024)}}</ul>
:Mega Changer Megatron/D-16 was re-released in November as part of a [[Target]]-exclusive multi-pack with [[Bumblebee (One)#Mega4pk|Bumblebee/B-127]], [[Optimus Prime (One)#Mega4pk|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]], and [[Starscream (One)#Mega4pk|Starscream]], $10 cheaper than the four individually.

{{-}}{{anchor|RobotBattlers}}
[[File:TF-One-Robot-Battlers-Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[Megatron_(G1)/Generations_toys#Generations_Selects|Super Megatron]] 2, Electric Boogaloo]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Optimus Prime vs. Megatron''' (Robot Battlers, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Energon sword, Fusion Cannon, base
:"Robot Battlers" Megatron transforms from a robot to a Cybertronian tank. The figure can be placed on a base to perform action moves by sliding the finger slots to knock an opponent's figure off from their base. He is packaged in a 2-pack set with [[Optimus Prime (One)#RobotBattlers|Optimus Prime]], and includes an additional cannon accessory that plugs over his arm alongside the standard Energon sword.

<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Cybertron Rush Battle Leader-tachi no Tatakai''' (サイバトロンラッシュバトルリーダーたちの戦い, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''OCR-01'''
:*''Release date'': [[2024]] [[October 12]]
:*''Accessories'': Energon sword, Fusion Cannon, base

:The Robot Battlers Megatron is released in Japan as part of a "Cybertron Rush Battle" 3-pack with [[Optimus Prime (One)#RobotBattlers|Optimus Prime]] and [[Elita-1 (One)#One|Elita-1]].

{{-}}{{anchor|Race&Blast}}
[[File:TF-One-Race-&-Blast-Megatron-D-16-and-Decepticon-Whirlwing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Whirlwing is trying ''really'' hard to not think about how he's being launched from D-16's crotch.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron/D-16 & Decepticon Whirlwing''' (Race & Blast 2-Pack, 2024)}}</ul>
:A [[Target]] exclusive, "Race & Blast" Megatron is a retool of ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015 toyline)|Robots in Disguise]]'' [[Overload (RID)#Toys|Overload]], with a new head, chest, shins, and cannon. He transforms into a Cybertronian tank. In this mode, the front clamp between his treads can be loaded with his partner [[Whirlwing]]—or any other [[Cyclone]]-style [[Mini-Con]]—and launched by pushing the trigger next to his Fusion Cannon.

:Being a retool of a different character, his fusion cannon is permanently affixed to his left arm instead of his right. The toy is largley based on his Megatron design, though the cannon is based on cogged D-16's.

{{-}}{{anchor|RaceChangers}}
[[File:TF-One-Race-Changers-2pk-Optimus-Prime-Orion-Pax-vs-Megatron-D-16.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Optimus Prime/Orion Pax vs. Megatron/D-16''' (Race Changers, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': launcher
:"Race Changers" Megatron/D-16 is, shockingly, a retool of the tank version of [[Megatron (G1)/toys#Bot Shots|Bot Shots Megatron]] from 2012. The design of the front of the tank has been changed and missile pods have been added to the back of the tank. He features a spring-loaded [[autotransformation|automatic transformation]] to robot mode triggered when his front is pressed. His chest spinner no longer has the battle gimmick, only a Decepticon insignia on one side with the other sides left blank. The included launcher is a new design.

:Megatron comes in a Target-exclusive 2-pack with [[Optimus Prime (One)#RaceChangers|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]]. They can be launched at each other for combative play or have the launchers connected side-by-side for racing action. Interestingly, the launchers have "2017" molded into their bottoms, whereas the original [[Bot Shots (toyline)|Bot Shots toyline]] ended in 2013. This suggests these remolds were made for an earlier toyline but ultimately weren't released until now.

{{-}}{{anchor|IaconRace}}
[[File:Tfone-racing-warrior-megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Talking about this toy will make you feel like you're playing chess.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-a1d1|'''Megatron/D-16 / Optimus Prime/Orion Pax / Autobot Mirage''' (Iacon Race 3-pack, 2024)}}</ul>
:Released as part of the Target-exclusive Iacon Race 3-pack, Megatron/D-16 is a retool of the first ''[[Transformers: Cyberverse (toyline)|Cyberverse]]'' [[Megatron (Cyberverse)#1-Step Changers|Megatron]] 1-Step Changer and transforms between robot and tank modes in one step.

:Megatron/D-16 comes packaged with [[Mirage (One)#One|Mirage]] and [[Optimus Prime (One)#IaconRace|Optimus Prime/Orion Pax]]. Initial listings for the set had the name "Racing Warrior 3-pack".

{{-}}{{anchor|CogChangers}}
[[File:TF-One-Cog-Changers-Megatron-D-16.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron/D-16''' (Cog Changers, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy name:'' '''Cog Power Change Megatron''' (コグパワーチェンジメガトロン)
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''OCP-05'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date:'' [[2024]] [[October 12]]
:Released as part of the second wave of ''Transformers One'' Cog Changers, Megatron/D-16 transforms from robot to Cybertronian tank by sliding up and pressing a transformation cog shaped panel on his chest. Transformation into robot mode is done manually. The toy is based on his cogged D-16 design.
{{--}}

===''Studio Series''===
[[File:StudioSeriesDeluxeOneMegatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|[[The Loyal Subjects|Him Megatron have legs that go for miiiles]].]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron''' (Deluxe Class, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''Movie'': '''''Transformers One'''''
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''114'''
:*''TakaraTomy name:'' '''Megatron''' (メガトロン)
:*''TakaraTomy ID number:'' '''SS-138'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date:'' [[2025]] [[February 22]]
:*''Accessories'': Fusion Cannon, Arm Cannon, 2 side cannons, turret base, "Metropolis of Iacon" backdrop
{{toydesigner|[[Koki Yamada]] (TakaraTomy)}}<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfy3IcQd3g4 The Hasbro ''Transformers'' Panel] at [[San Diego Comic-Con#2024|San Diego Comic-Con 2024]] with [[Mario Carreiro]], [[John Warden]], [[Evan Brooks]], and [[Nate Purswell]], recorded at the "Memo's Collection" YouTube channel.</ref>

:Released in the final wave of 2024 ''[[Studio Series]]'' toys, Megatron transforms into a Cybertronian tank and is based on his form in the final battle of ''Transformers One'', thus lacking the Decepticon insignia added in the post-credit scene. However, the fusion cannon and two side cannons are from his cogged D-16 form. His fusion cannon and smaller arm cannon can be mounted on either arm and combine to form the main turret of the tank mode. The smaller cannons can attach to the turret base or sides of his tank mode, or his left arm should you wish Megatron to possess a more movie-accurate machine gun. He also comes with a backdrop depicting the [[Iacon (polity)|Iacon]] cityscape as seen in the film.

:His head tends to pop off easily unless you gently push it forward until you hear a quiet "click." The arm cannon can be attached to his fusion cannon to approximate his final form's cannon somewhat.

:Due to its somewhat limited tolerance, Megatron's thighs can cause a possible small dent if it collides with his lower waist.

:Megatron was first revealed at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] along with the rest of his wave. This figure was included in a special "Media Influencer Box" sent out to select parties in late September—two months before the figure's scheduled release.
{{-}}

==Merchandise==
===''Transformers One''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron''' ([[2024]])}}</ul>
:A children's product based on his appearance in the ''One'' film, the Megatron costume is comprised of a bodysuit and mask.

===''Yolopark''===
{{anchor|AMKCogless}}
[[File:Yolopark-TF-One-AMK-Model-Kit-Cogless-D-16.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''(Cog-less Bot Mode) D-16''' (AMK Series Model Kit, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 3 pairs of hands, <s>Cog of Conversion</s> Transformation Cog, Jetpack

:Released as part of [[Yolopark]]'s [[Yolopark#AMK_Series|Advance Model Kit (AMK)]] lineup, this D-16 is modeled after his Cog-less Cybertronian form, and he can be only completed by snapping the pre-painted pieces together. Aside from his hand parts, D-16 also comes with an additional jetpack he used to mine (and interfere in the Iacon 5000 race), and a Transformation Cog. While the Cog can be installed into D-16's empty slot, it does not have holes or friction to hold it.

:Unlike his fellow Cog-less bots, D-16 features opaque yellow paint on his eyes. Due to the paint layers, any of its optic details have been largely drowned out.

:Like most Yolopark AMK kits, D-16's pre-assembled parts can also be detached, except for the pinned areas, making it generally easy to customize the kit if desired.

:D-16 can be bought in either the default-styled "gift box" or "tin box"-styled packaging. The latter can be purchased with the other three Cog-less figures as a 4-pack set with an acrylic standee.

{{-}}{{anchor|AMKCogged}}
[[File:Yolopark-TF-One-AMK-Model-Kit-Cogged-D-16.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''(Cogged Bot Mode) D-16''' (AMK Series Model Kit, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 3 pairs of hands, small cannon, Fusion Cannon

:This model kit of D-16 is based on his cogged form, and he comes with his signature Fusion Cannon and a small cannon that he obtained from his evolution to Megatron.
{{--}}

===Blokees===
[[File:Blokees GV05 D-16.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''D-16 COG''' (Galaxy Version, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''Series:'' '''Galaxy Version 05 - One'''
:*''Accessories:'' 2 open hands, fusion cannon, secondary cannon, spare peg-and-ball piece, stand

:[[Blokees]] D-16 is a 4.25-inch tall non-transforming buildable figure representing his post-cog body. He appears once in every case of nine blind boxes. As with the rest of his wave, D features an upgraded suite of standard body parts, with sturdier hinge joints and slightly more complex builds than their Generation 1 counterparts.

:D-16 includes the usual pairs of gripping fists and open hands, his original fusion cannon, his secondary cannon, and a two-studded connectable figure stand. He also features the Megatronus decal on his left shoulder, as well as the later approximation of it burned into his chest. You may want to buy a second copy if you want to depict both options accurately.

{{-}}{{anchor|Classic Class}}
[[File:Blokees-TF-One-Classic-Class-Megatron.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron''' (Classic Class, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''12'''
:*''Accessories:'' 2 pairs of hands (grip, open palm), triple-barreled fusion cannon, secondary cannon, 2 figure stands, 2 energy effects

:Released as part of Blokees' ''Classic Class'' model kit line, this Megatron is a 4.5-inch tall non-transforming Deluxe/Prime Changer-sized ''Gunpla''-style model kit with pre-painted parts on the runners. He also features a torso frame that lights up upon shaking (or at least ''lightly tap'' some areas on the torso), causing the eyes and his inner Cog to glow for a limited time. Aside from the usual display stand, the similar pairs of hand parts, and the secondary arm-mounted cannon, Megatron also comes with his signature triple-barreled fusion cannon. While the pieces are molded on a touch-gate runner for easy removal of parts without nippers or tools, the former is required for a cleaner cut.

:Since the forearms are designed to be asymmetrical, it is not feasible to create a proper non-Fusion Cannon-activated right forearm with the original parts from another copy of the kit, unless ''extensive'' modifications are made.
{{-}}
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Starscream''' (Classic Class, 2024)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''16'''

:''Classic Class'' Starscream comes with a mini vehicle kit of Megatron's tank mode.

{{-}}

===Killerbody===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-d1|'''Megatron''' (High-end Baby Figurine, 2024)}}</ul>
*''Accessories'': "Aggregate cannon" (two arm cannons)

:Released by [[Killerbody]], this non-converting super deformed Megatron features, light-up eyes, attachable weapons, and shoulder and hip articulation.

{{--}}

==Notes==
* D-16's cogless form with his black, dome-shaped helmet resembles Megatron's [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Marvel Comics appearance]], which in turn was based on concept art for an unproduced prototype version of the original Takara Micro Change figure.
* The red energy trails that D-16/Megatron displayed is a reference to the same red berserker eyes and energy trails displayed by the Gundam Barbatos Lupus/Lupus Rex from ''Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Megatron''' (メガトロン ''Megatoron'')

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:One-D-16-stock.jpg|Original miner body
File:One-D-16-cog form.jpg|Cogged form
File:TFOne Megatron full body.jpg|Reformatted as Megatron
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Decepticon leaders]]
[[Category:One Decepticons]]
[[Category:Studio Series Decepticons]]

Equal Measures

2025-01-23T17:14:59Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Real-world references */

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=4
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=4
|prev2=The Web
|next2=Chain of Command (BW)
|image=Equal Measures Cheetor darksyde.jpg
|caption=Later they discovered Cheetor was sitting on the self-destruct button.
|title="Equal Measures"
|season=1
|season ep=4
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 23]], 1996
|written by=[[Greg Johnson]]
|directed by=[[T.W. Peacocke]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Cheetor]], [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Megatron]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKS7w9FwR8g
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Dinobot manipulates both Maximals and Predacons around a teleporter that Cheetor has unintentionally developed between both bases.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] watches a bolt of lightning shatter a mountain, revealing a cache of [[energon]]. Because of the hazardous conditions, he radios to his team to abort their current operation. The storm garbles the transmission, though, preventing the other [[Maximal]]s from receiving it.

[[File:Dinobotbulliescheetor.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Something we've seen all too often.]]
The mission involves [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] monitoring devices designed by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], who has just gotten done building the last of them. Impatient to get going, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] carelessly plays with one of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]'s projects, a ''time bomb'', and accidentally drops it out the floor hatch... where it's caught by a returning Optimus, who reiterates his order for the mission to be scrubbed. Everyone's clearly upset over the development, not believing the storm to be that severe yet, but Primal is adamant; it'll have to wait until later. Dejected, everyone returns to quarters to wait out the storm.

In Cheetor's quarters, Dinobot meets with the cat-bot and endorses the mission being continued regardless of the danger from the weather and the energon. He points out that Primal clearly treats Cheetor like a child, even though with his speed, the cat-bot could easily outrun the storm and plant the devices before it hits. This appeal to vanity works, and Cheetor sneaks out to complete the mission.

[[File:Equal Measures Cheetor monitoring device.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|This wireless Broadband box is rubbish!]]
In the field, Cheetor plants survey apparatuses in quick succession, but a bolt of lightning causes the cat accidentally to plant one of the posts dangerously close to an energon vein. He tries to remove the device and correct his mistake, but in the middle of his struggle, a second lightning bolt hits, and he finds himself suddenly teleported — onto a control panel in the [[Darksyde (BW)|Predacon base]]!

[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] "welcomes" Cheetor and attacks the Maximal, but Cheetor grabs a hover-platform and tries to escape. After being knocked off the platform, Cheetor lunges at Terrorsaur and pushes the Predacon onto the control panel he'd just arrived on, causing Terrorsaur to vanish. [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] arrive and chase Cheetor around the Predacon base, but lose him in the ventilation shafts.

[[File:Cheetorsurprised.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Shouldn't have had the vindaloo last night.]]
Meanwhile, Terrorsaur finds himself in the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' command center, where he's given a warm reception by Dinobot. However, the former Predacon is more concerned over how Terrorsaur arrived at the Maximal base, eventually working out that a freak combination of the survey devices, the storm, and the energon created a transporter link between the two bases. Using this to his advantage, Terrorsaur seems to convince Dinobot into forming an alliance, suggesting they scrap the Maximals, then take over the Predacons and rule together... until Dinobot drops the charade and unceremoniously flushes the Pred out of the ''Axalon'' through a waste disposal unit.

Back at the Predacon base, Cheetor continues to flee while avoiding fire from Waspinator. He sneaks away from the two long enough to hack the Predacons' data files, and determines that both bases sit on a common underground Energon vein, so an explosion at one base would cause a chain reaction that would obliterate both ships. Cheetor is discovered as soon as he downloads this data to a disk.

At the Maximal base, Optimus confronts Dinobot on Cheetor's whereabouts. Dinobot tells him about the link and how the cat-bot has "surely" been destroyed by now, but convinces him that they could use the link to annihilate the Predacon base with the bomb, a plan Primal only agrees to as long as the bomb's timer is set with enough time to allow the Preds to evacuate. Just as the bomb is sent, though, Cheetor tosses the disk with the energon vein data onto the console, transporting both items simultaneously.

[[File:Crispyterrorsaur.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Would you like me original, or extra crispy?]]
The Predacons finally corner Cheetor, but the bomb has magnetically locked itself onto the Pred console, forcing Megatron to let him go so he can release it. With a few seconds left, Cheetor throws it up to Terrorsaur, who flies it out of the base (and is blown up with it), while Cheetor escapes through the link. The Predacons' errant shots destroy the console instead. Furthermore, his return trip to the ''Axalon'' shatters all of the survey posts he's planted, ensuring the link is severed for good.

Afterwards, Rhinox and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] congratulate Cheetor's prevention of the Maximal base from being destroyed by their own explosive, while Dinobot is in a bad mood as usual and leaves—though Cheetor apparently didn't tell anyone that Dinobot talked him into the whole thing. Primal still commands Cheetor to take more care to obey direct orders. Cheetor says he will—except when he doesn't—and scampers off, leaving Optimus steamed up with Rhinox and Rattrap to have a jolly laugh. But Optimus figures out Cheetor was funny, and gets in the jolly laugh with Rhinox and Rattrap.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (1)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (4)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (7)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"Defeating them does not mean we have to ''annihilate'' them. You seem to have trouble understanding that."
:—'''Optimus''' gently chides Dinobot for thinking like a Predacon.

"Shoulda known no Maximal'd be stupid enough to try anything on a day like this."
:—'''Terrorsaur''' underestimates the enemy again.

"YOOOOOW, BULLET TRAAAAAAAIN..." 
''[An explosion sends Cheetor crashing into the wall!]'' 
"Comin' through." 
:—'''Cheetor''' narrowly escapes being turned into a charbroiled cheetah!

"Cheetor! Maximi— did that already."
:—'''Cheetor''' forgets that he already transformed.

"He's gone into the vents! You better report this to Megatron." 
"Me?! ''You're'' second-in-command!" 
"So make it an order!"
:—'''Scorponok''' and '''Waspinator''' establish the chain of command.

"Where'd he go?! Where'd ''I'' go?"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' realises he isn't in [[Kansas]] any more.

"Think of the cosmic magnificence. Together we'll overthrow these low-grade metal knock-offs you've joined, and then rule the Predacons with two iron fists! NOTHING CAN STOP US!"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' has such naive optimism.

"Hey! What are you doing? We're partners!" 
"In case you had not realized, Needlenose... I am ''not'' a team player."
:—'''Terrorsaur''', about to get launched over the horizon by '''Dinobot'''

"OK, OK, I'll never do that again! Until the next time."
:—'''Cheetor''' has learned nothing from this adventure.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* In the opening shot, a segment of the mountains on the screen's left side reveals a gap in the mountain's computer model just a few frames before the shot cuts.
* The collapsing mountain seems to be sucked into the Energon cache after being hit with lightning, and before the lightning strikes, there's a bizarre flickering texture on the mountain's right side.
* Following the collapse, some energon crystals within the mountain keep flickering in and out of existence.
* When Cheetor walks over to the bomb, the two [[kibble]] panels on his back keep clipping through his cheetah leg kibble, and they don't seem to move together with the rest of his torso. When the bomb drops and he moves about, the panels remain stationary.
* When Optimus is tossing the time bomb in one hand, it really doesn't move convincingly.
* When Rhinox reacts to Optimus' announcement about being stalled, his rhinoceros skin "skirt" is clipping into his thighs.
* Shadows are inconsistently rendered in the beginning scene in the Maximal base. Rhinox, standing behind Rattrap, is fully lit at first, but at the end of the scene, there's a shadow cast over him.
* The shot of Cheetor descending out of the base, as the "camera" spins around him, is rendered very oddly. Parts of the ''Axalon'' that look like they should be behind the cliff face appear in front of it, and as Cheetor dashes away, he overlaps a metal bar that's much closer to view.
* As Cheetor jumps across the rocks, his feet don't always touch the terrain.
* Cheetor's mouth doesn't move as he shouts "Maximize!" while out in the field.
* Before Cheetor turns into [[robot mode]], he has red eyes as a cheetah. When his beast model is replaced with his mid-transformation model mid-movement, his eyes turn green and his spots rearrange themselves between frames. After he goes back into cheetah mode a few seconds later, the cheetah model again has red eyes and a different spot-arrangement, both of which change yet again as the lightning strikes near him.
* When Cheetor activates the first survey post, his left thumb clips into his chest.
* The little red bit on the top of the first survey post that Cheetor plants keeps blinking in and out of existence. While this might have been on purpose, to simulate a blinking light, none of the other posts do this.
* Cheetor doesn't really grab the Energon post's handle, his fist simply clips through it.
* When the lightning-bolt strikes him, you can tell by his shadow that Cheetor is actually floating a few inches above the ground.
* When Terrorsaur floats closer to the monitor screen on his platform, the tip of his right wing passes between the platform and his foot.
* As he reaches for his gun while dangling from the Predacons' flying platform, Cheetor's left elbow briefly turns inside-out.
* In one shot, when Terrorsaur is shooting at Cheetor's platform, the reflection textures on his grey elements near his gun disappear in sync with his blasts, due to the blast effects somehow "blotting them out". Strangely, this error doesn't occur in his closeup shortly thereafter.
* When Scorponok and Waspinator transform into robot mode, the latter already has various robot parts sticking out of him in his wasp form. Both his beast and robot mode abdomens exist at the same time, his robot crotch is poking through his underside and one of his robot legs is sticking out of his behind. Also, the stripes on his thighs are aligned the wrong way, a common error in early episodes.
* When Cheetor transforms to [[beast mode]] to jump into the vent, his various robot and beast parts all seem to appear and disappear randomly, out of sync with his usual transformation.
* Scorponok's eyes are weirdly distorted as he arrives to the vent. Also in this shot, Waspinator's left wings don't seem to "flap up", only down.
** In addition, Scorponok's visor shifts between yellow and red quite randomly, as it often happens in most episodes.
* Though a common cartoon convenience, both Waspinator's repeated shots and Scorponok's missile take an inordinately long time to reach Cheetor, and the distances between them jump back and forth between shots.
* As Cheetor hurries through the vent, none of the holes Waspinator has blasted into it are visible.
* After Cheetor escapes from the vents, he falls to the ground and his right forehead chevron kind of "twangs" forward. In the next scene he's in, it's back to normal against his head.
* Before Terrorsaur begins pruning his wing, the right side of his pterosaur chest appears to be sunken into his body.
* Scorponok's right claw is clipping though his thigh as he and Waspinator watch the missile chase Cheetor.
* Just before Optimus comes into frame to ask Dinobot about the survey posts, his fingers are visible at the left of the screen as the camera swivels.
* When Optimus asks Dinobot if he's sure about the bomb's timer, his right arm seems to jump position between frames.
* Two green bits are clipping through the opening hatch on the Predacon ship on either side.
* As the roasted Terrorsaur lands, his leg briefly clips through his wing.
* When Cheetor is zapped back home, blowing up all survey posts along the way, the posts are replaced by noticeably thicker, different-shaped exploding objects a few frames before they're supposed to blow.

===Continuity errors===
* A major plot point is that due to an energon vein running beneath both ships, the destruction of either Predacon or Maximal bases would destroy the other. This is never mentioned again and frequently contradicted due to the repeated explosions at both. While most of the planet's energon was stabilized by the start of Season 2 (and thus wouldn't be an issue), the plot of Season 1 episode "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]" revolves around... a massive explosion at the Predacon base. Arguably, either side could have harvested some of the energon by then to sever the connection between the bases, but this is never established!
* Despite making a big deal about how they should be killing Predacons when they get the chance, Dinobot doesn't avail himself of the opportunity when he's alone with Terrorsaur, instead harmlessly firing him out of the ship.
* When trying to outrun the explosion chasing him down the vents, for some reason Cheetor decides to transform to his [[robot mode]], even though it's been strongly implied that he's faster in beast mode.

===Continuity notes===
* The weather on prehistoric Earth appears to be ''extremely'' destructive. Two bolts of lightning cause a mountain to implode. This might have something to do with the abundant energon, although there's nothing in the show to back this up.
* This is the first episode where we get to hear Terrorsaur speak (Besides "Terrorsaur, terrorize!" that is). It's also the first time he is shown to be the series' resident [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], possessing a flight-based alternate mode and already plotting behind his leader's back.

===Real-world references===
* Cheetor name-drops the Tom Jones song, [[w:What's New Pussycat? (song)|"What's New Pussycat?"]] as an expression. This reference would later be said again in "[[The Spark]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]" back to back.
* The cheetah silhouette poster hanging over Cheetor's bed reads "RESTRICTED" in [[Cybertronix]], a reference to the "[https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/motion-picture-ratings/restricted-cougar/| Restricted Cougar]" that appeared on R-rated films in [[British Columbia]] from 1960 to 1996.

===Trivia===
* When Cheetor appears before him, Terrorsaur greets him thus: "Welcome to the dark side!" The episode script reveals that this was simply Terrorsaur being dramatic. As it was in response to Cheetor wondering if he had died and come to the afterlife, Terrorsaur was basically messing with him by saying a more colorful (and kid-friendly) version of "Welcome to Hell!" However, because [[fandom|Transformers fans]] can be ''incredibly'' literal, some fans speculatively latched on to the idea that Terrorsaur was welcoming Cheetor to the "''Dark Side''", supposedly giving the Predacon ship/base a proper name. This bit of [[fanon]] was subsequently made official by the video game ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (PS)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]''. Years later, the ship's name was further codified by the [[BotCon 2006]] story "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]", which dodged [[trademark]] issues by giving it the intentional misspelling "[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]". This is what happens when fans are allowed to run things. Seriously.
* This episode marks the finalization of most of the Maximals' voices; Cheetor loses most of his whine, Rhinox gains a more expressive range, and Dinobot sounds a fair bit deeper.
* Plenty of alternate transformation schemes in this episode. Most of Cheetor's transformations involve his cheetah mode splitting in two through the middle (even the tail), and his cheetah head flipping down to be the chest of a fully-formed robot that's curled up within this beast "shell", already wearing most of his beast kibble. Dinobot also shows off a pair of transformations radically different from – and even more cheaty than – his normal one.
* Waspinator speaks in first-person in this episode.
* Just prior to its debut in syndication, this episode was made available on DirecTV on a pay-per-view basis beginning on [[August 19]], 1996.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dos à Dos'''" ("Back to Back")

:*''Title:'' "'''Dos à Dos'''" (Canada, "Back to Back")

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im gleichen Boot'''" ("In the Same Boat")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 25|25 April]] [[1998]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pari opportunità per i Biocombat'''" ("Equal Opportunities for the Biocombats")
::*Terrorsaur's line: «Welcome to the dark side!» is changed to: «Welcome in the wolf's den!» («Benvenuto nella tana del lupo!» in Italian). If any Italian ever tought the name of the ship was ''Tana del Lupo'' ("Wolf's Den") is unknown.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jigen Bakudan Tensō Sakusen!'''" (時限爆弾転送作戦!, "Operation: Time Bomb Transfer!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[1997]]
::*Terrorsaur's line, "Welcome to the dark side!" was rendered as "Yōkoso, kaku!" meaning "Welcome, stranger!" (with plenty of ''caw caw caw'' noises added to the end, as is Terrorsaur's vocal tic in Japan). Thus, any silly ambiguity as to the proper noun status of his line is eliminated (not that it would matter, as the Predacon's ship received an official name in Japan long before it got one in the West: "Terror Crasher").

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Równe szanse'''" ("Equal Chances")

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Medidas Iguais'''" ("Equal Measures")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Medidas Equitativas'''" (America, "Equal Measures")

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yī Mài Xiàng Lián '''" (一脉相连, "In One Vein")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1997 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Chain of Command (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Equal Measures

2025-01-23T17:14:21Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Notes */ Don't see the point of keeping the TF References header up if there's nothing to add.

{{episode
|series=BWtoon
|ep=4
|series2=BWJtoon
|ep2=4
|prev2=The Web
|next2=Chain of Command (BW)
|image=Equal Measures Cheetor darksyde.jpg
|caption=Later they discovered Cheetor was sitting on the self-destruct button.
|title="Equal Measures"
|season=1
|season ep=4
|production company=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|airdate=[[September 23]], 1996
|written by=[[Greg Johnson]]
|directed by=[[T.W. Peacocke]]
|animation studio=[[Mainframe Entertainment]]
|continuity=[[Beast Wars continuity]]
|packaged with=[[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Cheetor]], [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Beast Wars Telemocha Series|Megatron]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKS7w9FwR8g
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''Dinobot manipulates both Maximals and Predacons around a teleporter that Cheetor has unintentionally developed between both bases.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] watches a bolt of lightning shatter a mountain, revealing a cache of [[energon]]. Because of the hazardous conditions, he radios to his team to abort their current operation. The storm garbles the transmission, though, preventing the other [[Maximal]]s from receiving it.

[[File:Dinobotbulliescheetor.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Something we've seen all too often.]]
The mission involves [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] monitoring devices designed by [[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], who has just gotten done building the last of them. Impatient to get going, [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] carelessly plays with one of [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]]'s projects, a ''time bomb'', and accidentally drops it out the floor hatch... where it's caught by a returning Optimus, who reiterates his order for the mission to be scrubbed. Everyone's clearly upset over the development, not believing the storm to be that severe yet, but Primal is adamant; it'll have to wait until later. Dejected, everyone returns to quarters to wait out the storm.

In Cheetor's quarters, Dinobot meets with the cat-bot and endorses the mission being continued regardless of the danger from the weather and the energon. He points out that Primal clearly treats Cheetor like a child, even though with his speed, the cat-bot could easily outrun the storm and plant the devices before it hits. This appeal to vanity works, and Cheetor sneaks out to complete the mission.

[[File:Equal Measures Cheetor monitoring device.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|This wireless Broadband box is rubbish!]]
In the field, Cheetor plants survey apparatuses in quick succession, but a bolt of lightning causes the cat accidentally to plant one of the posts dangerously close to an energon vein. He tries to remove the device and correct his mistake, but in the middle of his struggle, a second lightning bolt hits, and he finds himself suddenly teleported — onto a control panel in the [[Darksyde (BW)|Predacon base]]!

[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] "welcomes" Cheetor and attacks the Maximal, but Cheetor grabs a hover-platform and tries to escape. After being knocked off the platform, Cheetor lunges at Terrorsaur and pushes the Predacon onto the control panel he'd just arrived on, causing Terrorsaur to vanish. [[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] and [[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] arrive and chase Cheetor around the Predacon base, but lose him in the ventilation shafts.

[[File:Cheetorsurprised.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Shouldn't have had the vindaloo last night.]]
Meanwhile, Terrorsaur finds himself in the ''[[Axalon (BW)|Axalon]]'' command center, where he's given a warm reception by Dinobot. However, the former Predacon is more concerned over how Terrorsaur arrived at the Maximal base, eventually working out that a freak combination of the survey devices, the storm, and the energon created a transporter link between the two bases. Using this to his advantage, Terrorsaur seems to convince Dinobot into forming an alliance, suggesting they scrap the Maximals, then take over the Predacons and rule together... until Dinobot drops the charade and unceremoniously flushes the Pred out of the ''Axalon'' through a waste disposal unit.

Back at the Predacon base, Cheetor continues to flee while avoiding fire from Waspinator. He sneaks away from the two long enough to hack the Predacons' data files, and determines that both bases sit on a common underground Energon vein, so an explosion at one base would cause a chain reaction that would obliterate both ships. Cheetor is discovered as soon as he downloads this data to a disk.

At the Maximal base, Optimus confronts Dinobot on Cheetor's whereabouts. Dinobot tells him about the link and how the cat-bot has "surely" been destroyed by now, but convinces him that they could use the link to annihilate the Predacon base with the bomb, a plan Primal only agrees to as long as the bomb's timer is set with enough time to allow the Preds to evacuate. Just as the bomb is sent, though, Cheetor tosses the disk with the energon vein data onto the console, transporting both items simultaneously.

[[File:Crispyterrorsaur.jpg|right|upright=1.1|thumb|Would you like me original, or extra crispy?]]
The Predacons finally corner Cheetor, but the bomb has magnetically locked itself onto the Pred console, forcing Megatron to let him go so he can release it. With a few seconds left, Cheetor throws it up to Terrorsaur, who flies it out of the base (and is blown up with it), while Cheetor escapes through the link. The Predacons' errant shots destroy the console instead. Furthermore, his return trip to the ''Axalon'' shatters all of the survey posts he's planted, ensuring the link is severed for good.

Afterwards, Rhinox and [[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] congratulate Cheetor's prevention of the Maximal base from being destroyed by their own explosive, while Dinobot is in a bad mood as usual and leaves—though Cheetor apparently didn't tell anyone that Dinobot talked him into the whole thing. Primal still commands Cheetor to take more care to obey direct orders. Cheetor says he will—except when he doesn't—and scampers off, leaving Optimus steamed up with Rhinox and Rattrap to have a jolly laugh. But Optimus figures out Cheetor was funny, and gets in the jolly laugh with Rhinox and Rattrap.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|h1=[[Maximal]]s
|c1=
*[[Optimus Primal (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Optimus Primal]] (1)
*[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]] (2)
*[[Rattrap (BW)|Rattrap]] (3)
*[[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]] (4)
*[[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] (5)

|h2=[[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]]s
|c2=
*[[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]] (6)
*[[Waspinator (BW)|Waspinator]] (7)
*[[Scorponok (BW)|Scorponok]] (8)
*[[Megatron (BW)/Beast Wars cartoon continuity|Megatron]] (9)
}}

==Quotes==
"Defeating them does not mean we have to ''annihilate'' them. You seem to have trouble understanding that."
:—'''Optimus''' gently chides Dinobot for thinking like a Predacon.

"Shoulda known no Maximal'd be stupid enough to try anything on a day like this."
:—'''Terrorsaur''' underestimates the enemy again.

"YOOOOOW, BULLET TRAAAAAAAIN..." 
''[An explosion sends Cheetor crashing into the wall!]'' 
"Comin' through." 
:—'''Cheetor''' narrowly escapes being turned into a charbroiled cheetah!

"Cheetor! Maximi— did that already."
:—'''Cheetor''' forgets that he already transformed.

"He's gone into the vents! You better report this to Megatron." 
"Me?! ''You're'' second-in-command!" 
"So make it an order!"
:—'''Scorponok''' and '''Waspinator''' establish the chain of command.

"Where'd he go?! Where'd ''I'' go?"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' realises he isn't in [[Kansas]] any more.

"Think of the cosmic magnificence. Together we'll overthrow these low-grade metal knock-offs you've joined, and then rule the Predacons with two iron fists! NOTHING CAN STOP US!"
:—'''Terrorsaur''' has such naive optimism.

"Hey! What are you doing? We're partners!" 
"In case you had not realized, Needlenose... I am ''not'' a team player."
:—'''Terrorsaur''', about to get launched over the horizon by '''Dinobot'''

"OK, OK, I'll never do that again! Until the next time."
:—'''Cheetor''' has learned nothing from this adventure.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* In the opening shot, a segment of the mountains on the screen's left side reveals a gap in the mountain's computer model just a few frames before the shot cuts.
* The collapsing mountain seems to be sucked into the Energon cache after being hit with lightning, and before the lightning strikes, there's a bizarre flickering texture on the mountain's right side.
* Following the collapse, some energon crystals within the mountain keep flickering in and out of existence.
* When Cheetor walks over to the bomb, the two [[kibble]] panels on his back keep clipping through his cheetah leg kibble, and they don't seem to move together with the rest of his torso. When the bomb drops and he moves about, the panels remain stationary.
* When Optimus is tossing the time bomb in one hand, it really doesn't move convincingly.
* When Rhinox reacts to Optimus' announcement about being stalled, his rhinoceros skin "skirt" is clipping into his thighs.
* Shadows are inconsistently rendered in the beginning scene in the Maximal base. Rhinox, standing behind Rattrap, is fully lit at first, but at the end of the scene, there's a shadow cast over him.
* The shot of Cheetor descending out of the base, as the "camera" spins around him, is rendered very oddly. Parts of the ''Axalon'' that look like they should be behind the cliff face appear in front of it, and as Cheetor dashes away, he overlaps a metal bar that's much closer to view.
* As Cheetor jumps across the rocks, his feet don't always touch the terrain.
* Cheetor's mouth doesn't move as he shouts "Maximize!" while out in the field.
* Before Cheetor turns into [[robot mode]], he has red eyes as a cheetah. When his beast model is replaced with his mid-transformation model mid-movement, his eyes turn green and his spots rearrange themselves between frames. After he goes back into cheetah mode a few seconds later, the cheetah model again has red eyes and a different spot-arrangement, both of which change yet again as the lightning strikes near him.
* When Cheetor activates the first survey post, his left thumb clips into his chest.
* The little red bit on the top of the first survey post that Cheetor plants keeps blinking in and out of existence. While this might have been on purpose, to simulate a blinking light, none of the other posts do this.
* Cheetor doesn't really grab the Energon post's handle, his fist simply clips through it.
* When the lightning-bolt strikes him, you can tell by his shadow that Cheetor is actually floating a few inches above the ground.
* When Terrorsaur floats closer to the monitor screen on his platform, the tip of his right wing passes between the platform and his foot.
* As he reaches for his gun while dangling from the Predacons' flying platform, Cheetor's left elbow briefly turns inside-out.
* In one shot, when Terrorsaur is shooting at Cheetor's platform, the reflection textures on his grey elements near his gun disappear in sync with his blasts, due to the blast effects somehow "blotting them out". Strangely, this error doesn't occur in his closeup shortly thereafter.
* When Scorponok and Waspinator transform into robot mode, the latter already has various robot parts sticking out of him in his wasp form. Both his beast and robot mode abdomens exist at the same time, his robot crotch is poking through his underside and one of his robot legs is sticking out of his behind. Also, the stripes on his thighs are aligned the wrong way, a common error in early episodes.
* When Cheetor transforms to [[beast mode]] to jump into the vent, his various robot and beast parts all seem to appear and disappear randomly, out of sync with his usual transformation.
* Scorponok's eyes are weirdly distorted as he arrives to the vent. Also in this shot, Waspinator's left wings don't seem to "flap up", only down.
** In addition, Scorponok's visor shifts between yellow and red quite randomly, as it often happens in most episodes.
* Though a common cartoon convenience, both Waspinator's repeated shots and Scorponok's missile take an inordinately long time to reach Cheetor, and the distances between them jump back and forth between shots.
* As Cheetor hurries through the vent, none of the holes Waspinator has blasted into it are visible.
* After Cheetor escapes from the vents, he falls to the ground and his right forehead chevron kind of "twangs" forward. In the next scene he's in, it's back to normal against his head.
* Before Terrorsaur begins pruning his wing, the right side of his pterosaur chest appears to be sunken into his body.
* Scorponok's right claw is clipping though his thigh as he and Waspinator watch the missile chase Cheetor.
* Just before Optimus comes into frame to ask Dinobot about the survey posts, his fingers are visible at the left of the screen as the camera swivels.
* When Optimus asks Dinobot if he's sure about the bomb's timer, his right arm seems to jump position between frames.
* Two green bits are clipping through the opening hatch on the Predacon ship on either side.
* As the roasted Terrorsaur lands, his leg briefly clips through his wing.
* When Cheetor is zapped back home, blowing up all survey posts along the way, the posts are replaced by noticeably thicker, different-shaped exploding objects a few frames before they're supposed to blow.

===Continuity errors===
* A major plot point is that due to an energon vein running beneath both ships, the destruction of either Predacon or Maximal bases would destroy the other. This is never mentioned again and frequently contradicted due to the repeated explosions at both. While most of the planet's energon was stabilized by the start of Season 2 (and thus wouldn't be an issue), the plot of Season 1 episode "[[Victory (episode)|Victory]]" revolves around... a massive explosion at the Predacon base. Arguably, either side could have harvested some of the energon by then to sever the connection between the bases, but this is never established!
* Despite making a big deal about how they should be killing Predacons when they get the chance, Dinobot doesn't avail himself of the opportunity when he's alone with Terrorsaur, instead harmlessly firing him out of the ship.
* When trying to outrun the explosion chasing him down the vents, for some reason Cheetor decides to transform to his [[robot mode]], even though it's been strongly implied that he's faster in beast mode.

===Continuity notes===
* The weather on prehistoric Earth appears to be ''extremely'' destructive. Two bolts of lightning cause a mountain to implode. This might have something to do with the abundant energon, although there's nothing in the show to back this up.
* This is the first episode where we get to hear Terrorsaur speak (Besides "Terrorsaur, terrorize!" that is). It's also the first time he is shown to be the series' resident [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]], possessing a flight-based alternate mode and already plotting behind his leader's back.

===Real-world references===
* Cheetor name-drops the Tom Jones song, [[w:What's New Pussycat? (song)|"What's New Pussycat?"]] as an expression. This reference would later be said again in "[[The Spark]]" and "[[The Trigger, Part 1]]" back to back.
* The cheetah silhouette poster hanging over Cheetor's bed reads "RESTRICTED" in [[Cybertronix]], a reference to the "[[https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/motion-picture-ratings/restricted-cougar/|Restricted Cougar]]" that appeared on R-rated films in [[British Columbia]] from 1960 to 1996.

===Trivia===
* When Cheetor appears before him, Terrorsaur greets him thus: "Welcome to the dark side!" The episode script reveals that this was simply Terrorsaur being dramatic. As it was in response to Cheetor wondering if he had died and come to the afterlife, Terrorsaur was basically messing with him by saying a more colorful (and kid-friendly) version of "Welcome to Hell!" However, because [[fandom|Transformers fans]] can be ''incredibly'' literal, some fans speculatively latched on to the idea that Terrorsaur was welcoming Cheetor to the "''Dark Side''", supposedly giving the Predacon ship/base a proper name. This bit of [[fanon]] was subsequently made official by the video game ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (PS)|Beast Wars Transmetals]]''. Years later, the ship's name was further codified by the [[BotCon 2006]] story "[[Dawn of Future's Past]]", which dodged [[trademark]] issues by giving it the intentional misspelling "[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]". This is what happens when fans are allowed to run things. Seriously.
* This episode marks the finalization of most of the Maximals' voices; Cheetor loses most of his whine, Rhinox gains a more expressive range, and Dinobot sounds a fair bit deeper.
* Plenty of alternate transformation schemes in this episode. Most of Cheetor's transformations involve his cheetah mode splitting in two through the middle (even the tail), and his cheetah head flipping down to be the chest of a fully-formed robot that's curled up within this beast "shell", already wearing most of his beast kibble. Dinobot also shows off a pair of transformations radically different from – and even more cheaty than – his normal one.
* Waspinator speaks in first-person in this episode.
* Just prior to its debut in syndication, this episode was made available on DirecTV on a pay-per-view basis beginning on [[August 19]], 1996.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dos à Dos'''" ("Back to Back")

:*''Title:'' "'''Dos à Dos'''" (Canada, "Back to Back")

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Im gleichen Boot'''" ("In the Same Boat")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 25|25 April]] [[1998]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Pari opportunità per i Biocombat'''" ("Equal Opportunities for the Biocombats")
::*Terrorsaur's line: «Welcome to the dark side!» is changed to: «Welcome in the wolf's den!» («Benvenuto nella tana del lupo!» in Italian). If any Italian ever tought the name of the ship was ''Tana del Lupo'' ("Wolf's Den") is unknown.

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Jigen Bakudan Tensō Sakusen!'''" (時限爆弾転送作戦!, "Operation: Time Bomb Transfer!")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[1997]]
::*Terrorsaur's line, "Welcome to the dark side!" was rendered as "Yōkoso, kaku!" meaning "Welcome, stranger!" (with plenty of ''caw caw caw'' noises added to the end, as is Terrorsaur's vocal tic in Japan). Thus, any silly ambiguity as to the proper noun status of his line is eliminated (not that it would matter, as the Predacon's ship received an official name in Japan long before it got one in the West: "Terror Crasher").

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Równe szanse'''" ("Equal Chances")

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Medidas Iguais'''" ("Equal Measures")

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Medidas Equitativas'''" (America, "Equal Measures")

'''Mandarin'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Yī Mài Xiàng Lián '''" (一脉相连, "In One Vein")

==Home video releases==
{{homevidnote}}
;VHS
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1997 — ''Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers'' — Cheetus' Crisis ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2001 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Beginning: Vol. 1 ([[Universal]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 2 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]])
;{{w|LaserDisc}}
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 1998 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Maximal Edition ([[Geneon Universal Entertainment|Pioneer LDC]]) — English and Japanese audio.
;DVD
[[File:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2000 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — English and Japanese audio. 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2002 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Volume 1 ([[Rhino Entertainment|Rhinomation]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2003 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete First Season (Rhinomation) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Shout! Factory]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2011 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Chain of Command (Shout! Factory) 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — Classic Episodes — Where the Beasties Began! ([[Alliance Atlantis]]) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Canada.png|20px|Canada]] 2005 — ''Beast Wars'' — The Complete First Season (Alliance Atlantis) — English and French audio. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2006 — ''Beast Wars: Transformers'' — Season 1 ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2009 — ''The Transformers: Beast Wars'' — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)

[[Category:Beast Wars episodes]]
[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Telemocha Series]]
[[Category:Pack-in material]]

Rattrap (BW)/toys

2025-01-22T18:28:19Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* MPG */

{{suite}}
[[File:WFC-Kingdom-Rattrap-art.jpg|thumb|upright=1.88|I'M DA GIANT RAT DAT MAKES ALL OF DA RULES!]]

You may not be able to depend on '''Rattrap'''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s courage, but you can depend on him to have a lot of toys.

==Toys==
===''Beast Wars''===
[[File:BW-toy Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Less cute than advertised.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Basic Class, 1996/1997)}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Rattle'''
:*''Takara ID number'': '''C-5'''
:*''Takara release date'': July ?? 1997
:*''Accessories'': 2-part [[Fusion weaponry#Fusion pistol|pistol]]
{{toydesigner|[[Yuichiro Hira]] (TakaraTomy), [[Masakatsu Saito]] (concept artist)}}

: Part of the first wave of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' Basic toys, Rattrap transforms from a large rat to robot mode with a spring-action, [[Autotransformation|one-step transformation]] activated by pulling up on the base of his tail. Transforming him back to rat mode, however, requires a bit more of a "hands-on" approach. His beast mode "shell" halves each hide a part of his handgun for beast-mode storage.

: The initial [[Hasbro]] release of Rattrap came on a "rocky bubble" style card, which was quickly replaced with a "smooth bubble" style card in wave 2. Rattrap shipped on both styles of card, but the rocky-bubble version is rarer, and commands a higher price on the secondary market, if keeping toys in rare-ish packaging is your particular collecting "thing".

: In Japan, "Rattle" was similarly released in the first wave of [[TakaraTomy|Takara]]'s [[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)|''Beast Wars'' toyline]] in July 1997, and was basically identical to the Hasbro version. However, in January 1998, many first-wave toys were re-released with altered decoes to make them more show-like. For Rattrap, this mainly meant his robot mode head got a humongous glob of shiny copper paint (that didn't really match his copper plastic in tone). This copper was also used on his hands. His beast mode eyes were changed from yellow to red, and dark gray paint was added to his rat nose, although oddly the [[paint operation]]s on his rodent teeth were dropped altogether.

: This mold was also used to make [[Packrat#Toys|Packrat]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1996/Maximal/Rattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Rattrap at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|VS5}}{{anchor|BasicJ2pack}}
[[File:BW-toy VS05 Rattle Terrorsaurer.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Rocky Mountain hi-YAH!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1p1|'''Iwayama no Taiketsu: Rattle VS Terrorsaurer''' (Vs pack, 1997 / 1998)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''VS-5'''
:*''Release date'': July ??, 1997 / January ??, 1998
:*''Accessories'': 2-part [[Fusion weaponry#Fusion pistol|pistol]]

: In Japan, Rattrap was available both separately and in a "Rocky Mountain Showdown" (岩山の対決) two-pack with the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] [[Terrorsaur (BW)#Toys|Terrorsaur]].

: Two variants of the set exist: the original releases and the 1998 [[redeco]] versions. The toys are identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|Gold}}
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Gold Rattle''' (Multi-pack "Lucky Draw", [[1998]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 2-part [[Fusion weaponry#Fusion pistol|pistol]]

: A one-of-a-kind, all-gold-chromed version of Rattrap was awarded in Japan for a ''[[TV Magazine]]'' contest, as part of a set of gold ''Beast Wars'' toys of the original five Maximal show-characters.

: The actual dates and rules of this contest are currently unknown.

::*''[https://www.soundwavesoblivion.com/japanesebeastwars.html More information at Soundwaves Oblivion]''

{{-}}{{anchor|TM1}}{{anchor|Transmetal1}}
[[File:BWRattrapTM.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|Find one without a chrome shedding problem, win a prize! (''Hasbro version'')]]
[[File:BW-toy Rattrap Metals.jpg|upright=1.67|thumb|(''Takara version'')]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 1998)}}</ul>
:*''Takara name'': '''Metals Rattle'''
:*''Takara ID number'': '''C-43'''
:*''Takara release date'': September ?? 1999
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip
{{toydesigner|[[Daniel Sanfilippo]] (deco artist), [[Masakatsu Saito]] (concept artist)}}

: Part of the second wave of Hasbro Deluxe [[Transmetal]]s, Rattrap transforms from semi-organic robot to a robotic rat. He has a third "beast-vehicle" form, folding his hind feet up into the extending rear wheels, flipping up his front legs, and pulling out a pair of [[Anatomic euphemism#Exhaust port|exhaust pipes]] (eyuw, the smell!). His beast mode tail becomes a whip for robot mode. There is a minor variant to this toy: about midway through the production run, a small "catch" was added to the neck's swivel joint to lock his robot head in place in robot mode. This [[retool]]ed version was then used for all subsequent releases of the toy.

: Despite the show's portrayal, his hubcaps are ''not'' removable (well, not in a way that won't break the toy), he does ''not'' have a handgun, and his back kibble does ''not'' rotate 180 degrees.

: This release is one of several toys notorious for severe chrome-flaking issues. Later redecoes -including the Takara release below- do not seem to have this problem (at least, not anywhere as bad or widespread).

: For the Japanese ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars (Japanese toyline)#1999 (Beast Wars Metals)|Beast Wars Metals]]'' release of "Metals Rattle", the toy was given a large number of deco changes that, while individually minor, add up to a considerably different-looking, arguably more show-accurate toy (at least in robot mode). The most immediately noticeable is that the "RATTRAP" [[tampograph]] on his beast mode back was changed to "CYBERTRON" with the [[Maximal]] [[Insignia|faction symbol]]. However, his entire color scheme has been slightly altered: his gray-tan plastics and are now more blueish-gray, the champagne-silver paint is now more cold silver, his brown base turned into a very dark pearlescent maroonish-purple, the chrome was given a much more maroon tone, and the bright orange changed to a darker, redder shade. (This version has the neck-catch tooling, in case you were wondering, which you weren't, but we're telling you anyway.)

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1998/Maximal/Rattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Transmetal Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{BWTMRattrapMold}}

{{-}}{{anchor|VS43}}{{anchor|MetalsVs}}
[[File:BW-toy RattrapVsTerrorMetals.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1p1|'''Senkō no Taiketsu: Metals Rattle VS Metals Terrorsaurer''' (VS pack, 1999)}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''VS-43'''
:*''Release date'': September ?? 1999
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip

: In Japan, Transmetal Rattrap was available both as an individual and in a "Flash Showdown" (閃光の対決) VS pack with [[Terrorsaur (BW)#VS43|Transmetal Terrorsaur]]. Both toys are identical to their individual releases.

{{-}}{{anchor|WalMart}}
[[File:Walmartrattrappackrat.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Yoink!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 1999)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip

: The first store-[[exclusive]] Transformer in the ''Beast Wars'' line, Transmetal Rattrap was given a deep blue color scheme.

: He was only available as a [[Walmart]] exclusive, even having the Walmart logo emblazoned on the bubble as part of the design.

: This toy was later [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as a Transmetal form for [[Packrat]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Maximal/WalmartRattrap/walrat.htm More information on Walmart Rattrap at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|Puzzle}}
[[File:BW-toy RattrapPuzzle.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Rattrap Cheesepants]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Metals Rattle Special Version''' (Deluxe, 1999)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip

: In Japan, the Deluxe Transmetal Rattrap toy was given a white and orange deco and packed in with a 500-piece ''Beast Wars Metals'' jigsaw puzzle from Central Hobby.

: Oddly, this toy uses the Hasbro "RATTRAP" tampograph on the rat mode back rather than the Takara "CYBERTRON" and symbol mark. This is likely due to the fact it was released long before ''Metals'' was released in Japan, and thus Takara hadn't made that decision yet.

: This toy was [[Repurposing|repurposed]] as the ''[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (franchise)|Shattered Glass]]'' version of [[Rattrap (BWSG)|Rattrap]] and as [[Labrat]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1999/Cybertron/PuzzleRattrap/rattrap.htm More information on puzzle Rattrap at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|FKTM}}
[[File:BW-toy Rattrap FKTM.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Redrat! Redraaaat!'']]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Deluxe Transmetal, 2000)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip

: As part of the first wave of 2000's "[[Fox Kids]]" Transmetals series, this version of Rattrap was one of the last releases in the original retail ''Beast Wars'' line. The toy got a more primary red color scheme, with bright gray robot bits and deep blue/purplish chrome.

: This toy was released in Japan as part of a [[JafCon]] convention exclusive set (without changes) along with the "Fox Kids" Transmetals versions of [[Airazor (BW)#FKTM|Airazor]] and [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#FKTM|Cheetor]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/FKTMRattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Fox Kids Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Beast Machines''===
[[File:BMtoy-RattrapMcD.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Oh no. A mime.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m2|'''Rattrap''' (Happy Meal toy, 2000)}}</ul>

: Part of the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' [[McDonald's]] Happy Meal promotion, this simple toy of Rattrap transforms into a technorganic rat, albeit one with wheels instead of hindlegs. This does make his legless, wheeled robot mode a fair bit more show-accurate.

: He features a [[light-piping]] section on his back that in theory illuminates the Maximal [[spark]] on his stomach, but as pretty much the entirety of his non-rat-head torso is made of the same transparent plastic, the effect is somewhat... diffused.

: Being made of softer plastic and having no removable parts, he is very suitable for the younger set.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/McRattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Beast Machines Rattrap (Mcdonald's) at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|RedRooster}}
[[File:BMtoy-RattrapRedRooster.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Ever want to know what the children would look like?]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m2|'''Rattrap''' (Little Red Rooster Meal toy, 2001)}}</ul>

: The McDonald's Happy Meal Rattrap was also released in Australia through the Red Rooster restaurant rai—uh, chain. Like the other three toys in the promotion, it came in four color schemes: the original colors (with opaques replacing the transparents), a reversed red-with-green, a deep blue with very light blue, and a light blue with deep blue.

: These versions of the mold were [[retool]]ed from the original, removing almost all arm articulation (and a step in the transformation), plugging up the light piping, and reducing the number of parts and plastic colours used by the toy. Oddly, even though Little Red Rooster Meal Rattrap no longer has light piping, he has red paint on his back to simulate the red circle of translucent plastic on the original's back.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Maximal/RRRattrapRed/rattrap.htm More information on Red Rooster Red Rattrap at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Maximal/RRRattrapBlue/rattrap.htm More information on Red Rooster Deep Blue Rattrap at TFU.info]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2001/Maximal/RRRattrapIce/rattrap.htm More information on Red Rooster Light Blue Rattrap at TFU.info]''

{{-}}{{anchor|BMMega}}
[[File:Beast Machines-Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Oh shit, a rat!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m2|'''Rattrap''' (Mega Class, 2001)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip
{{toydesigner|[[Tim Bradley]] (concept artist)}}

: Rattrap was the last release in the ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Machines]]'' toyline before the change to the ''Battle for the Spark'' packaging, not appearing on shelves until long after the rest of his Season 1 compatriots. Reportedly, Rattrap was delayed for redesign purposes. This did result in a toy closer to his show design than theirs, however.

: This sizable Rattrap transforms into a large [[technorganic]] rat. In beast mode, turning his tail moves his head and ears. In robot mode, he has a flip-down visor and moving jaw. For [[show-accuracy]], his robot legs can fold up so he can use his wheels for locomotion instead. Said wheels also have a trio of flip-out blades. His multi-jointed beast tail becomes a hand-held whip.

: He possesses an orange spark crystal, concealed within his body, making it visible only in mid-transformation.

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2000/Maximal/Rattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Beast Machines Rattrap (Mega) at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Returns''===
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m2|'''Rattle''' (Mega, [[2004]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''BR-03'''
:*''Release date'': [[November 18]], 2004
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip

: "Rattle" was released in the first wave of Takara's [[Beast Machines: Transformers (toyline)|''Beast Wars Returns'' line]], seemingly with no notable differences from the Hasbro version aside from packaging.

: Like the entire rest of this line, he was sold only in [[Toys"R"Us]] stores in Japan.
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars 10th Anniversary''===
[[File:BW10th-Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Deluxe Class, 2006)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Tail-whip
{{toydesigner|[[Marcelo Matere]] (packaging artist)}}

: Part of the second wave of Hasbro's ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars 10th Anniversary|Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]'' product, the original [[#TM1|Transmetal Rattrap toy]] was given a slight deco modification for better show accuracy: mainly casting his tan-ish parts in a brighter, more neutral gray. He also gains Maximal sigil on his chest, ironically a ''less'' show accurate change.

: He came with the right arm to the "[[Build a Figure|build-a-bot]]" [[Transmutate (BW)#Toys|Trans-Mutate]], plus a DVD of the episode "[[A Better Mousetrap]]", an episode that features Rattrap in his original organic body.

: On that note, Rattrap is the only ''10th Anniversary'' figure that is redeco'd from their Transmetal form rather than the organic original, because the original Basic figure's mold was either lost or otherwise unfit for use (which would come into play again [[#Vintage Beast Wars|later]]...).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/Rattrap/rattrap.htm More information on 10th Anniversary Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{BWTMRattrapMold}}
{{-}}

===''Timelines''===
[[File:Timelinestoy-RattrapDoFP.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Mmmm, cheese wheel.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1p1|'''Dawn of Future's Past''' (Multi-pack, 2006)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Blaster, "Golden Disk Key"
{{toydesigner|[[Joe Moore]] (concept artist)}}<ref>{{citesocial|quote=There were a few different ones we went through for Rattrap, but ultimately went with Cybertron Ransack due to his smaller size. This is another one that stayed really close to the initial concept.|link=https://twitter.com/Joe_Toyark/status/1370242105847771139|site=Twitter|name=Joe Moore|year=2021|month=03|day=11}}</ref>

: ''[[Transformers Timelines (toyline)|Timelines]]'' "Axalon Rattrap" is a redeco of ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' Scout Class [[Ransack (Cybertron)#Toys|Ransack]], transforming into a Cybertronic motorcycle. Plugging a [[Cyber Planet Key#Toys|Cyber Planet Key]]—or in this set's case, a "Golden Disk Key"—into the rear portion of his bike mode flips out a pair of non-firing guns. This assembly detaches to form a hand-held blaster in robot mode.

: This is thus far the only version of the ''Cybertron'' Ransack mold to have the "correct" rear wheel assembly position.

: Rattrap came in a boxed five-pack with "Axalon" versions of [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Timelines|Optimus Primal]], [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Timelines|Cheetor]], [[Rhinox (BW)/toys#Timelines|Rhinox]], and "[[Darksyde (BW)|Darksyde]]" [[Dinobot (BW)/toys#Timelines|Dinobot]]. This set was also made available as a bagged set in more limited numbers.

: This mold was also the model for non-toy character [[Quickslinger (Cybertron)|Quickslinger]], and the "[[Theft of the Golden Disk]]" video incarnation of [[Tarantulas (BW)#Timelines|Tarantulas]].

::*''[https://twitter.com/Joe_Toyark/status/1370242105847771139 Design notes on Axalon Rattrap from Joe Moore on Twitter]''
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2006/Maximal/BCRattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Axalon Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Generations''===
[[File:Generationstoy-Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|At long last, I can finally move my legs!]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Deluxe Class, 2014)}}</ul>
:*''Series / Number'': '''02 / #017'''
:*''Accessories'': 2 blasters, demolition charge
{{toydesigner|[[Tomoya Miyake]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Emiliano Santalucia]] (concept artist)}}

: Part of the ninth wave of 2012-onwards ''[[Transformers: Generations (toyline)#Thrilling 30|Generations: Thrilling 30]]'' Deluxe Class toys, Rattrap is based on his appearance in the first season of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon, transforming into an organic rat. He has two blasters which can combine to form a larger rifle, and his left forearm opens to reveal a demolition charge. The blaster can be stored securely in a slot between the robot's back and the backpack to simulate Rattrap reaching behind his head to draw it. Additionally, he is jointed so that he can be standing upright in rat mode, much like he did in the television show, and extra fur-textured plastic is placed at the back of his neck so that it can close up the gap when his rat head is facing downwards. His tail is rubberized with a wire running through it, allowing it to be posed.

: While like most Deluxe Class ''Generations'' toys he is tooled to have [[light-piping|light-piped]] eyes, they have been painted over in red. He also suffers from a design flaw in which an overly tight transformation joint in the shins can crack the legs or cause stress marks. This can be fixed with careful trimming of the back of the joint.<ref>[https://www.tfw2005.com/boards/threads/generations-rattrap.985384/page-6#post-11166033 Post by optimusfan at TFW2005]</ref>

: He comes with a copy of the comic issue "[[Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5|Finest Hour]]", which places its pages massively out of order and does not actually feature Rattrap. Oops times two.

: The stock photo on the back of the packaging depicts him with a large Maximal logo on his right robot mode leg that is not present on the actual toy.

: Rattrap became a noticeable [[shelfwarmer]] long after his release. He was still found in plentiful numbers throughout future waves of the ''Thrilling 30'' line, and could still be found while the following ''[[Combiner Wars (toyline)|Combiner Wars]]'' toyline was in full swing.

: This mold was redecoed into [[BotCon 2015]] [[Packrat#Timelines|Packrat]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Maximal/Rattrap/rattrap.htm More information on ''Generations'' Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

===''Kre-O''===
[[File:Kreon Rattrap.JPG|thumb|upright=1.66]]
{{anchor|BotCon2014}}
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-multi|'''Kreon Souvenir Figure Set''' (Kreon Souvenir Figure Set, 2014)}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': Dual blaster, hardhat

: Part of a [[BotCon]] "anniversary" set of [[Kreon]] [[Micro-Changer]]s based on past convention-exclusive toys, "Kreon Rattrap" is based on the [[BotCon 2006]] [[#Timelines|Rattrap figure]]. He can turn into a Cybertronian motorcycle mostly by taking everything off his torso and replacing them with brick parts. He also comes with an extra gray hardhat part that you can switch with his normal helmet if you want him to resemble the original toy more.

: He was only available as part of a [[BotCon 2014]] ''[[Kre-O]]'' six-pack, along with [[Breakdown (G1)#BotCon2014|Breakdown]], [[Fractyl#Kre-O|Fractyl]], [[Overlord (G1)#Kre-O|Gigatron]], [[Landshark (G1)#Kre-O|Landshark]], and [[Rodimus (SG)#Kre-O|Shattered Glass Rodimus]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2014/Maximal/BCKre-ORattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===''Legends''===
[[File:Legendstoy-Rattle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|Just like the other one, but tanner.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattle (Rattrap)''' (Deluxe, [[2014]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''LG01'''
:*''Release date'': [[October 25]], 2014
:*''Accessories'': 2 blasters, "bomb part"

: Released in the first wave of TakaraTomy's ''[[Transformers Legends (franchise)|Legends]]'' toyline, Rattle is a redeco of ''Generations'' Deluxe Class Rattrap with more yellow-tinted robot parts, slightly beiger fur and some new paint apps, such as red rat eyes and a painted-in mouth in robot mode.

: He comes with a leaflet featuring a character profile, tech specs, and the [[Legends Comic: Bonus Edition Vol. 1|''Legends'' Bonus Edition Volume 1]] mini-comic.

{{-}}{{anchor|LGEX}}
[[File:TF-Legends-LG-EX-Rattrap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattle (Rattrap)''' (Deluxe, [[2016]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''LG-EX'''
:*''Release date'': [[May 7]], 2016
:*''Accessories'': 2 blasters, "bomb part"

: LG-EX Rattle is another redeco of ''Generations'' Rattrap, exclusive to [[Transformers Fes2016]]. It's almost identical to the first ''Legends'' Rattle, but with some slight color differences such as beige robot parts, black rat eyes, and a darker shade of brown in the fur.

: His packaging features the confused sentence "rat to rattorp" instead of "rat to robot".
{{-}}

===''War for Cybertron: Kingdom''===
[[File:WFC-Kingdom Core Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|''Rats! We're rats! We're dah rats!'']]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' (Core Class, [[2020]])}}</ul>
:*''Hasbro ID number'': '''WFC-K2'''
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''KD-02'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[March 27]], 2021
:*''Accessories'': "Fusion blaster"
{{toydesigner|[[John Warden]] (Hasbro)|[[Ken Christiansen]] (concept artist)}}

: Released in the first wave of ''[[War for Cybertron: Kingdom|Kingdom]]'' Core-class toys to commemorate the 25th anniversary of ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'', Rattrap is a 3-inch-tall figure that transforms from a robot heavily accurate to his appearance in the first season of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (toyline)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon into an organic rat significantly more realistic than any previous depiction of his rat mode, be they toy or media. However, his robot mode fists stick out in a ''very'' <s>realistic</s> unfortunate position in beast mode. Although Rattrap has a considerable amount of articulation in robot mode, he has little to none in rat mode, limited to the ankle joints of his hind legs.

: He comes with a "fusion blaster" based on Rattrap's weapon from the cartoon, which can be tabbed onto his back in robot mode or either of his rat mode haunches.

: The hinge assembly connecting Rattrap’s robot arms to his back kibble tends to be very loose, which can cause the entire arm assembly to swing down when attempting to pose the arms in robot mode.

: His toy-reveal press release describes him as "a mini version of the iconic character to pose out with other RATTRAP toys at larger scales", though the toy is already meant to scale with other ''Kingdom'' toys, even if a bit small.
{{-}}

===''War for Cybertron Trilogy''===
[[File:WFCNetflixtoy-Maximal-Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb| I don't know how parents could be mean enough to name their child after a fried rodent.]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Optimus Primal''' (Battle 2-pack, 2021)}}</ul>
:*''TakaraTomy ID number'': '''WFC-19'''
:*''TakaraTomy release date'': [[December 29]], 2021
:*''Accessories'': "Fusion blaster"

: ''[[War for Cybertron Trilogy (toyline)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' Rattrap is a minor redeco of the above ''Kingdom'' toy, with his gray-brown plastics now a slightly-darker shade, and his silver paint now in gunmetal. His rat-nose paint seems to be unchanged in shade, leading it to be far less subtle than on the normal release. The loose arm hinge assembly problem of the ''Kingdom'' version is fixed in this version of the mold.

: He comes packaged with a similarly-marginally-redecoed [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#War for Cybertron Trilogy|Optimus Primal]] figure, promoting the ''Kingdom'' season of the ''[[Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy (cartoon)|War for Cybertron Trilogy]]'' cartoon on [[Netflix]].

{{-}}

===''Vintage Beast Wars''===
[[File:TF-Vintage-BW-Rattrap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Rattrap''' ("Mega", [[2021]])}}</ul>
:*''Accessories'': 2-part [[Fusion weaponry#Fusion pistol|pistol]]

: In celebration of the 25th anniversary of ''Beast Wars'', the original 1996 Basic Class Rattrap was "reissued" in the first wave of the [[Walmart]] exclusive ''[[Vintage|Vintage Beast Wars]]'' series. This toy is a completely new set of molds based on the originals, those having been lost or degraded to an unusable state. He retains the same accessories and functionality as the original toy, but has several small detail differences in the molding: most notably, the fur patterning is much sharper with deeper grooves than the original. He also has several color differences both overt and subtle, with black rat eyes instead of yellow, off-white teeth instead of bright white, pale-peach rat feet instead of ruddy-pink, and a more pale-brownish plastic for his robot bits and tail rather than copper-brown (the paint on his rat-rump is unchanged copper-brown though, so it doesn't quite match the tail).

: Much like the ''[[Vintage|Vintage G1]]'' toys, Rattrap comes in a close recreation of his original packaging, [[Kenner]] logo and all, complete with a "rock bubble" blister card styled after the first-wave ''Beast Wars'' toys' releases. The back of the card does as much as it can to look like the original, but there are a lot of differences due to modern concessions, especially the need to have all the text in multiple languages. Also similar to ''Vintage G1'', the time disparity since the original release (and likely the cost of completely re-creating the molds) has the toy set at ''quadruple'' the price of the toy's 1996 release, $20 versus $5, and at the same "Mega" size class/price as the deluxe class [[Cheetor (BW)/toys#Vintage Beast Wars|Cheetor]] figure.

: This re-release sold poorly, resulting in unsold stock being sold at clearance as low as the original version's $5 price depending on the area.
{{-}}

===''Beast Wars Again''===
[[File:TF-BW-Vintage-JP-BWVS-05-Rattle.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1p1|'''Daizekkyō no Taiketsu''' (Multi-pack, [[2024]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number'': '''BWVS-05'''
:*''Release date'': [[January 27]], 2024
:*''Accessories'': Gun
{{toydesigner|[[Hisashi Yuki]] (TakaraTomy)|[[Hidetsugu Yoshioka]] (packaging artist)}}

: Released in the fifth wave of TakaraTomy's ''[[Beast Wars: Super Lifeform Transformers Again|Beast Wars Again]]'' line, this version of Rattle is a redeco of [[#War for Cybertron: Kingdom|''Kingdom'' Rattrap]] in an attempt to make him in an even more cartoon-accurate deco, based on his appearance in the first season of the ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' cartoon.

: He was only available in the "Screaming Showdown" (大絶叫の対決) set, packed along with [[Terrorsaur (BW)#Beast Wars Again|Terrorsaurer]], in a box replicating the design of the original 1997 VS set. This set was originally planned for release on [[December 30]]th [[2023]], but was delayed.

: Like the other ''Beast Wars Again'' sets, this set was made available to US buyers through [[Hasbro Pulse]] (with the website omitting the ''Beast Wars Again'' title).
{{-}}

===''MPG''===
[[File:TF-MPG-15-Rattrap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|]]
<ul class="iconlist">{{Bp-m1|'''Cybertron Rattle''' ([[2025]])}}</ul>
:*''ID number:'' '''MPG-15'''
:*''Accessories'': Gun, Alternate beast mode face, 2 alternate robot mode faces, 2 bombs, 2 adapters

: The first ''Beast Wars'' release in the ''[[MPG]]'' line, Rattle transforms from a show accurate robot mode to a show accurate rat mode. The rat mode is able to be stood bipedaly and includes adapters to attach to the ''Masterpiece'' [[Optimus Primal (BW)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-32 Convoy (Beast Wars)]] and the [[Rhinox (BW)/toys#Masterpiece|MP-59 Rhinox]] to recreate scenes where Primal and Rattrap rode Rhinox in [[Beast Wars (Part 1)]]. He also includes an alternate face for rat mode.

: In robot mode, he has his gun, which can also store inside the rat mode, and two bombs, which can store in his arms. He also comes with two alternate faces for robot mode.

: This figure was first teased on January 8 2025 and later fully revealed on the 14th of the same month, with preorders set to go live the following day with a release date of September 2025.

::*[https://tf.takaratomy.co.jp/mpg-15_rattle Official TakaraTomy website of ''MPG'' Cybertron Rattle]
{{comingsoontoy}}
{{--}}

==Merchandise==
===''Beast Wars Movie Coin''===
*'''Beast Wars Movie Coin''' (1997)

:Released only in Japan, Rattrap was one of ten characters from ''Beast Wars'' to receive a movie coin.
::*''[http://www.tfmuseum.com/tf-02112.html Rattrap Movie Coin at TFMuseum.com]''

===''Beast Wars'' magnet set===
*'''Beast Wars magnet set''' (1997)

: The original cast of ten from the ''Beast Wars'' cartoon was rendered in adorable [[Super deformed|super-deformed]] style for a set of magnets. Awwwww.

===''Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game''===
[[File:Rattrapmutatingcard.jpg|thumb|upright=.66|His special move, as is his least favorite roller-coaster ride, is the Fiery Fist O' Pain.]]
*'''Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game''' (1997)
:Rattrap was one of the 24 beast warriors to receive a battle card representation for the ''Beast Wars'' [[Beast Wars Transformers Mutating Card Game|card game]].
{{--}}

===Kabaya===
[[File:BWchoco rattrap.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Rattle vs Terrorsaurer''' (candy toy, 1997)
**''ID number:'' '''5'''

:Part of [[Kabaya]]'s ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Choco|Beast Wars Choco]]'' line of [[candy toy]]s, this small soft-rubber figurine of Rattrap—known in Japan as a ''keshigomu''—came in a set with a similar figure of Terrorsaur, along with a bio card and candy-covered chocolates. The figures were available in either translucent purple or smoky grey rubber.
{{-}}

[[File:BwgumDX rattrap.jpg|thumb|upright=1.66|DX indeed.]]
*'''Rattle''' (candy toy kit, 1997)
**''ID number:'' '''3'''
**''Accessories:'' [[Fusion weaponry#Fusion pistol|Gun]]

: Part of a set of four Kabaya [[candy toy]]s, the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Gum|Beast Wars Gum]]'' version of Rattrap is an unpainted and unassembled plastic kit that "transforms"—that is to say, breaks down into its component parts and is rebuilt in a different configuration— from rat to robot mode. Although based closely on [[#Basic1|the original toy]], it is much smaller (and cheaper, of course), featuring only a few sparse [[sticker]]s for details. It is cast entirely in grayish-tan and pale yellow plastics, as are the other three toys in the set: [[Dinobot (BW)|Dinobot]], [[Cheetor (BW)/toys|Cheetor]], and [[Terrorsaur (BW)|Terrorsaur]].
{{-}}

[[File:Bwramune rattrap.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Rattle''' (candy toy, 1997)
**''ID number:'' '''5'''

: A tiny plastic Rattrap figurine molded onto an irregularly-shaped stand was released by Kabaya as part of the ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Ramune|Beast Wars Ramune]]'' line. Labeled toy 5 of 6, the other characters in his wave were Dinobot, Cheetor, Megatron, Optimus Primal, and Rhinox. As always, terrible candy is included.
{{-}}

[[File:Metallicbeastramune rattrap.jpg|thumb]]
*'''Rattle''' (candy toy kit, 1999)
**''ID number:'' '''2'''
**''Accessories:'' Tail-whip

:Kabaya decided against producing transforming model kits to tie in with ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Metals (franchise)|Beast Wars Metals]]'', instead releasing the ''[[Metallic Beast Ramune]]'' kits: hollow non-transforming figures partially made of colorless, translucent plastic, inside which chromed plastic pieces were placed for that familiar shiny Transmetal look. Rattrap was one of the four characters released in this series, and was available with either blue or golden chrome parts, including a chromed version of his tail-whip weapon.
{{-}}

*'''Rattle''' (candy toy, 1999)

:Like their earlier ''Beast Wars Ramune'' line, Kabaya's ''[[Metal Hero Ramune]]'' series consisted of non-transforming figures of the ''Beast Wars'' cast, now in their Transmetal bodies. Rattrap was one of seven figures available in the wave, cast as a hollow PVC figurine attached to a base.

===First 4 Figures===
[[File:First 4 Figures Rattrap.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|"Is my [[gearbox]] hangin' out or somethin'?"]]
*'''Rattrap''' (<s>2006</s> unreleased)

:This was to be a 7-or-8-inch tall (or probably smaller) resin bust of Rattrap released as part of a ''Beast Wars'' tenth anniversary series by model company [[First 4 Figures]]. Rattrap is depicted from the waist and upwards with his arms akimbo and is mounted on a Maximal-branded pedestal. He is sculpted to be accurate to his ''Beast Wars'' cartoon design, including his shrunken rat leg backpack. Rattrap was first revealed to the public in unpainted prototype form at [[San Diego Comic-Con]] in 2006,<ref>[https://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=album&album=6265&dispsize=800&start=0 Tformers.com's SDCC 2006 gallery]</ref> though he'd previously been solicited by [[BigBadToyStore]]<ref name=bbtsseibs>[https://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/update-from-bigbadtoystorecom-transformers-and-gij/6539/ "Update from BigBadToyStore.com: Transformers and G.I.Joe Statues and Busts!!!"] on Seibertron.com</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070407160752/http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/bbts/menu.aspx?menu=526&category=2037 BigBadToyStore's listings for First 4 Figures' busts] (archived)</ref> not long after his digital sculpt was shown to toy news sites at New York [[Toy Fair]].<ref name=ASM>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070806062058/http://toyfair06.asmzine.com/first4figures/report.html "First4Figures Limited Transformers Statues and Busts Info!"] at ASMzine.com (archived)</ref>

:Mini busts in the planned ''Beast Wars'' line were designed to reflect the scale of the characters as seen in the cartoon–hence our guess at the Rattrap bust's shorter than average size–and each was set to be limited to 1,996 pieces, in a nod to the franchise's year of origin.<ref name=ASM/> Rattrap was likely intended to be the fourth release in the line, given his appearance at SDCC but lack of an official product listing at the First 4 Figures website. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the ''Beast Wars'' bust line were cancelled, with First 4 Figures citing a challenging marketplace and lack of retailer interest.
{{canceledtoy}}
{{--}}

===''Robot Heroes''===
[[File:Robotheroesmegatronrattrap.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|More creepy than cute.]]
*'''Rattrap & Megatron''' (Two-pack, 2008)
{{toydesigner|[[Bill Rawley]] (Hasbro)|[[Marcelo Matere]] (concept artist)}}

: Part of the "Beast Wars Series" label of ''[[Transformers: Universe (2008 toyline)|Universe]]''-branded ''[[Robot Heroes (toyline)|Robot Heroes]]'', Rattrap comes packaged with [[Megatron (BW)/toys#Robot Heroes|Megatron]]. Like most of the ''Robot Heroes'' line, his design is a mix between the toy and cartoon depictions, notably having a grayish rather than copper-colored head. He has the standard shoulders-and-neck articulation.
::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2008/Maximal/Rattrap/rattrap.htm More information on Robot Heroes Rattrap at TFU.info]''
{{--}}

==Notes==
* A proposed BotCon concept by [[Fun Publications]] was a redeco of [[#Transmetal1|Transmetal Rattrap]] into a beast form of [[Hot Rod (G1)|Generation 1 Rodimus Prime]], named either "[[Rodimus Primal]]" or "Rodimouse", to match [[Optimus Prime (G1)/toys#AmazonConvobat|Convobat]] and [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/toys#Timelines|Ultra Mammoth]].<ref>[http://www.toycollectors.com.au/bc14/bc14br.html BotCon 2014 attendee report]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Beast Wars 10th Anniversary]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Again]]
[[Category:Beast Wars Maximals]]
[[Category:BotCon exclusives]]
[[Category:Convention exclusives]]
[[Category:E-HOBBY exclusives]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Kre-O Autobots]]
[[Category:Kreons]]
[[Category:Legends Maximals]]
[[Category:MPG]]
[[Category:McDonald's exclusives]]
[[Category:Robot Heroes]]
[[Category:Toys"R"Us Japan exclusives]]
[[Category:Universe (2008)]]
[[Category:War for Cybertron: Kingdom Maximals]]

File:EarthSpark first look.jpg

2025-01-15T22:48:47Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

{{EScap|Promotional image featuring the Malto family. Left to Right: [[Dot Malto|Dot]], [[Mo Malto|Mo]], [[Robby Malto|Robby]], [[Thrash (ES)|Thrash]], and [[Twitch]].
Taken from the [https://www.facebook.com/transformers/photos/pcb.6938774419526026/6938774176192717/ ''Transformers'' Facebook page].|Secret Legacy, Part 2|2}}

{{poster|source=released by Hasbro|owner=Hasbro and Nickelodeon}}
[[Category:EarthSpark images]]

Home Is Where the Spark Is

2025-01-03T18:12:21Z

TheAmazingPoncho: /* Animation errors */

{{episode|
|series=Anitoon
|series2=AniJapan
|image=TFA Home Spark Megatron lives.JPG
|caption="Now you will feel the true power of the Dark Side!"
|ep=4
|ep2=6
|prev2=The Thrill of the Hunt
|next2=Total Meltdown
|title="Home Is Where the Spark Is"
|season=1
|season ep=4
|production company=[[Cartoon Network|Cartoon Network Studios]]
|airdate=[[January 5]], [[2008]]
|written by=[[Michael Ryan]]
|directed by= [[Matt Youngberg]] [[Shunji Ōga]]
|animation studio= [[The Answer Studio]]
|video=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnvV1Zh3XSk
|videosite=YouTube
}}

'''As the Autobots make themselves at home in an abandoned Sumdac auto factory, a disembodied Megatron uses the factory's technology to launch an attack on them.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Duelingbanjos.jpg|left|200px|thumb|"Cover your shame, Mon!"]]
As an armored car leaves a bank in the dead of night, the [[Angry Archer]] robs it and makes his escape from the cops by snagging onto a fire engine, thinking the police won't stop a firetruck heading to a fire. It's the Archer's mistake, however, because he's hitched a ride on the back of [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]]. Prime, playing hero, subdues the thief easily and smiles for evening news cameras.

The next day, in a local park, [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] observes a [[Skippy|cat]] stalking a bird and finds it amazing, only to have his nature watch cut short by awestruck humans and camera-bots. He heads back huffily to the new [[Autobot Earth Base|Autobot headquarters]], an abandoned car factory. The other [[Autobot]]s are in the middle of installing the world's largest flat-panel TV in their new home and sharing their views on their newfound stardom. Prowl returns, upset with the constant interruptions, and goes to his Japanese-decorated room. In his room, Prowl lectures Optimus on his fascination with the Earth's animals, only to have that cut short by [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]]'s antics. Annoyed again, Prowl leaps off into a tree.

[[Image:Megsawakened.jpg|right|200px|thumb|I think, therefore I—where the heck is my body?!]]

Meanwhile, [[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari]] tries to enter her father's private lab. She uses her [[AllSpark Key]] to open the door, but [[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Professor Sumdac]] leaves with her before she can enter more than a step or two, reminding her no one but he is allowed in there. As they depart, residual energy from the Key floats over and reactivates the head of [[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]]. Once his higher functions take control, Megatron is horrified to discover that he is without a body and is hardwired into some sort of primitive computer. As he searches for answers, he brings up video footage of the last battle between the Autobots and [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]], including the latter's confession of sabotaging his leader. Megatron is understandably ticked, and not just at Starscream's betrayal, but on the sheer helplessness of his situation. Not only do the [[Decepticon]]s believe that he is dead, meaning there is no hope of rescue, but the AllSpark is finally within his reach, and he lacks the hands to take it! While lamenting his lack of a body, he discovers his new power to control machines around him. Picking up a discarded, miniature robot, Megatron decides that it's time to get...proactive.

After trashing her [[Tutor Bot]] using the AllSpark Key, Sari tells Professor Sumdac she is leaving to the Autobot base for a slumber party. Overhearing this, Megatron sends one of Isaac's [[pocketbot]]s to hide in her backpack so he can search the base for the AllSpark.

At the Autobot base, Prowl watches a nature show about caterpillars evolving into butterflies, which he finds fascinating. Bumblebee, of course, isn't interested and changes the channel on him. Annoyed yet again, Prowl pounces on Bumblebee like a cat to prove what he has learned from animals before leaping to a high point to meditate. Later, Bumblebee and [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] play high-tech Twister™ with much difficulty; Bumblebee then challenges Prowl to try. Prowl jumps in and easily touches all the spots Sari announces. Having won the game, he leaves to his room. Disgusted that the Autobots could ever get their hands on the AllSpark, Megatron uses the pocketbot to begin searching.

[[Image:TFA Home Spark assembly attack.JPG|left|200px|thumb|It's one thing to rage against the machine, but what do you do when the machine rages back?]]

Sari then tells ghost stories to the rest of the Autobots and, with a little help from the AllSpark Key, succeeds in scaring Bumblebee. Meanwhile, since the pocketbot's search for the AllSpark has proven fruitless, Megatron decides to kill the Autobots and extract info on its location from their lifeless shells. He takes control of the assembly line robots and uses pincers, riveters, a big electromagnet and a die press to pummel the Autobots. Prowl shows up and realizes that the machines are detecting the Autobots by use of motion sensors. He instructs everyone to be still, then strike in order to get to the control panel. However, while the motion sensors can't see him, Megatron can, so he gets caught by the machines as well. With [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] injured, the only bot left free to move is Bumblebee, who manages to listen to Prowl long enough to outrace the machines and destroy the control panel.

[[Image:TFA Home Spark plant ruined.JPG|right|200px|thumb|Housewarming parties are one of the leading causes of death among Autobots. Right after "Decepticons attack" and rust.]]

In a parting gesture, Megatron cuts open a fuel tank perilously close to a fire, but the Autobots team up and launch it into the sky, where it explodes harmlessly. As they wonder who tried to kill them, they discover the pocketbot under Megatron's control, but Bulkhead accidentally smashes it after catching it before they can study it.

Back at the lab, Megatron has a fit over his loss and decides to reveal more Cybertronian technology to Sumdac in order to get a new body.

At the end, Prowl again coaches Bumblebee in the art of stillness while both play a game of high-tech Twister™.
{{--}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] (2)
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] (3)
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] (6)
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] (7)
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] (8)
|c2=
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] (11)
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] (12, video footage)
|c3=
*[[Angry Archer]] (1)
*Fan #1 (5)
*[[Sari Sumdac (Animated)|Sari Sumdac]] (9)
*[[Isaac Sumdac (Animated)|Isaac Sumdac]] (10)
|c4=
*[[Skippy]] (4)
*[[Tutor Bot]] (13)
}}

==Quotes==
"HAHAHA!!! Victory is ''mine''! Yon police would ''ne'er'' stop a firetruck from speeding to an emergency!" 
"Only one problem with that theory: ''You're'' the emergency."
:—The '''Angry Archer''''s escape is cut short by '''Optimus Prime'''

"No way, being a star rocks! If the titanium alloy plating fits, ''wear it''. And...I make it look ''good''."
:—'''Bumblebee''', being himself.

"Auut-oh-bot-MegaMegaMega-Meg-Meeeegaaa-Mega-[[Megatron (Movie)|I am Megatron]]!"
:—'''Megatron''' awakening after his fifty-year slumber

"Whoa. Looks like ''somebody'' forgot to defrag his hard drive."
:—'''Bulkhead''', using a dubious computer analogy to describe Prowl's bad mood

"You Autobot fools are the keepers of the [[AllSpark]]? This must be some cosmic joke..."
:—'''Megatron''', disgusted at the Autobots' merry-making.

"What's the matter? We're not ''still'' enough for you? Ynnh—fine! Have a great time in there watching the ''grass grow''!"
:—'''Bumblebee''' to Prowl as the latter heads off to his private quarters (presumably to have a great time watching the grass grow).

"Stillness...then strike."
:—'''Prowl''', as he sneaks past the Megatron-possessed machinery

"Let me crush that smile off your face."
:—'''Megatron''', ever the charmer, attempting to permanently shut Bulkhead down.

==Notes==

===Transformers references===
* In a different kind of Transformers reference, the Angry Archer is designed to resemble [[Hasbro]]'s [[Aaron Archer]].
* Similarly, the bank shown in the opening sequence is the [[Izzo National Bank]], named for Hasbro executive and series co-producer [[Joshua Izzo]].
* When Megatron comes online, his first coherent words are "I am Megatron!", the same thing [[Megatron (Movie)|his movie counterpart]] said.

===Real-world references===
[[Image:Twister.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Image courtesy of the Hasbro Holiday 2106 catalog.]]
* Bumblebee's line "I make it look ''good''!" is paraphrased from Will Smith in ''{{w|Men in Black (film)|Men in Black}}''.
* A high-tech, Transformer-[[scale]]d version of {{w|Twister (game)|Twister™}} is repeatedly played in this episode.

===Animation errors===
* When Prowl pounced on Bumblebee for annoying him, his paintjob was incorrect and changed to the correct paintjob 3 frames later.
* Optimus Prime and Bulkhead are missing their Autobot [[insignia|insignias]] as they watch the fuel tank explode.

===Continuity errors===
* When the Angry Archer turns around to notice he's being followed by police cars, the bags of money he'd just tied to his waist are nowhere to be seen. They're back in other shots, though.

* Sari says "Right foot on green." during the Twister™ game. The only problem is there are no green spaces in the next shot, just purple, orange and yellow. (After that shot, they seem to appear as normal.) At the end of the episode, the problem is reversed — there are no yellow spaces, but there are green ones.

* During the assembly line's rampage, Ratchet is injured after the explosion of some airborne gas tanks. He remains in a damaged state until the very end of the episode, when, in the close-up group shot of the Autobots, he can be seen completely undamaged before the camera focuses on Bulkhead attempting to grab the pocketbot as it runs out the door.

===Trivia===
* In this episode, Tutor Bot fails to teach Sari about the {{w|quadratic equation}}. It leads a thankless life.
* According to the ''Animated'' production staff at [[BotCon 2008]], the "b-list" villain of this episode was originally meant to be a humanized version of [[Octopunch (G1)|Octopunch]] instead of the Angry Archer. Reportedly, Octopunch would have looked exactly like his G1 counterpart, except with the addition of boxing gloves.
* When Prowl jumps on Bumblebee, Bumblebee, seemingly, [[humanization|blushes due to embarrassment]].
* This episode was adapted in comic book format using screen captures as half of "[[Transformers Animated Volume 3]]", with "[[Total Meltdown]]" making up the other half.

===Foreign localization===
'''French'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Hantise et court-circuit'''" ("Hauting and short circuit")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Megatrons Rückkehr'''" ("Megatron's Return")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 24|24 May]] [[2008]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Attacco Nemico'''" ("Enemy Attack")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 11|11 October]] [[2008]]

'''Spanish (Latin America)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El hogar esta donde esta el spark'''" ("Home is where Spark Is")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[June 14|14 June]] [[2008]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Fujimi no Megatron'''" (不死身のメガトロン, "The Immortal Megatron")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 8|8 May]] [[2010]]
::* Prowl does the intro
::* '''Cut:''' Sari discovers the power of her AllSpark charged key.
::* '''Cut:''' The key's burst of electricity causes Megatron to come back online and he discovers Starscream's betrayal.
::* '''Cut:''' Tutor Bot's lesson with Sari
::* Prowl and Megatron are featured in this episode's commercial bumper.
::* Dialogue has been added to Prowl's moments of silence.
::* For once, Optimus doesn't yell out "Ultra Axe" when he cuts down the rope when the Angry Archer tries to escape. However, he has "Ultra Cracker" when using his bolas.
::* The parachute sleeping bag meant for Bulkhead became Prowl's.

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Dom jest tam gdzie iskra'''" ("Home Is Where the Spark Is")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 12|12 October]] [[2008]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Lar é Onde Está o Spark'''" ("Home Is Where the Spark Is")
:*''Original airdate:'' ???

==Home video releases==
;DVD
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Transform and Roll Out ([[Transformers Animated (cartoon)/home video|Paramount]]) — English and Spanish audio ([[Target]] [[exclusive]] version only). 
[[Image:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One (Paramount) — English and Spanish audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume One: Blast from the Past (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[Image:Flag of UK.png|20px|United Kingdom]] 2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume One: Blast from the Past (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Germany.png|20px|Germany]] 2008 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Volume Eins: Drachenkämpfer (Paramount) — English and German audio. 
[[Image:Flag of Japan.png|20px|Japan]] 2010 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Vol. 2 (Paramount) — Japanese audio only. 
[[File:Flag of Australia.png|20px|Australia]] 2013 — ''Transformers Animated'' — Season One ([[Madman Entertainment]]) 
[[File:Flag of USA.png|20px|United States of America]] 2014 — ''Transformers Animated'' — The Complete Series ([[Shout! Factory]])

[[Category:Animated episodes]]

Mutsumi Tamura

2024-12-27T16:25:28Z

TheAmazingPoncho:

Mutsumi Tamura (田村睦心, Tamura Mutsumi, born [[June 19]], [[1987]]) is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with I'm Enterprise. Though mostly typecast in young boy roles, most of her popular roles are her female ones including Kobayashi in ''Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid'', [[Tiana Camacho|Ermes Costello]] in ''JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean'', Sayaka Kanamori in ''Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!'', and Sonya in ''Kill Me Baby''. Other notable roles include Beelzebub in ''Sand Land'', Yukiya in ''Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master'', Renly Synthesis Twenty-Seven in ''Sword Art Online'', Pirsoyn in ''Shakugan no Shana'', Jonah in ''Jormungand'', [[Mona Marshall|Koshiro/Izzy Izumi]] in ''Digimon Adventure tri.'', Hiro Amanokawa in ''Digimon Ghost Game'', Quatre Salision in '' The Legend of Heroes'' franchise, A.K.I. in ''[[Street Fighter|Street Fighter 6]]'', Morganite in ''Land of the Lustrous'', Alice Swayne in ''The Ancient Magus' Bride'', [[Dave Wittenberg|Kakashi Hatake (Young)]] in ''Naruto'' and [[Sean T. Krishnan|George]] in ''Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance''.

In foreign dubbing she is best known for dubbing Yelena Belova/Black Widow and Darcy Lewis in the ''[[Marvel Comics|Marvel Cinematic Universe]]'', the young [[Batman|Bruce Wayne]] in ''Gotham'', Ben Hanscom in the ''IT'' duology, Jem Finch in the Blu-Ray dub of ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', Ally in the [[2018]] remake of ''A Star Is Born'', Whitney Houston in ''Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody'', Toast the Knowing in ''Mad Max: Fury Road'', Riley Abel in ''The Last of Us'', Mizu in ''Blue Eye Samurai'', Jess Drew/Spider-Woman in ''[[Spider-Man|Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]]'', Priya in ''Turning Red'', Tam Ryvora on ''Star Wars: Resistance'' and both Luna Loud and Lisa Loud on ''The Loud House''.

==Roles==
===''[[Transformers One (film)|Transformers One]]''===
*[[Chromia (One)|Chromia]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tamura, Mutsumi}}
[[Category:Japanese voice actors]]

Arlene Banas

2024-12-24T17:15:18Z

TheAmazingPoncho: Since the current link takes you to the disambig page

[[Image:ArleneBanas.jpg|right|200px|thumb]]
'''Arlene Banas''' (born [[December 24]], [[1946]]) is an American actor. She also made guest appearances on a number of TV shows, including ''She's the Sheriff'', ''Sledge Hammer!'', and ''The Colbys''. She also did voice acting in the Harmony Gold dub of ''Dragon Ball'' voicing Upa and Arale Norimaki.

==Voice roles==
===''[[The Transformers (cartoon)|The Transformers]]''===
* [[Ynara]]
* [[Carly (G1)|Carly]]

==Convention appearances==
* [[BotCon 2011]]

==External links==
* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0051550/ Arlene Banas at the Internet Movie Database]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Banas, Arlene}}
[[Category:English voice actors]]