MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

User talk:Vehicon Gary

2013-08-19T20:57:48Z

Vehicon Gary:

{{captionbastard}}
(Sigh) You don't have to point to a gun at my head, okay?
:A user is not allowed to remove notices and messages from their user talk page. But yeah, I don't like that image, either. --[[User:Inkblot|Inkblot]] 21:09, 14 August 2013 (EDT)
Sorry, I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to remove it until after I already did it.
:Quit changing profanity to Transformers words. This site is not like Wikipedia, because while they have strict rules for humor, we have more relaxed rules. [[User:Escargon|Escargon]] 16:52, 19 August 2013 (EDT)
You're a jerk and an idiot. Relaxed or not, people should be free to enjoy information and humor without having to see a cuss word at every turn. And guess what? You can have me kicked off of here. It changes nothing, and it certainly doesn't change the fact of what a moron you're being.

User talk:Vehicon Gary

2013-08-19T20:57:21Z

Vehicon Gary:

Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac

2013-08-19T20:45:22Z

Vehicon Gary: Undo revision 822078 by Escargon (Talk Kids visit this site; and I'm gonna make it better for them)

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac''
|image=Allsparkalmanaccover.jpg
|caption=[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]'s going to have his hands full cleaning these two up.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|written by=[[Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster]]
|date=[[August 19]], [[2009]]
|illustrated by=
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]
|pagecount=220
|price=$19.99 USD
|next=Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II
|ISBN=ISBN 1600104878 
ISBN 978-1600104879
}}

{{bigquote|What a brilliant book! Probably the best I've ever read, human or Cybertronian. I can't recommend it strongly enough!|[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], the rear cover of The AllSpark Almanac}}

'''''Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac''''' is a <s>lusty</s> happy love-letter written to {{SITENAME}} for our carnal pleasure.

''The AllSpark Almanac'' is an encyclopedic examination of the entire ''Transformers Animated'' storyline universe. It presents exhaustively thorough character profiles and summaries of the first two seasons of the cartoon and the ''Animated [[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|Arrival]]'' comic book...''all written completely in-universe'', in the form of "interviews" with the characters or excerpts from their journals and other in-story media.

"Interstitial" interludes are presented out-of-universe and describe the design process behind the art, animation, and locations, as well as brief story summaries of the [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Titan Magazines]] ''Animated'' issues. Elements of toy design are covered as well, but comparatively briefly.

There are also an ''insane'' number of [[easter egg|obscure references]] to Transformers minutiae culled from the 25-year history of the [[Transformers brand|brand]], as well as other sci-fi and entertainment franchises as well. Basically, ''all'' proper nouns and names refer to something or someone, even if that someone is a possibly non-existent character only mentioned once in a letters page of a foreign comic. And that's before we start talking about the ''numbers'': Almost every seemingly incongruous alphanumeric string is a reference to another franchise, be it a ''Star Trek'' stardate or a Terminator's official designation. And that's just the content in English—about a third of the book's pages have large stretches covered in [[Cybertronix]]. Deciphered, these are all revealed to be non-Transformers-related passages, including song lyrics, catchphrases, memes, map coordinates and extensive, verbatim quotes from diverse sources ranging from Tennyson's ''Ulysses'' to ''Max Headroom''. In particular, the book has a noticeable number of hidden references to [[wikipedia: Iron Maiden|Iron Maiden]], courtesy of author Bill Forster, a massive fan of the band.

A [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|sequel]] was published in late June 2010.

==Contents==
*Foreword, by [[Derrick J. Wyatt]]
*Introduction, by the authors
*Interstitial A: ''[[Transformers Hero]]''
*Chapter 1: [[Autobot]]s
*Interstitial B: Lighting
*Chapter 2: [[Decepticon]]s
*Interstitial C: [[Transformation]]s
*Chapter 3: [[Human]]s
*Interstitial D: Opening Credits
*Chapter 4: Events
*Interstitial E: [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Titan Magazines]]
*Chapter 5: Culture
*Interstitial F: Design Evolution
*Chapter 6: [[Detroit]]
*Interstitial G: [[Bee in the City]]
*Chapter 7: Settings
*Interstitial H: Backgrounds
*Afterword, by [[Marty Isenberg]]
*A Word from [[Hasbro]]
*Acknowledgments

==Chapter 1 - Autobots==
Chapter one covers all Autobots who appear in the first two seasons of the cartoon.

{{collist|3|
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] by Ultra Magnus
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] by Lockdown
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] by Captain Fanzone
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] by Bulkhead
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] by Sari
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] by Optimus Prime
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] by Bumblebee
*[[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] by Blackarachnia
**[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]
**[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]]
**[[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]]
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] by Ratchet
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] by Bulkhead
*[[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] by Ratchet
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] by Bumblebee
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]] by Bumblebee
*[[Wasp]] by Shockwave
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] by Ratchet}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 15 – [[Optimus Prime (Animated) | Optimus Prime]]'s axe is identified as a [[Solitarium]] ultra-axe.
* Pg 20a – As mentioned in his tech spec, [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] is a [[Protihex Medical Mechanics University|Protihex Medical Mechanical graduate]].
* Pg 20b – [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] refers to Ratchet with the nickname “Cool Hand Lube”, an epithet coined for [[Ratchet (G1)|the original Ratchet]].
* Pg 34 – Unnamed in the ''Animated'' cartoon, the alien planet visited by the young Optimus, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] populated by giant spiders is here given the name [[Archa Seven]]. Presumably, this puts it in the same system as [[Akalo|Archa Nine]].
* Pg 35 – Sentinel Prime's [[Skyboom (Animated)|shield]] is dubbed a [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom shield]].
* Pg 44 – Ratchet recalls an old flame from [[Crystal City]].
* Pg 55 – [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme's]] profile contains numerous references.
:The language describing Omega's strength deliberately hearkens back to Generation 1 [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega's]] Transformers Universe profile, describing how he can pulverize “steel cubes” of impressive volume and hit diminutive items from a great distance with his head cannon. Numerous Cybertronian units of [[:Category:Measurements|measurement]] are used in the process; Omega is said to be able to lift 600,000 kilo-units (a measurement used by [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] in the ''Animated'' episode "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]"); the dimensions of the aforementioned cube are given in mechanometers (used in the Generation 1 episode "[[City of Steel]]" and mentioned twice more in the book); and the distance at which he can blast a small object is given in hics (from the Marvel UK 1991 annual story "[[The Magnificent Six!]]" and used once more in the book).
:Omega is also noted to be armed with concussion blasters (the personal weapon of Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]), pulsar bombs (used by the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]] on two occasions in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] cartoon), quasar beams (Generation 2 [[Blowout]] and Beast Wars [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] both wielded quasar cannons), friction cannons (G1 [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] was armed with a friction blaster) and aquasting missiles (weapon of choice of the Beast Wars Fuzor [[Injector]]).
:And finally, Omega has armor enhanced with [[rheanimum]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 46 – Ratchet speculates that Wreck-Gar must have “27,000 gags” hidden in his trash bin. The number 27 is a running gag in [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s songs... Al, of course, being the voice actor who played Wreck-Gar.

===Errors===
* Page 33: The [[Magnus Hammer]] is referred to as a "Storm'''breaker'''" hammer instead of "Storm'''bringer'''," a previously-given name for the weapon.

==Chapter 2 - Decepticons==
Character models for all Decepticons who appeared in Animated seasons one and two.
{{collist|3|
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] by Lugnut
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] by Optimus Prime
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] by Blitzwing
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] by Lugnut
*[[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] by Bulkhead
**[[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]
**[[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] by Megatron
*[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] by The Angry Archer
*[[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] by Sari
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] by himself
*[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] by Thundercracker
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] by Ramjet
*[[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] by Sunstorm
*[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] by Skywarp
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] by Slipstream
*[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] by Prowl
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 60 – Mentioned here and restated on pg 127, Megatron's swords are forged from [[tironium]]. As noted in his tech specs, his armor can deflect anti-proton lasers.
* Pg 66 – As on his toy packaging, Lugnut is referred to with the nickname "The [[Kaon]] Krusher".
* Pg 74 – Shockwave's cannon can fire blasts from anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum, just like Generation 1 [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] could.
* Pg 77 – Swindle's gyro gun and scatter blaster are named after the weapons of the original Generation 1 [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].
* Pg 81 – Starscream claims to be the handsomest 'bot "this side of the [[Benzuli Expanse]]".
* Pg 83-84 – Having gone unnamed in the Animated cartoon, [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] and [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] were all given names and powers derived from their Generation 1 counterparts when they were released as toys. The liar and female clones did not get toys, but ''The AllSpark Almanac'' carries on the trend; the liar clone is named [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] and is noted to have a reinforced nosecone for mid-air collisions, while the female clone gets the brand new name of [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] (which was previously revealed at [[BotCon 2009]]).
* Pg 88 – Numerous weapons used by Lockdown in the cartoon are here given the names of similar weapons from other corners of the Transformers multiverse. He is armed with [[Sleep Net]]s (from the Generation 1 coloring book ''[[Bumblebee to the Rescue!]]''), [[nova spray]], and a [[lightning whip]]. His chainsaw is also described as being “micro-serrated”, language frequently used to describe the beak of Generation 1 [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 66 - Blitzwing calls Lugnut a “five-eyed, no-brained, flying purple people eater,” paraphrasing the 1958 Sheb Wooley song, “Purple People Eater”.
* Pg 82 – Starscream's first sycophantic clone is given the numerical designation [[Clone number 2716057|#2716057]], the serial number of hard-drinking robot Bender from ''[[Wikipedia:Futurama|Futurama]]''. The first cowardly clone, meanwhile, is marked [[Clone number 3370318|#3370318]], the serial number of Bender's identical duplicate, Flexo.

==Chapter 3 - Humans==
Character models and the occasional background image for the major humans of Animated.
{{collist|3|
*[[Sari Sumdac]] by Bulkhead
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] by Megatron
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Carmine Fanzone]] by Sari
*The [[Angry Archer]] by Swindle
*[[Professor Princess|Professor Penny Princess, PhD]] by Sari
*[[Nanosec]] by Slo-Mo
*[[Slo-Mo]] by Nanosec
*[[Headmaster (Animated)|The Headmaster]] by Bulkhead
*[[Meltdown (Animated)|Meltdown]] by Blackarachnia
*[[Colossus Rhodes]] by Meltdown
*[[Fusion creature]]s
**[[Fusion creature|BAT-MONSTER]] by Grimlock
**The [[Fusion creature|Seafood Louis creature]] by Fanzone
*[[Master Disaster (Animated)|Master Disaster]] by Blurr
*[[Street Demon]] by Bulkhead
**[[Ming-Li]] and [[Roxy Sparkles]] by Sari
**[[Shana Story]] and [[Solon Kitakaze (Animated)|Solon Kitakaze]] by Bumblebee
*[[Porter C. Powell]] by Headmaster
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 94 – Swindle plans to imitate [[Angry Archer]]'s antiquated dialect to help facilitate his next deal with the [[Darkling Lord]]s of [[Prysmos]]. This is a reference to the 1987 Hasbro toyline, [[Visionaries]]; Prysmos was the planet upon which that series was set, and the Darkling Lords were the villains of the franchise. Visionaries was also a back-up strip for the UK Marvel Transformers comics.
* Pg 101 – The name of Prometheus Black's company is given as [[Biotech Unbound]], referring to the Greek poem, “Prometheus Unbound”, which was also the title of a ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Prometheus Unbound|episode]].
*Pg 103 – In the ''Animated'' cartoon, the bat-monster is noted as having formerly been Meltdown's lawyer. Here, Captain Fanzone notes that the shark-monster was his stock broker. In addition, he calls it a "[[Seafood Louis]] creature", and claims that it "kicks some serious fin," one of the multiple catchphrases of the cartoon series [[Wikipedia:Street Sharks|''Street Sharks'']].
* Pg 105 – [[Solon Kitakaze (Animated)|Solon Kitakaze]] is named after [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Solon Kitakaze (Victory)|cyborg son]] from the infamously kooky ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|manga]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 97 – [[Slo-Mo]] is here given the first name of Samantha, and on pg 143, the surname of Lomow. So hey, it turns out that her real name is the same as Hasbro Senior Vice President of Global Marketing [[Samantha Lomow]], on whom she was based.
* Pg 105 – [[Ming-Li]] is named after author Jim Sorenson's wife, Ming-Li Wang. [[Shana Story]] is named for a friend of author Bill Forster, Shana Storey, who is credited in the acknowledgments section of their previous book, ''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]''.
* Pg 106 – Porter C. Powell's limousine is branded as a "TUX model", named for the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBot]] it was designed to resemble.

===Errors===
* Page 85: The "d" is left out of "Powdered Sugar."

==Chapter 4 - Events==
The episodes and comic stories that make up the primary Animated continuity, in order.
{{collist|2|
*[[Transform and Roll Out]] as three Autobot Incident Reports by Optimus Prime and a page from Isaac Sumdac's journal
*[[Dispatches]] as musings from [[Vector Prime]]
*[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Total Meltdown]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Blast from the Past]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[The Arrival issue 4#.22A Few Loose Strands.22|A Few Loose Strands]] as [[Venus (magazine)|Venus]], the trans-dimensional magazine for Decepti-femmes
*[[The Thrill of the Hunt]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Ratchet
*[[The Arrival issue 5|The Arrival #5]] as a page from Swindle's ledger and an evaluation form
*[[Nanosec (episode)|Nanosec]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Along Came a Spider]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 2#.22Whatever Happened To Whatisname.3F.22|Whatever Happened To Whatisname?]] as a page from Professor Princess' [['Lil Spoiled Brat|diary]]
*[[Sound and Fury]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 2#.22Attention Surplus Disorder.22|Attention Surplus Disorder]] as two pages from the [[Detroit Powell Press]]
*[[Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found]] as Lugnut's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[The Arrival issue 3|The Arrival #3]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Survival of the Fittest]] as a police report from Captain Fanzone
*[[Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 4#.22The Insincerest Form of Flattery.22|The Insincerest Form of Flattery]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Bulkhead
*[[Nature Calls]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Prowl
*[[Megatron Rising - Part 1]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Elite Guard]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Return of the Headmaster]] as Sentinel Prime's private journal and a letter from Sari to her absent father
*[[Mission Accomplished]] as Megatron's Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]] as a box of [[Garbage O's]] cereal
*[[Velocity]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Bumblebee
*[[Rise of the Constructicons]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[A Fistful of Energon]] as Starscream's Internal Log
*[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]] as excerpts from interrogations conducted by Captain Fanzone
*[[Autoboot Camp]] as Shockwave's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[First (and Second) in Flight]] as a page from Ultra Magnus's memoirs
*[[Black Friday (episode)|Black Friday]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Sari, No One's Home]] as a letter from Sari to her absent father
*[[A Bridge Too Close, Part I]] as Megatron's Internal Log
*[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
}}

===Transformers references===
*Pg 112 – An observation of the events of the [[Dispatches|first issue]] of the Animated comic by the trans-dimensional [[Vector Prime]]. He uses the aforementioned Universal Stream classification system to catalog this manuscript, identifying the Animated cartoon universe as “Malgus 1207.26 Alpha”. The designation is later used again on pg 117.
* Pg 116 - Presumably, the trans-dimensional magazine [[Venus (magazine)|Venus]] is named for Beast Wars [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia's]] voice actor, [[Venus Terzo]]. Whatever currency its cover price is in, it's represented with a “B” in Predacon Cybertronix! Blackarachnia wears the crown, shoulderpads and cape donned by Generation 1 Starscream for his coronation in [[The Transformers: The Movie]]. References on the cover include:
:*“Sparkmate” is a term used in the N64 ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game, to describe Tigatron and Airazor's romantic bond.
:*[[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]] is the title of a ''Beast Wars'' episode.
:*Readers are invited to compare several pairs of Decepticon and Predacon fembots:
:**[[Clio]] is a Decepticon [[Powermaster]] mentioned by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in the letters page of issue #315 of Marvel UK's Generation 1 comic. She is pitted against [[Lyzack]], sister of Decepticon Breastforce warrior [[Leozack]], who appears in the final issue of the Victory manga.
:**[[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] is a Beast Wars McDonalds Happy Meal figure, who was established as being female by IDW Publishing's Beast Wars Sourcebook. She is up against the equally aquatic [[Scylla]], from [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]].
:**[[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] and [[Nightracer (G2)|Nightracer]] are both BotCon [[exclusive]] female Decepticons, from 2005 and 1995, respectively. The match-up has a deeper meaning; Nightracer was created by notorious Decepticon fan [[Raksha]], and some fans believe that Flamewar's personality is based on Raksha, though her creator [[Ben Yee]] denies it.
:*''Revenge of the Fallen'''s Pretender [[Alice]] teaches readers how to disarm a [[foldspace warhead]], a weapon which appears in the second issue of the UK's 2007 live-action movie comic.
:*The magazine's gossip columnist is [[Freezon]], the Decepticon car included with Tyco's Transformers Electric Racing Set released in the 1980s. She is dishing the dirt on Lugnut and [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]'s relationship, which was established in Strika's profile, published in issue #24 of the Transformers Collectors Club Official Magazine.
:*[[Beta Maxx]] is the partner of BotCon 2007 exclusive [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]], while [[Caliburn]] is partnered with 2004 exclusive, [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]]. The cover identifies them as Mini-Cons, despite the fact that no previous writing has ever done so (Caliburn is explicitly a [[Micromaster]], while Beta Maxx has only been referred to as an Autobot). Funnily enough, in late 2008, author Jim Sorenson was involved in an argument on the Transformers Wiki about Beta Maxx being a Mini-Con... hmmmn. Anyway, they're talking to Cybertron [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]].
* Pg 119a – Most of the weapons Swindle sells Lugnut and Blitzwing, and the planets he gets them from, are established, if obscure, Transformers items and locales. Most of them were named in the comic story this page covers, "[[The Arrival issue 5#Everything Must Go|Everything Must Go]]", but a few more things are named here. The full list includes:
:*An [[anti-gravity gun|anti-gravity cannon]] from the planet [[Andellor]].
:*A [[triple crusher cannon]] from the planet Talos Four (probably derived from a mistake on TFWIKI.Net, which misspelled [[Taros Four]] in this manner for a time).
:*A decompression pump from [[Torkulon]].
:*[[Glass gas]] and a [[Digital Impact Mace]] (the weapon of choice of [[BotCon 2000]] exclusive toy [[Apelinq]]) from the planet [[Darhos]].
:*Super glue from the [[Menonia]].
:*An [[omega bomb]] from [[Ganzvort]].
:*Two [[Nemesis Shield]]s from [[Garro|Garo]] and [[Comb|Com]].
:*A [[Chaosmaster Bomb]] from [[Xeptos]].
:*Circuitry repair patches from [[Cheyne]].
* Pg 119b – Optimus's evaluation form is rendered in the style of classic Transformers [[Tech Spec]]s, but not any one particular design. The training exercise from the comic story “Survival Skills” is revealed to have taken place on [[Kaiba-5]].
* Pg 124-125 The article text of the Detroit Powell Press included in the AllSpark Almanac contain numerous references.
:*[[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] was a journalist who appeared in a three-part story in Marvel UK's Generation 1 comic.
:*[[Quake-Maker]] is a supervillain from the UK's Animated comic.
:*The [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]] is a human criminal who battled the Autobots in two issues of the Marvel's original Generation 1 comic.
:*The [[Jack Boys]] are a motorcycle gang from the ''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon.
:*[[Jake Lomax]] is a mob boss from issue #13 of Marvel's Generation 1 comic.
:*[[Jacob Lee Bonaventure]] is an industrialist from IDW's ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' mini-series.

:The sidebar on the page also makes numerous references:
:*“Defensor United” refers, of course, to the Generation 1 [[Defensor (G1)|Protectobot combiner]], but more specifically to the recurring discussions of [[Mecha-soccer]] in the Marvel UK comic's letters page, where Defensor United played in the Cybertron Premier Division. The team is thrashed by real-life football team West Ham at [[Tigatron Stadium]], the venue named for the [[Tigatron|Beast Wars character]], which appeared in the Animated episode "[[Five Servos of Doom]]".
:*In the Animated universe, the Generation 1 Decepticon ally, mad scientist [[Doctor Arkeville]], is the surgeon general! He recommends [[Ding Dong]]s (favored by the [[President of the United States]] in the live-action movie!) as a cure for the [[Hate Plague]], a rage-inciting disease that appeared in the Generation 1 two-part episode, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]".
:*Racing queen [[Junko Shiragami]] is a human female from the ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toyline (who was in turn based upon [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''). Here, she is dating scientist [[Michael Avery]], who appeared in the 2007 movie prequel novel, [[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday]].
:*Street Demon racer Roxy Sparkles (earlier named on page 105) is here noted to be a member of the band [[Purple Fungus]], who were a favorite of [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] in the Find Your Fate Junior novel, "[[Attack of the Insecticons]]".
:*"Princess Ringo" was the nickname by which ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' character [[Ringo Chikuma]] preferred to be known. Here, she has recently visited [[Mont Porte]], the country that is home to the ''Super-God Masterforce'' Headmaster Junior [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]].

:Adverts refer to:
:*[[Dancitron]], a musical event named for a dance club from the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Auto-Bop]]". Cold Slither is playing here, a band from the G.I. Joe cartoon episode of the same name, created as part of an evil Cobra plot. The piece of music composed as their [[Cold Slither (song)|signature tune]] was used as incidental music in several Transformers episodes.
:*Wyatt Toys, the toy store named after Animated art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] which appears in several episodes of the cartoon. The advert notes that the store sells [[Diaclone]] and [[Microman]] figures, the two toylines that were Transformers' progenitors.
:*Roadhog Horton's Motorcycle Show, named after [[Randy Horton|Randy "Roadhog" Horton]], a member of the bounty-hunting motorcyclist [[Roadjammers]] from [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|issue #46]] of the Marvel Generation 1 comic. His show also features autograph signings from Rorza, a reference to the [[Rorza, the Rocket-cycle Racer from Rigel III|Rocket-Cycle Racer from Rigel III]] of the same name from issue #44.
:*A horror movie named “[[Monster from Mars]]”, an elaborate reference to the movie of the same name that was the central plot element of "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]", issue #45 of the Marvel comic. In said issue, Decepticon Pretender [[Skullgrin]] starred in the title role; this poster features a monster designed to look like Skullgrin in the style of Meltdown's [[fusion creature]]s, in reference to the fact that Skullgrin's fellow Pretenders [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] were the base for the two fusion creatures in the cartoon. In both the original comic and this version, the movie is directed by [[Rollie Friendly]] and stars [[Jake Colton]] and [[Carissa Carr]]; this version also adds [[Karen Fishook]], an actress from the Generation 1 cartoon episode, "[[Hoist Goes Hollywood]]". The movie's soundtrack is by the [[High Rollahz]], a band featured in ''[[The Transformers Trilogy]]'' novel, ''[[Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired]]''.

* Pg 127 – Unnamed in the original comic "[[The Arrival issue 3#"'Bots of Science"|'Bots of Science]]", Ratchet here notes that he has dubbed the cure for Cosmic Rust "[[Corrostop]]". Its ingredients include [[Ingredient X]] and [[razon gas]].
* Pg 134 – The [[Sigma Supreme|Elite Guard ship]] is here given the name ''[[Steelhaven]]''.
* Pg 136 – Sari's notebook paper is decorated with an illustration of "Hello [[Nekomimi A and Nekomimi B|Nekomimi]] Pop-Star", a chibified, "Hello Kitty"-style version of Nekomimi A from the Energon episode, "[[Distribution]]". Nekomimi B appears on pg 147 in a similar fashion.
* Pg 138-139
:*The brand of the tire in the logo is [[Wheeljack's workshop|Wheeljack]] Tyres!

:*In the “fueltritional facts” box alone, there are references to:
:**mercury sauce, a favorite of the [[Mecannibal]]s from the Marvel Generation 1 comic
:**[[Rarified Energon]], introduced in the Transformers Collectors Club magazine storyline, [[Crossing Over]]
:**[[Energon Z]] from [[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone]]
:**budianskium basil (referring to Transformers writer [[Bob Budiansky]])
:**grated gears (a serving suggestion for ants by Beast Wars [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] in [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]])
:**janick [[jaAm]] (see below.)

:*The word jumble unscrambles to read “You lived like a warrior ans died to an hero”, an infamous quote from the late-1990s fanfic by MG-Dinobot, “Dinobot's Old Technology”, which was itself a misquote from the Beast Wars episode "[[Code of Hero]]". The quote went on to become one of the most famous online memes from that era of Transformers [[fandom]].
:**The answer at the bottom of the page, however, claims it actually says “WhY mY ShOuldErs hUrT?”, a tortured quote from British fan Blueshift's [[JaAm|famous re-scripting]] of the first Armada pack-in mini-comic. This was also the source of the above-mentioned “jaAm” line, which was since been immortalized on the license plate and packaging bio of the 2009 Universe Hot Shot figure.

:*Illustration B in the “spot the difference” puzzle is, of course, Generation 1 [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock's]] [[character model]].

* Pg 145 – Ultra Magnus's memoir is prefaced with a haiku from "[[Sky-Byte (Animated)|Sky-Byte]], Decepticon poet", referencing the loveable haiku-writing [[Predacon (RID)|Predacon]] [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''. He has to be a Decepticon here, of course, because there are no Predacons in the ''Animated'' universe. In the course of this page, Magnus mentions [[mitotic spark]]s and the [[Angarrix sector|Angarix Sector]], a region of space introduced in the Generation 1 episode "[[The Quintesson Journal]]".
* Pg 148 – Megatron refers to the act of [[branding]] the Constructicons with the Decepticon symbol as the "[[Rite of the Deceptibrand]]," after the Autobot equivalent, the "[[Rite of the Autobrand]]".

===Real-world references===
{{Main|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac/Events Real-world references}}

===Errors===
* Page 117: Blackarachnia is spelled "Blacharachnia"
* Page 133: "...have tried harder to recruit the Dinobots as allies, but I was so angry at Prowl's deception that I..." is repeated immediately following the first use in the third paragraph.
* Page 145: The "c" is left out of "First (and Second) in Flight."

==Chapter 5 - Culture==
A catch-all for other aspects of Animated including ships, monsters and customs.
{{collist|3|
*The [[AllSpark]] by Optimus Prime
*Autobot Cybertronian forms by Ultra Magnus
*Decepticon Cybertronian forms by Starscream
*The [[Death's Head (Animated)|Death's Head]] by Lockdown
*[[Emergency shuttle|Autobot Shuttle]] by Blitzwing
*[[Automaton|Sumdac robots]] by Porter C. Powell
*Bulkhead's Art by Ratchet, Optimus Prime and Sari
*[[Halloween]] by Bulkhead and Bumblebee
*[[Space barnacle]]s by Sari
*[[Nanite|Nanobots]] by Ratchet
*The Media by Soundwave
*[[Ability|Powers]] by Prowl
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 161 – Starscream uses the expression “a few [[lipole]]s short of a nest”, referring to the metal-eating bat-creatures native to Jupiter's moon [[Io]], from the Generation 1 multi-part episode, [[Five Faces of Darkness]].
* Pg 164 – Lockdown's spaceship is named the ''[[Death's Head (Animated)|Death's Head]]'', after a certain [[Death's Head (G1)|freelance peacekeeping agent]], yes? It has been upgraded using parts obtained from the planets [[Jörmungandr]] and [[Taxxon]], and the [[Jabbi-Ko]] aliens, outfitted with Vandarian holographic technology (from the same planet as the [[Vandarian fuzz-worm]]s) and [[cybertitanium]] cables (among other items mentioned below as they're non-''Transformers'' references).
* Pg 170 – Bulkhead describes candy as being like [[Ultra-Energon]] for kids.
* Pg 174 – Newscaster [[Lester Black]] is revealed to be the great-nephew of [[Hector Ramirez (Animated)|Hector Ramirez]], a callback to the [[Hector Ramirez (G1)|Generation 1 news reporter of the same name]] (who was actually unnamed in his one ''Transformers'' cartoon appearance).

===Real-world references===
* Pg 164 – Lockdown's spaceship used to be an “IG-2000” class ship, referring to the [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] ship that bore that name. It is outfitted with Deckard cannons (named for Rick Deckard from ''Blade Runner''), Samus-blasters (named for Samus Aran from the ''Metroid'' series), and isomorphic controls preventing anyone other than Lockdown from piloting it, as does Doctor Who's TARDIS. Lockdown rounds out the paragraph by saying “a bot's got to know his limitations”, paraphrasing Clint Eastwood in ''Magnum Force''.
* Pg 165 - “A three hour tour!” cackles Blitzwing, quoting the theme tune of ''Gilligan's Island''.
*Pg 170/171 - Among the [[Halloween]] costumes are a [http://ghostbusters.wikia.com/wiki/Samhain Samhain], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless_Horseman Headless Horseman], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Samurai#Afro_Samurai Afro Samurai], [[Destro]], [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|General Hawk]].

==Chapter 6 - Detroit==
People, places and things in and about Detroit.
{{collist|3|
*[[Augustus Edsel|Detroit's Leadership]] by Sentinel Prime
*Buildings by Jazz
*[[Blackwater Prison]] by Captain Fanzone
*Solar Fusion by Porter C. Powell
*[[Human|Organic Inhabitants]] by Sentinel Prime
*Emergency Responders by Captain Fanzone
*Earth Vehicles by Jazz
*Stupid Organics (i.e. animals) by Sentinel Prime
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 178 – [[Augustus Edsel|Mayor Edsel]] is revealed to be the nephew of famous actor [[Harold Edsel (Animated)|Harold Edsel]].
* Pg 183 – The [[Sidney Biggles-Jones Memorial Solar Fusion Plant]] is named after the [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|scientist]] from the Marvel Comics ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' / ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' crossover. The other scientists named as working on solar fusion, [[Brian Jones (Animated)|Brian Jones]], [[Daichi Onishi]], [[Peter Morris]], and [[Felix Adle]], are named after (respectively) [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Jones]] from ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', Doctor [[Kenneth Onishi]], [[Peter Anthony Morris|Professor Morris]] and [[Adle|Professor Adle]].
* Pg 185 - [[Bobby Bolivia|Uncle Bobby B]], baby. Uncle Bobby B.

===Real-world references===
* Pg 189 – [[Jeff Litvack]] is a friend of Jim Sorenson's, who he credits in the acknowledgments of this book. [[Krista Kohlhausen]] is Bill Forster's "favorite person", according to the acknowledgments of ''[[Transformers: The Ark]]''.

==Chapter 7 - Settings==
Background pictures and associated character models from the first two seasons of Animated.
{{collist|3|
*[[Autobot Earth Base]] by Bulkhead
*[[Decepticon Earth Base (Animated)|Decepticon Earth Base]] by Mixmaster and Scrapper
*[[Sumdac Systems]] by Isaac Sumdac
*[[Nemesis (Animated)|The Nemesis]] by Blackarachnia
*[[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] by Prowl
*[[Meltdown's Subterranean Lab]] by Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes
*[[Archa Seven]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Autobot boot camp]] by Ultra Magnus
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 200 – The generic Sumdac Systems technicians are named [[Eddie Fairchild and Matt Conroy]]. These are the names of two prototypical characters who existed in the development phase of the Generation 1 cartoon, who eventually evolved into [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Chip Chase]].
* Pg 203 – Noted architect George R. Apple. [[Grapple|G.R.Apple]]? Anybody? Anybody? C'mooon!
* Pg 206 – The [[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]] is equipped with a Grand Mal class force field, named after the [[Grand Mal]], the giant fortress-cum-giant head occupied by Beast Wars [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] in the latter stages of the Beast Machines cartoon. It has a cybertroid alloy star drive (just like the Generation 1 [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]], as mentioned in the G1 episode [[Microbots]]), and has the most sophisticated sensor array this side of the [[Eshems Nebula]], a region of space introduced in IDW Publishing's live-action movie-based [[Transformers: Defiance]] series.
* Pg 207 – To escape the damaged Nemesis, the Decepticons used Devolan escape pods. The planet [[Dabola|Devola]] was the site of a huge victory for the Decepticon [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] in the Armada universe.
* Pg 211 – The crashed Decepticon ship on Archa Seven is named the [[Twilight (Animated)|Twilight]], after the [[Twilight (G2)|flagship]] from the Marvel Generation 2 comics.

==Interstitials==
The only place in the book where out-of-universe is presented, the interstitial pages covered divergent continuities as well as select aspects of the animation process. These appears at the end of a chapter.

{{collist|3|
*Chapter 1: Lighting
*Chapter 2: Transformations
*Chapter 3: Opening Credits
*Chapter 4: Titan Magazine
*Chapter 5: Design Evolution
*Chapter 6: Bee in the City
*Chapter 7: Backgrounds
}}

==Literary elements==
Including the copyright information, title page, foreword and afterwords, notes from the authors and acknowledgments.

===Transformers references===
* Pg 9a – [[Jim Sorenson (Animated)|Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster (Animated)|Bill Forster]] hail from [[universal stream]] Quadwal -3760.925 Theta. Universal streams are a means of classifying the numerous Transformers universes devised by authors [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]], which first appeared in the Transformers Collectors Club story, [[Withered Hope]]. This particular classification, however, makes no sense, save for the “Theta” suffix, which indicates a “spoken word” or “live performance” scenario. The “-” sign also indicates they're from a reverse parallel universe, akin to the Shattered Glass fiction introduced at [[BotCon 2008]], the only other universal stream to be marked like this. “Don't ask,” the authors say.
** But we're the fraggin' Transformers Wiki, so scrap that "don't ask" stuff. We're nerds, we're gonna do this thing. "Quadwal" is an obvious play on "fourth wall," which is what this universal stream is breaking. September 25, 3760 BC is the first day of the Hebrew calendar, specifically the date some believe Creation began. (So that "-" sign has a double meaning!) So Sorenson and Forster hail from the Real Life Universe, or the negative universe version of it, hence why they are incarcerated criminals.
* Pg 9b – The Reverse-Pretender technology used by Sorenson and Forster is a reference to several 1980s Transformers toy [[commercial]]s, which featured a child leaping into the air and transforming into Ultra Magnus.
* Pg 215 - Marty Isenberg mentions a [[GEEWUN|certain group of fans]], canonizing yet another fan-made term.

===Errors===
* Page 2: In the indicia, the latter "r" is left out of "characters".

==External links==
*[http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/digipedia/annotated_almanac.html The Annotated AllSpark Almanac], listing all the hidden references in the book

{{DEFAULTSORT:Animated: The Allspark Almanac}}
[[Category:Animated books|Allspark Almanac]]
[[Category: IDW titles]]
[[Category: Reference texts]]

Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac

2013-08-19T20:26:46Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Transformers references */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac''
|image=Allsparkalmanaccover.jpg
|caption=[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]'s going to have his hands full cleaning these two up.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|written by=[[Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster]]
|date=[[August 19]], [[2009]]
|illustrated by=
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]
|pagecount=220
|price=$19.99 USD
|next=Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II
|ISBN=ISBN 1600104878 
ISBN 978-1600104879
}}

{{bigquote|What a brilliant book! Probably the best I've ever read, human or Cybertronian. I can't recommend it strongly enough!|[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], the rear cover of The AllSpark Almanac}}

'''''Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac''''' is a <s>lusty</s> happy love-letter written to {{SITENAME}} for our carnal pleasure.

''The AllSpark Almanac'' is an encyclopedic examination of the entire ''Transformers Animated'' storyline universe. It presents exhaustively thorough character profiles and summaries of the first two seasons of the cartoon and the ''Animated [[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|Arrival]]'' comic book...''all written completely in-universe'', in the form of "interviews" with the characters or excerpts from their journals and other in-story media.

"Interstitial" interludes are presented out-of-universe and describe the design process behind the art, animation, and locations, as well as brief story summaries of the [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Titan Magazines]] ''Animated'' issues. Elements of toy design are covered as well, but comparatively briefly.

There are also an ''insane'' number of [[easter egg|obscure references]] to Transformers minutiae culled from the 25-year history of the [[Transformers brand|brand]], as well as other sci-fi and entertainment franchises as well. Basically, ''all'' proper nouns and names refer to something or someone, even if that someone is a possibly non-existent character only mentioned once in a letters page of a foreign comic. And that's before we start talking about the ''numbers'': Almost every seemingly incongruous alphanumeric string is a reference to another franchise, be it a ''Star Trek'' stardate or a Terminator's official designation. And that's just the content in English—about a third of the book's pages have large stretches covered in [[Cybertronix]]. Deciphered, these are all revealed to be non-Transformers-related passages, including song lyrics, catchphrases, memes, map coordinates and extensive, verbatim quotes from diverse sources ranging from Tennyson's ''Ulysses'' to ''Max Headroom''. In particular, the book has a noticeable number of hidden references to [[wikipedia: Iron Maiden|Iron Maiden]], courtesy of author Bill Forster, a massive fan of the band.

A [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|sequel]] was published in late June 2010.

==Contents==
*Foreword, by [[Derrick J. Wyatt]]
*Introduction, by the authors
*Interstitial A: ''[[Transformers Hero]]''
*Chapter 1: [[Autobot]]s
*Interstitial B: Lighting
*Chapter 2: [[Decepticon]]s
*Interstitial C: [[Transformation]]s
*Chapter 3: [[Human]]s
*Interstitial D: Opening Credits
*Chapter 4: Events
*Interstitial E: [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Titan Magazines]]
*Chapter 5: Culture
*Interstitial F: Design Evolution
*Chapter 6: [[Detroit]]
*Interstitial G: [[Bee in the City]]
*Chapter 7: Settings
*Interstitial H: Backgrounds
*Afterword, by [[Marty Isenberg]]
*A Word from [[Hasbro]]
*Acknowledgments

==Chapter 1 - Autobots==
Chapter one covers all Autobots who appear in the first two seasons of the cartoon.

{{collist|3|
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] by Ultra Magnus
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] by Lockdown
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] by Captain Fanzone
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] by Bulkhead
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] by Sari
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] by Optimus Prime
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] by Bumblebee
*[[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] by Blackarachnia
**[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]
**[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]]
**[[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]]
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] by Ratchet
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] by Bulkhead
*[[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] by Ratchet
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] by Bumblebee
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]] by Bumblebee
*[[Wasp]] by Shockwave
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] by Ratchet}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 15 – [[Optimus Prime (Animated) | Optimus Prime]]'s axe is identified as a [[Solitarium]] ultra-axe.
* Pg 20a – As mentioned in his tech spec, [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] is a [[Protihex Medical Mechanics University|Protihex Medical Mechanical graduate]].
* Pg 20b – [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] refers to Ratchet with the nickname “Cool Hand Lube”, an epithet coined for [[Ratchet (G1)|the original Ratchet]].
* Pg 34 – Unnamed in the ''Animated'' cartoon, the alien planet visited by the young Optimus, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] populated by giant spiders is here given the name [[Archa Seven]]. Presumably, this puts it in the same system as [[Akalo|Archa Nine]].
* Pg 35 – Sentinel Prime's [[Skyboom (Animated)|shield]] is dubbed a [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom shield]].
* Pg 44 – Ratchet recalls an old flame from [[Crystal City]].
* Pg 55 – [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme's]] profile contains numerous references.
:The language describing Omega's strength deliberately hearkens back to Generation 1 [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega's]] Transformers Universe profile, describing how he can pulverize “steel cubes” of impressive volume and hit diminutive items from a great distance with his head cannon. Numerous Cybertronian units of [[:Category:Measurements|measurement]] are used in the process; Omega is said to be able to lift 600,000 kilo-units (a measurement used by [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] in the ''Animated'' episode "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]"); the dimensions of the aforementioned cube are given in mechanometers (used in the Generation 1 episode "[[City of Steel]]" and mentioned twice more in the book); and the distance at which he can blast a small object is given in hics (from the Marvel UK 1991 annual story "[[The Magnificent Six!]]" and used once more in the book).
:Omega is also noted to be armed with concussion blasters (the personal weapon of Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]), pulsar bombs (used by the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]] on two occasions in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] cartoon), quasar beams (Generation 2 [[Blowout]] and Beast Wars [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] both wielded quasar cannons), friction cannons (G1 [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] was armed with a friction blaster) and aquasting missiles (weapon of choice of the Beast Wars Fuzor [[Injector]]).
:And finally, Omega has armor enhanced with [[rheanimum]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 46 – Ratchet speculates that Wreck-Gar must have “27,000 gags” hidden in his trash bin. The number 27 is a running gag in [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s songs... Al, of course, being the voice actor who played Wreck-Gar.

===Errors===
* Page 33: The [[Magnus Hammer]] is referred to as a "Storm'''breaker'''" hammer instead of "Storm'''bringer'''," a previously-given name for the weapon.

==Chapter 2 - Decepticons==
Character models for all Decepticons who appeared in Animated seasons one and two.
{{collist|3|
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] by Lugnut
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] by Optimus Prime
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] by Blitzwing
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] by Lugnut
*[[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] by Bulkhead
**[[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]
**[[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] by Megatron
*[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] by The Angry Archer
*[[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] by Sari
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] by himself
*[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] by Thundercracker
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] by Ramjet
*[[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] by Sunstorm
*[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] by Skywarp
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] by Slipstream
*[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] by Prowl
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 60 – Mentioned here and restated on pg 127, Megatron's swords are forged from [[tironium]]. As noted in his tech specs, his armor can deflect anti-proton lasers.
* Pg 66 – As on his toy packaging, Lugnut is referred to with the nickname "The [[Kaon]] Krusher".
* Pg 74 – Shockwave's cannon can fire blasts from anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum, just like Generation 1 [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] could.
* Pg 77 – Swindle's gyro gun and scatter blaster are named after the weapons of the original Generation 1 [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].
* Pg 81 – Starscream claims to be the handsomest 'bot "this side of the [[Benzuli Expanse]]".
* Pg 83-84 – Having gone unnamed in the Animated cartoon, [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] and [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] were all given names and powers derived from their Generation 1 counterparts when they were released as toys. The liar and female clones did not get toys, but ''The AllSpark Almanac'' carries on the trend; the liar clone is named [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] and is noted to have a reinforced nosecone for mid-air collisions, while the female clone gets the brand new name of [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] (which was previously revealed at [[BotCon 2009]]).
* Pg 88 – Numerous weapons used by Lockdown in the cartoon are here given the names of similar weapons from other corners of the Transformers multiverse. He is armed with [[Sleep Net]]s (from the Generation 1 coloring book ''[[Bumblebee to the Rescue!]]''), [[nova spray]], and a [[lightning whip]]. His chainsaw is also described as being “micro-serrated”, language frequently used to describe the beak of Generation 1 [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 66 - Blitzwing calls Lugnut a “five-eyed, no-brained, flying purple people eater,” paraphrasing the 1958 Sheb Wooley song, “Purple People Eater”.
* Pg 82 – Starscream's first sycophantic clone is given the numerical designation [[Clone number 2716057|#2716057]], the serial number of hard-drinking robot Bender from ''[[Wikipedia:Futurama|Futurama]]''. The first cowardly clone, meanwhile, is marked [[Clone number 3370318|#3370318]], the serial number of Bender's identical duplicate, Flexo.

==Chapter 3 - Humans==
Character models and the occasional background image for the major humans of Animated.
{{collist|3|
*[[Sari Sumdac]] by Bulkhead
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] by Megatron
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Carmine Fanzone]] by Sari
*The [[Angry Archer]] by Swindle
*[[Professor Princess|Professor Penny Princess, PhD]] by Sari
*[[Nanosec]] by Slo-Mo
*[[Slo-Mo]] by Nanosec
*[[Headmaster (Animated)|The Headmaster]] by Bulkhead
*[[Meltdown (Animated)|Meltdown]] by Blackarachnia
*[[Colossus Rhodes]] by Meltdown
*[[Fusion creature]]s
**[[Fusion creature|BAT-MONSTER]] by Grimlock
**The [[Fusion creature|Seafood Louis creature]] by Fanzone
*[[Master Disaster (Animated)|Master Disaster]] by Blurr
*[[Street Demon]] by Bulkhead
**[[Ming-Li]] and [[Roxy Sparkles]] by Sari
**[[Shana Story]] and [[Solon Kitakaze (Animated)|Solon Kitakaze]] by Bumblebee
*[[Porter C. Powell]] by Headmaster
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 94 – Swindle plans to imitate [[Angry Archer]]'s antiquated dialect to help facilitate his next deal with the [[Darkling Lord]]s of [[Prysmos]]. This is a reference to the 1987 Hasbro toyline, [[Visionaries]]; Prysmos was the planet upon which that series was set, and the Darkling Lords were the villains of the franchise. Visionaries was also a back-up strip for the UK Marvel Transformers comics.
* Pg 101 – The name of Prometheus Black's company is given as [[Biotech Unbound]], referring to the Greek poem, “Prometheus Unbound”, which was also the title of a ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Prometheus Unbound|episode]].
*Pg 103 – In the ''Animated'' cartoon, the bat-monster is noted as having formerly been Meltdown's lawyer. Here, Captain Fanzone notes that the shark-monster was his stock broker. In addition, he calls it a "[[Seafood Louis]] creature", and claims that it "kicks some serious fin," one of the multiple catchphrases of the cartoon series [[Wikipedia:Street Sharks|''Street Sharks'']].
* Pg 105 – [[Solon Kitakaze (Animated)|Solon Kitakaze]] is named after [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Solon Kitakaze (Victory)|cyborg son]] from the infamously kooky ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|manga]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 97 – [[Slo-Mo]] is here given the first name of Samantha, and on pg 143, the surname of Lomow. So hey, it turns out that her real name is the same as Hasbro Senior Vice President of Global Marketing [[Samantha Lomow]], on whom she was based.
* Pg 105 – [[Ming-Li]] is named after author Jim Sorenson's wife, Ming-Li Wang. [[Shana Story]] is named for a friend of author Bill Forster, Shana Storey, who is credited in the acknowledgments section of their previous book, ''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]''.
* Pg 106 – Porter C. Powell's limousine is branded as a "TUX model", named for the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBot]] it was designed to resemble.

===Errors===
* Page 85: The "d" is left out of "Powdered Sugar."

==Chapter 4 - Events==
The episodes and comic stories that make up the primary Animated continuity, in order.
{{collist|2|
*[[Transform and Roll Out]] as three Autobot Incident Reports by Optimus Prime and a page from Isaac Sumdac's journal
*[[Dispatches]] as musings from [[Vector Prime]]
*[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Total Meltdown]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Blast from the Past]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[The Arrival issue 4#.22A Few Loose Strands.22|A Few Loose Strands]] as [[Venus (magazine)|Venus]], the trans-dimensional magazine for Decepti-femmes
*[[The Thrill of the Hunt]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Ratchet
*[[The Arrival issue 5|The Arrival #5]] as a page from Swindle's ledger and an evaluation form
*[[Nanosec (episode)|Nanosec]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Along Came a Spider]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 2#.22Whatever Happened To Whatisname.3F.22|Whatever Happened To Whatisname?]] as a page from Professor Princess' [['Lil Spoiled Brat|diary]]
*[[Sound and Fury]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 2#.22Attention Surplus Disorder.22|Attention Surplus Disorder]] as two pages from the [[Detroit Powell Press]]
*[[Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found]] as Lugnut's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[The Arrival issue 3|The Arrival #3]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Survival of the Fittest]] as a police report from Captain Fanzone
*[[Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 4#.22The Insincerest Form of Flattery.22|The Insincerest Form of Flattery]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Bulkhead
*[[Nature Calls]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Prowl
*[[Megatron Rising - Part 1]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Elite Guard]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Return of the Headmaster]] as Sentinel Prime's private journal and a letter from Sari to her absent father
*[[Mission Accomplished]] as Megatron's Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]] as a box of [[Garbage O's]] cereal
*[[Velocity]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Bumblebee
*[[Rise of the Constructicons]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[A Fistful of Energon]] as Starscream's Internal Log
*[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]] as excerpts from interrogations conducted by Captain Fanzone
*[[Autoboot Camp]] as Shockwave's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[First (and Second) in Flight]] as a page from Ultra Magnus's memoirs
*[[Black Friday (episode)|Black Friday]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Sari, No One's Home]] as a letter from Sari to her absent father
*[[A Bridge Too Close, Part I]] as Megatron's Internal Log
*[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
}}

===Transformers references===
*Pg 112 – An observation of the events of the [[Dispatches|first issue]] of the Animated comic by the trans-dimensional [[Vector Prime]]. He uses the aforementioned Universal Stream classification system to catalog this manuscript, identifying the Animated cartoon universe as “Malgus 1207.26 Alpha”. The designation is later used again on pg 117.
* Pg 116 - Presumably, the trans-dimensional magazine [[Venus (magazine)|Venus]] is named for Beast Wars [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia's]] voice actor, [[Venus Terzo]]. Whatever currency its cover price is in, it's represented with a “B” in Predacon Cybertronix! Blackarachnia wears the crown, shoulderpads and cape donned by Generation 1 Starscream for his coronation in [[The Transformers: The Movie]]. References on the cover include:
:*“Sparkmate” is a term used in the N64 ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game, to describe Tigatron and Airazor's romantic bond.
:*[[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]] is the title of a ''Beast Wars'' episode.
:*Readers are invited to compare several pairs of Decepticon and Predacon fembots:
:**[[Clio]] is a Decepticon [[Powermaster]] mentioned by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in the letters page of issue #315 of Marvel UK's Generation 1 comic. She is pitted against [[Lyzack]], sister of Decepticon Breastforce warrior [[Leozack]], who appears in the final issue of the Victory manga.
:**[[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] is a Beast Wars McDonalds Happy Meal figure, who was established as being female by IDW Publishing's Beast Wars Sourcebook. She is up against the equally aquatic [[Scylla]], from [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]].
:**[[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] and [[Nightracer (G2)|Nightracer]] are both BotCon [[exclusive]] female Decepticons, from 2005 and 1995, respectively. The match-up has a deeper meaning; Nightracer was created by notorious Decepticon fan [[Raksha]], and some fans believe that Flamewar's personality is based on Raksha, though her creator [[Ben Yee]] denies it.
:*''Revenge of the Fallen'''s Pretender [[Alice]] teaches readers how to disarm a [[foldspace warhead]], a weapon which appears in the second issue of the UK's 2007 live-action movie comic.
:*The magazine's gossip columnist is [[Freezon]], the Decepticon car included with Tyco's Transformers Electric Racing Set released in the 1980s. She is dishing the dirt on Lugnut and [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]'s relationship, which was established in Strika's profile, published in issue #24 of the Transformers Collectors Club Official Magazine.
:*[[Beta Maxx]] is the partner of BotCon 2007 exclusive [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]], while [[Caliburn]] is partnered with 2004 exclusive, [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]]. The cover identifies them as Mini-Cons, despite the fact that no previous writing has ever done so (Caliburn is explicitly a [[Micromaster]], while Beta Maxx has only been referred to as an Autobot). Funnily enough, in late 2008, author Jim Sorenson was involved in an argument on the Transformers Wiki about Beta Maxx being a Mini-Con... hmmmn. Anyway, they're talking to Cybertron [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]].
* Pg 119a – Most of the weapons Swindle sells Lugnut and Blitzwing, and the planets he gets them from, are established, if obscure, Transformers items and locales. Most of them were named in the comic story this page covers, "[[The Arrival issue 5#Everything Must Go|Everything Must Go]]", but a few more things are named here. The full list includes:
:*An [[anti-gravity gun|anti-gravity cannon]] from the planet [[Andellor]].
:*A [[triple crusher cannon]] from the planet Talos Four (probably derived from a mistake on TFWIKI.Net, which misspelled [[Taros Four]] in this manner for a time).
:*A decompression pump from [[Torkulon]].
:*[[Glass gas]] and a [[Digital Impact Mace]] (the weapon of choice of [[BotCon 2000]] exclusive toy [[Apelinq]]) from the planet [[Darhos]].
:*Super glue from the [[Menonia]].
:*An [[omega bomb]] from [[Ganzvort]].
:*Two [[Nemesis Shield]]s from [[Garro|Garo]] and [[Comb|Com]].
:*A [[Chaosmaster Bomb]] from [[Xeptos]].
:*Circuitry repair patches from [[Cheyne]].
* Pg 119b – Optimus's evaluation form is rendered in the style of classic Transformers [[Tech Spec]]s, but not any one particular design. The training exercise from the comic story “Survival Skills” is revealed to have taken place on [[Kaiba-5]].
* Pg 124-125 The article text of the Detroit Powell Press included in the AllSpark Almanac contain numerous references.
:*[[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] was a journalist who appeared in a three-part story in Marvel UK's Generation 1 comic.
:*[[Quake-Maker]] is a supervillain from the UK's Animated comic.
:*The [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]] is a human criminal who battled the Autobots in two issues of the Marvel's original Generation 1 comic.
:*The [[Jack Boys]] are a motorcycle gang from the ''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon.
:*[[Jake Lomax]] is a mob boss from issue #13 of Marvel's Generation 1 comic.
:*[[Jacob Lee Bonaventure]] is an industrialist from IDW's ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' mini-series.

:The sidebar on the page also makes numerous references:
:*“Defensor United” refers, of course, to the Generation 1 [[Defensor (G1)|Protectobot combiner]], but more specifically to the recurring discussions of [[Mecha-soccer]] in the Marvel UK comic's letters page, where Defensor United played in the Cybertron Premier Division. The team is thrashed by real-life football team West Ham at [[Tigatron Stadium]], the venue named for the [[Tigatron|Beast Wars character]], which appeared in the Animated episode "[[Five Servos of Doom]]".
:*In the Animated universe, the Generation 1 Decepticon ally, mad scientist [[Doctor Arkeville]], is the surgeon general! He recommends [[Ding Dong]]s (favored by the [[President of the United States]] in the live-action movie!) as a cure for the [[Hate Plague]], a rage-inciting disease that appeared in the Generation 1 two-part episode, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]".
:*Racing queen [[Junko Shiragami]] is a human female from the ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toyline (who was in turn based upon [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''). Here, she is dating scientist [[Michael Avery]], who appeared in the 2007 movie prequel novel, [[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday]].
:*Street Demon racer Roxy Sparkles (earlier named on page 105) is here noted to be a member of the band [[Purple Fungus]], who were a favorite of [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] in the Find Your Fate Junior novel, "[[Attack of the Insecticons]]".
:*"Princess Ringo" was the nickname by which ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' character [[Ringo Chikuma]] preferred to be known. Here, she has recently visited [[Mont Porte]], the country that is home to the ''Super-God Masterforce'' Headmaster Junior [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]].

:Adverts refer to:
:*[[Dancitron]], a musical event named for a dance club from the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Auto-Bop]]". Cold Slither is playing here, a band from the G.I. Joe cartoon episode of the same name, created as part of an evil Cobra plot. The piece of music composed as their [[Cold Slither (song)|signature tune]] was used as incidental music in several Transformers episodes.
:*Wyatt Toys, the toy store named after Animated art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] which appears in several episodes of the cartoon. The advert notes that the store sells [[Diaclone]] and [[Microman]] figures, the two toylines that were Transformers' progenitors.
:*Roadhog Horton's Motorcycle Show, named after [[Randy Horton|Randy "Roadhog" Horton]], a member of the bounty-hunting motorcyclist [[Roadjammers]] from [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|issue #46]] of the Marvel Generation 1 comic. His show also features autograph signings from Rorza, a reference to the [[Rorza, the Rocket-cycle Racer from Rigel III|Rocket-Cycle Racer from Rigel III]] of the same name from issue #44.
:*A horror movie named “[[Monster from Mars]]”, an elaborate reference to the movie of the same name that was the central plot element of "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]", issue #45 of the Marvel comic. In said issue, Decepticon Pretender [[Skullgrin]] starred in the title role; this poster features a monster designed to look like Skullgrin in the style of Meltdown's [[fusion creature]]s, in reference to the fact that Skullgrin's fellow Pretenders [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] were the base for the two fusion creatures in the cartoon. In both the original comic and this version, the movie is directed by [[Rollie Friendly]] and stars [[Jake Colton]] and [[Carissa Carr]]; this version also adds [[Karen Fishook]], an actress from the Generation 1 cartoon episode, "[[Hoist Goes Hollywood]]". The movie's soundtrack is by the [[High Rollahz]], a band featured in ''[[The Transformers Trilogy]]'' novel, ''[[Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired]]''.

* Pg 127 – Unnamed in the original comic "[[The Arrival issue 3#"'Bots of Science"|'Bots of Science]]", Ratchet here notes that he has dubbed the cure for Cosmic Rust "[[Corrostop]]". Its ingredients include [[Ingredient X]] and [[razon gas]].
* Pg 134 – The [[Sigma Supreme|Elite Guard ship]] is here given the name ''[[Steelhaven]]''.
* Pg 136 – Sari's notebook paper is decorated with an illustration of "Hello [[Nekomimi A and Nekomimi B|Nekomimi]] Pop-Star", a chibified, "Hello Kitty"-style version of Nekomimi A from the Energon episode, "[[Distribution]]". Nekomimi B appears on pg 147 in a similar fashion.
* Pg 138-139
:*The brand of the tire in the logo is [[Wheeljack's workshop|Wheeljack]] Tyres!

:*In the “fueltritional facts” box alone, there are references to:
:**mercury sauce, a favorite of the [[Mecannibal]]s from the Marvel Generation 1 comic
:**[[Rarified Energon]], introduced in the Transformers Collectors Club magazine storyline, [[Crossing Over]]
:**[[Energon Z]] from [[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone]]
:**budianskium basil (referring to Transformers writer [[Bob Budiansky]])
:**grated gears (a serving suggestion for ants by Beast Wars [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] in [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]])
:**janick [[jaAm]] (see below.)

:*The word jumble unscrambles to read “You lived like a warrior ans died to an hero”, an infamous quote from the late-1990s fanfic by MG-Dinobot, “Dinobot's Old Technology”, which was itself a misquote from the Beast Wars episode "[[Code of Hero]]". The quote went on to become one of the most famous online memes from that era of Transformers [[fandom]].
:**The answer at the bottom of the page, however, claims it actually says “WhY mY ShOuldErs hUrT?”, a tortured quote from British fan Blueshift's [[JaAm|famous re-scripting]] of the first Armada pack-in mini-comic. This was also the source of the above-mentioned “jaAm” line, which was since been immortalized on the license plate and packaging bio of the 2009 Universe Hot Shot figure.

:*Illustration B in the “spot the difference” puzzle is, of course, Generation 1 [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock's]] [[character model]].

* Pg 145 – Ultra Magnus's memoir is prefaced with a haiku from "[[Sky-Byte (Animated)|Sky-Byte]], Decepticon poet", referencing the loveable haiku-writing [[Predacon (RID)|Predacon]] [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''. He has to be a Decepticon here, of course, because there are no Predacons in the ''Animated'' universe. In the course of this page, Magnus mentions [[mitotic spark]]s and the [[Angarrix sector|Angarix Sector]], a region of space introduced in the Generation 1 episode "[[The Quintesson Journal]]".
* Pg 148 – Megatron refers to the act of [[branding]] the Constructicons with the Decepticon symbol as the "[[Rite of the Deceptibrand]]," after the Autobot equivalent, the "[[Rite of the Autobrand]]".

===Real-world references===
{{Main|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac/Events Real-world references}}

===Errors===
* Page 117: Blackarachnia is spelled "Blacharachnia"
* Page 133: "...have tried harder to recruit the Dinobots as allies, but I was so angry at Prowl's deception that I..." is repeated immediately following the first use in the third paragraph.
* Page 145: The "c" is left out of "First (and Second) in Flight."

==Chapter 5 - Culture==
A catch-all for other aspects of Animated including ships, monsters and customs.
{{collist|3|
*The [[AllSpark]] by Optimus Prime
*Autobot Cybertronian forms by Ultra Magnus
*Decepticon Cybertronian forms by Starscream
*The [[Death's Head (Animated)|Death's Head]] by Lockdown
*[[Emergency shuttle|Autobot Shuttle]] by Blitzwing
*[[Automaton|Sumdac robots]] by Porter C. Powell
*Bulkhead's Art by Ratchet, Optimus Prime and Sari
*[[Halloween]] by Bulkhead and Bumblebee
*[[Space barnacle]]s by Sari
*[[Nanite|Nanobots]] by Ratchet
*The Media by Soundwave
*[[Ability|Powers]] by Prowl
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 161 – Starscream uses the expression “a few [[lipole]]s short of a nest”, referring to the metal-eating bat-creatures native to Jupiter's moon [[Io]], from the Generation 1 multi-part episode, [[Five Faces of Darkness]].
* Pg 164 – Lockdown's spaceship is named the ''[[Death's Head (Animated)|Death's Head]]'', after a certain [[Death's Head (G1)|freelance peacekeeping agent]], yes? It has been upgraded using parts obtained from the planets [[Jörmungandr]] and [[Taxxon]], and the [[Jabbi-Ko]] aliens, outfitted with Vandarian holographic technology (from the same planet as the [[Vandarian fuzz-worm]]s) and [[cybertitanium]] cables (among other items mentioned below as they're non-''Transformers'' references).
* Pg 170 – Bulkhead describes candy as being like [[Ultra-Energon]] for kids.
* Pg 174 – Newscaster [[Lester Black]] is revealed to be the great-nephew of [[Hector Ramirez (Animated)|Hector Ramirez]], a callback to the [[Hector Ramirez (G1)|Generation 1 news reporter of the same name]] (who was actually unnamed in his one ''Transformers'' cartoon appearance).

===Real-world references===
* Pg 164 – Lockdown's spaceship used to be an “IG-2000” class ship, referring to the [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] ship that bore that name. It is outfitted with Deckard cannons (named for Rick Deckard from ''Blade Runner''), Samus-blasters (named for Samus Aran from the ''Metroid'' series), and isomorphic controls preventing anyone other than Lockdown from piloting it, as does Doctor Who's TARDIS. Lockdown rounds out the paragraph by saying “a bot's got to know his limitations”, paraphrasing Clint Eastwood in ''Magnum Force''.
* Pg 165 - “A three hour tour!” cackles Blitzwing, quoting the theme tune of ''Gilligan's Island''.
*Pg 170/171 - Among the [[Halloween]] costumes are a [http://ghostbusters.wikia.com/wiki/Samhain Samhain], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless_Horseman Headless Horseman], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Samurai#Afro_Samurai Afro Samurai], [[Destro]], [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|General Hawk]].

==Chapter 6 - Detroit==
People, places and things in and about Detroit.
{{collist|3|
*[[Augustus Edsel|Detroit's Leadership]] by Sentinel Prime
*Buildings by Jazz
*[[Blackwater Prison]] by Captain Fanzone
*Solar Fusion by Porter C. Powell
*[[Human|Organic Inhabitants]] by Sentinel Prime
*Emergency Responders by Captain Fanzone
*Earth Vehicles by Jazz
*Stupid Organics (i.e. animals) by Sentinel Prime
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 178 – [[Augustus Edsel|Mayor Edsel]] is revealed to be the nephew of famous actor [[Harold Edsel (Animated)|Harold Edsel]].
* Pg 183 – The [[Sidney Biggles-Jones Memorial Solar Fusion Plant]] is named after the [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|scientist]] from the Marvel Comics ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' / ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' crossover. The other scientists named as working on solar fusion, [[Brian Jones (Animated)|Brian Jones]], [[Daichi Onishi]], [[Peter Morris]], and [[Felix Adle]], are named after (respectively) [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Jones]] from ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', Doctor [[Kenneth Onishi]], [[Peter Anthony Morris|Professor Morris]] and [[Adle|Professor Adle]].
* Pg 185 - [[Bobby Bolivia|Uncle Bobby B]], baby. Uncle Bobby B.

===Real-world references===
* Pg 189 – [[Jeff Litvack]] is a friend of Jim Sorenson's, who he credits in the acknowledgments of this book. [[Krista Kohlhausen]] is Bill Forster's "favorite person", according to the acknowledgments of ''[[Transformers: The Ark]]''.

==Chapter 7 - Settings==
Background pictures and associated character models from the first two seasons of Animated.
{{collist|3|
*[[Autobot Earth Base]] by Bulkhead
*[[Decepticon Earth Base (Animated)|Decepticon Earth Base]] by Mixmaster and Scrapper
*[[Sumdac Systems]] by Isaac Sumdac
*[[Nemesis (Animated)|The Nemesis]] by Blackarachnia
*[[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] by Prowl
*[[Meltdown's Subterranean Lab]] by Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes
*[[Archa Seven]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Autobot boot camp]] by Ultra Magnus
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 200 – The generic Sumdac Systems technicians are named [[Eddie Fairchild and Matt Conroy]]. These are the names of two prototypical characters who existed in the development phase of the Generation 1 cartoon, who eventually evolved into [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Chip Chase]].
* Pg 203 – Noted architect George R. Apple. [[Grapple|G.R.Apple]]? Anybody? Anybody? C'mooon!
* Pg 206 – The [[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]] is equipped with a Grand Mal class force field, named after the [[Grand Mal]], the giant fortress-cum-giant head occupied by Beast Wars [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] in the latter stages of the Beast Machines cartoon. It has a cybertroid alloy star drive (just like the Generation 1 [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]], as mentioned in the G1 episode [[Microbots]]), and has the most sophisticated sensor array this side of the [[Eshems Nebula]], a region of space introduced in IDW Publishing's live-action movie-based [[Transformers: Defiance]] series.
* Pg 207 – To escape the damaged Nemesis, the Decepticons used Devolan escape pods. The planet [[Dabola|Devola]] was the site of a huge victory for the Decepticon [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] in the Armada universe.
* Pg 211 – The crashed Decepticon ship on Archa Seven is named the [[Twilight (Animated)|Twilight]], after the [[Twilight (G2)|flagship]] from the Marvel Generation 2 comics.

==Interstitials==
The only place in the book where out-of-universe is presented, the interstitial pages covered divergent continuities as well as select aspects of the animation process. These appears at the end of a chapter.

{{collist|3|
*Chapter 1: Lighting
*Chapter 2: Transformations
*Chapter 3: Opening Credits
*Chapter 4: Titan Magazine
*Chapter 5: Design Evolution
*Chapter 6: Bee in the City
*Chapter 7: Backgrounds
}}

==Literary elements==
Including the copyright information, title page, foreword and afterwords, notes from the authors and acknowledgments.

===Transformers references===
* Pg 9a – [[Jim Sorenson (Animated)|Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster (Animated)|Bill Forster]] hail from [[universal stream]] Quadwal -3760.925 Theta. Universal streams are a means of classifying the numerous Transformers universes devised by authors [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]], which first appeared in the Transformers Collectors Club story, [[Withered Hope]]. This particular classification, however, makes no sense, save for the “Theta” suffix, which indicates a “spoken word” or “live performance” scenario. The “-” sign also indicates they're from a reverse parallel universe, akin to the Shattered Glass fiction introduced at [[BotCon 2008]], the only other universal stream to be marked like this. “Don't ask,” the authors say. But we're the fraggin' Transformers Wiki, so scrap that "don't ask" stuff. We're nerds; we're gonna do this thing! "Quadwal" is an obvious play on "fourth wall," which is what this universal stream is breaking. September 25, 3760 BC is the first day of the Hebrew calendar, specifically the date some believe Creation began. (So that "-" sign has a double meaning!) So Sorenson and Forster hail from the Real Life Universe, or the negative universe version of it, hence why they are incarcerated criminals.
* Pg 9b – The Reverse-Pretender technology used by Sorenson and Forster is a reference to several 1980s Transformers toy [[commercial]]s, which featured a child leaping into the air and transforming into Ultra Magnus.
* Pg 215 - Marty Isenberg mentions a [[GEEWUN|certain group of fans]], canonizing yet another fan-made term.

===Errors===
* Page 2: In the indicia, the latter "r" is left out of "characters".

==External links==
*[http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/digipedia/annotated_almanac.html The Annotated AllSpark Almanac], listing all the hidden references in the book

{{DEFAULTSORT:Animated: The Allspark Almanac}}
[[Category:Animated books|Allspark Almanac]]
[[Category: IDW titles]]
[[Category: Reference texts]]

Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac

2013-08-19T20:25:38Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Transformers references */

{{Comicstory|
|seriesissue=''Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac''
|image=Allsparkalmanaccover.jpg
|caption=[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]]'s going to have his hands full cleaning these two up.
|publisher=[[IDW Publishing]]
|written by=[[Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster]]
|date=[[August 19]], [[2009]]
|illustrated by=
|continuity=[[Animated cartoon continuity]]
|pagecount=220
|price=$19.99 USD
|next=Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II
|ISBN=ISBN 1600104878 
ISBN 978-1600104879
}}

{{bigquote|What a brilliant book! Probably the best I've ever read, human or Cybertronian. I can't recommend it strongly enough!|[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], the rear cover of The AllSpark Almanac}}

'''''Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac''''' is a <s>lusty</s> happy love-letter written to {{SITENAME}} for our carnal pleasure.

''The AllSpark Almanac'' is an encyclopedic examination of the entire ''Transformers Animated'' storyline universe. It presents exhaustively thorough character profiles and summaries of the first two seasons of the cartoon and the ''Animated [[Transformers Animated: The Arrival|Arrival]]'' comic book...''all written completely in-universe'', in the form of "interviews" with the characters or excerpts from their journals and other in-story media.

"Interstitial" interludes are presented out-of-universe and describe the design process behind the art, animation, and locations, as well as brief story summaries of the [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Titan Magazines]] ''Animated'' issues. Elements of toy design are covered as well, but comparatively briefly.

There are also an ''insane'' number of [[easter egg|obscure references]] to Transformers minutiae culled from the 25-year history of the [[Transformers brand|brand]], as well as other sci-fi and entertainment franchises as well. Basically, ''all'' proper nouns and names refer to something or someone, even if that someone is a possibly non-existent character only mentioned once in a letters page of a foreign comic. And that's before we start talking about the ''numbers'': Almost every seemingly incongruous alphanumeric string is a reference to another franchise, be it a ''Star Trek'' stardate or a Terminator's official designation. And that's just the content in English—about a third of the book's pages have large stretches covered in [[Cybertronix]]. Deciphered, these are all revealed to be non-Transformers-related passages, including song lyrics, catchphrases, memes, map coordinates and extensive, verbatim quotes from diverse sources ranging from Tennyson's ''Ulysses'' to ''Max Headroom''. In particular, the book has a noticeable number of hidden references to [[wikipedia: Iron Maiden|Iron Maiden]], courtesy of author Bill Forster, a massive fan of the band.

A [[Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac II|sequel]] was published in late June 2010.

==Contents==
*Foreword, by [[Derrick J. Wyatt]]
*Introduction, by the authors
*Interstitial A: ''[[Transformers Hero]]''
*Chapter 1: [[Autobot]]s
*Interstitial B: Lighting
*Chapter 2: [[Decepticon]]s
*Interstitial C: [[Transformation]]s
*Chapter 3: [[Human]]s
*Interstitial D: Opening Credits
*Chapter 4: Events
*Interstitial E: [[Transformers Animated (Titan)|Titan Magazines]]
*Chapter 5: Culture
*Interstitial F: Design Evolution
*Chapter 6: [[Detroit]]
*Interstitial G: [[Bee in the City]]
*Chapter 7: Settings
*Interstitial H: Backgrounds
*Afterword, by [[Marty Isenberg]]
*A Word from [[Hasbro]]
*Acknowledgments

==Chapter 1 - Autobots==
Chapter one covers all Autobots who appear in the first two seasons of the cartoon.

{{collist|3|
*[[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Optimus Prime]] by Ultra Magnus
*[[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] by Lockdown
*[[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] by Captain Fanzone
*[[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] by Bulkhead
*[[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] by Sari
*[[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] by Optimus Prime
*[[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] by Bumblebee
*[[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] by Blackarachnia
**[[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]]
**[[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]]
**[[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]]
*[[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] by Ratchet
*[[Ironhide (Animated)|Ironhide]] by Bulkhead
*[[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] by Ratchet
*[[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] by Bumblebee
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Longarm Prime]] by Bumblebee
*[[Wasp]] by Shockwave
*[[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]] by Ratchet}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 15 – [[Optimus Prime (Animated) | Optimus Prime]]'s axe is identified as a [[Solitarium]] ultra-axe.
* Pg 20a – As mentioned in his tech spec, [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] is a [[Protihex Medical Mechanics University|Protihex Medical Mechanical graduate]].
* Pg 20b – [[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] refers to Ratchet with the nickname “Cool Hand Lube”, an epithet coined for [[Ratchet (G1)|the original Ratchet]].
* Pg 34 – Unnamed in the ''Animated'' cartoon, the alien planet visited by the young Optimus, [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel]] and [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] populated by giant spiders is here given the name [[Archa Seven]]. Presumably, this puts it in the same system as [[Akalo|Archa Nine]].
* Pg 35 – Sentinel Prime's [[Skyboom (Animated)|shield]] is dubbed a [[Skyboom (Armada)|Skyboom shield]].
* Pg 44 – Ratchet recalls an old flame from [[Crystal City]].
* Pg 55 – [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme's]] profile contains numerous references.
:The language describing Omega's strength deliberately hearkens back to Generation 1 [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega's]] Transformers Universe profile, describing how he can pulverize “steel cubes” of impressive volume and hit diminutive items from a great distance with his head cannon. Numerous Cybertronian units of [[:Category:Measurements|measurement]] are used in the process; Omega is said to be able to lift 600,000 kilo-units (a measurement used by [[Bulkhead (Animated)|Bulkhead]] in the ''Animated'' episode "[[Rise of the Constructicons]]"); the dimensions of the aforementioned cube are given in mechanometers (used in the Generation 1 episode "[[City of Steel]]" and mentioned twice more in the book); and the distance at which he can blast a small object is given in hics (from the Marvel UK 1991 annual story "[[The Magnificent Six!]]" and used once more in the book).
:Omega is also noted to be armed with concussion blasters (the personal weapon of Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|Soundwave]]), pulsar bombs (used by the [[Predacon (RID)|Predacons]] on two occasions in the [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]] cartoon), quasar beams (Generation 2 [[Blowout]] and Beast Wars [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]] both wielded quasar cannons), friction cannons (G1 [[Runamuck (G1)|Runamuck]] was armed with a friction blaster) and aquasting missiles (weapon of choice of the Beast Wars Fuzor [[Injector]]).
:And finally, Omega has armor enhanced with [[rheanimum]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 46 – Ratchet speculates that Wreck-Gar must have “27,000 gags” hidden in his trash bin. The number 27 is a running gag in [["Weird Al" Yankovic]]'s songs... Al, of course, being the voice actor who played Wreck-Gar.

===Errors===
* Page 33: The [[Magnus Hammer]] is referred to as a "Storm'''breaker'''" hammer instead of "Storm'''bringer'''," a previously-given name for the weapon.

==Chapter 2 - Decepticons==
Character models for all Decepticons who appeared in Animated seasons one and two.
{{collist|3|
*[[Megatron (Animated)|Megatron]] by Lugnut
*[[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] by Optimus Prime
*[[Lugnut (Animated)|Lugnut]] by Blitzwing
*[[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] by Lugnut
*[[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] by Bulkhead
**[[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]]
**[[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]]
*[[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] by Megatron
*[[Swindle (Animated)|Swindle]] by The Angry Archer
*[[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] by Sari
*[[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] by himself
*[[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] by Thundercracker
*[[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] by Ramjet
*[[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] by Sunstorm
*[[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] by Skywarp
*[[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] by Slipstream
*[[Lockdown (Animated)|Lockdown]] by Prowl
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 60 – Mentioned here and restated on pg 127, Megatron's swords are forged from [[tironium]]. As noted in his tech specs, his armor can deflect anti-proton lasers.
* Pg 66 – As on his toy packaging, Lugnut is referred to with the nickname "The [[Kaon]] Krusher".
* Pg 74 – Shockwave's cannon can fire blasts from anywhere in the electromagnetic spectrum, just like Generation 1 [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]] could.
* Pg 77 – Swindle's gyro gun and scatter blaster are named after the weapons of the original Generation 1 [[Swindle (G1)|Swindle]].
* Pg 81 – Starscream claims to be the handsomest 'bot "this side of the [[Benzuli Expanse]]".
* Pg 83-84 – Having gone unnamed in the Animated cartoon, [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]], [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]] and [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]] were all given names and powers derived from their Generation 1 counterparts when they were released as toys. The liar and female clones did not get toys, but ''The AllSpark Almanac'' carries on the trend; the liar clone is named [[Ramjet (Animated)|Ramjet]] and is noted to have a reinforced nosecone for mid-air collisions, while the female clone gets the brand new name of [[Slipstream (Animated)|Slipstream]] (which was previously revealed at [[BotCon 2009]]).
* Pg 88 – Numerous weapons used by Lockdown in the cartoon are here given the names of similar weapons from other corners of the Transformers multiverse. He is armed with [[Sleep Net]]s (from the Generation 1 coloring book ''[[Bumblebee to the Rescue!]]''), [[nova spray]], and a [[lightning whip]]. His chainsaw is also described as being “micro-serrated”, language frequently used to describe the beak of Generation 1 [[Buzzsaw (G1)|Buzzsaw]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 66 - Blitzwing calls Lugnut a “five-eyed, no-brained, flying purple people eater,” paraphrasing the 1958 Sheb Wooley song, “Purple People Eater”.
* Pg 82 – Starscream's first sycophantic clone is given the numerical designation [[Clone number 2716057|#2716057]], the serial number of hard-drinking robot Bender from ''[[Wikipedia:Futurama|Futurama]]''. The first cowardly clone, meanwhile, is marked [[Clone number 3370318|#3370318]], the serial number of Bender's identical duplicate, Flexo.

==Chapter 3 - Humans==
Character models and the occasional background image for the major humans of Animated.
{{collist|3|
*[[Sari Sumdac]] by Bulkhead
*[[Isaac Sumdac]] by Megatron
*[[Carmine Fanzone|Captain Carmine Fanzone]] by Sari
*The [[Angry Archer]] by Swindle
*[[Professor Princess|Professor Penny Princess, PhD]] by Sari
*[[Nanosec]] by Slo-Mo
*[[Slo-Mo]] by Nanosec
*[[Headmaster (Animated)|The Headmaster]] by Bulkhead
*[[Meltdown (Animated)|Meltdown]] by Blackarachnia
*[[Colossus Rhodes]] by Meltdown
*[[Fusion creature]]s
**[[Fusion creature|BAT-MONSTER]] by Grimlock
**The [[Fusion creature|Seafood Louis creature]] by Fanzone
*[[Master Disaster (Animated)|Master Disaster]] by Blurr
*[[Street Demon]] by Bulkhead
**[[Ming-Li]] and [[Roxy Sparkles]] by Sari
**[[Shana Story]] and [[Solon Kitakaze (Animated)|Solon Kitakaze]] by Bumblebee
*[[Porter C. Powell]] by Headmaster
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 94 – Swindle plans to imitate [[Angry Archer]]'s antiquated dialect to help facilitate his next deal with the [[Darkling Lord]]s of [[Prysmos]]. This is a reference to the 1987 Hasbro toyline, [[Visionaries]]; Prysmos was the planet upon which that series was set, and the Darkling Lords were the villains of the franchise. Visionaries was also a back-up strip for the UK Marvel Transformers comics.
* Pg 101 – The name of Prometheus Black's company is given as [[Biotech Unbound]], referring to the Greek poem, “Prometheus Unbound”, which was also the title of a ''[[Beast Machines: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Machines]]'' [[Prometheus Unbound|episode]].
*Pg 103 – In the ''Animated'' cartoon, the bat-monster is noted as having formerly been Meltdown's lawyer. Here, Captain Fanzone notes that the shark-monster was his stock broker. In addition, he calls it a "[[Seafood Louis]] creature", and claims that it "kicks some serious fin," one of the multiple catchphrases of the cartoon series [[Wikipedia:Street Sharks|''Street Sharks'']].
* Pg 105 – [[Solon Kitakaze (Animated)|Solon Kitakaze]] is named after [[Deathsaurus (Victory)|Deathsaurus]]'s [[Solon Kitakaze (Victory)|cyborg son]] from the infamously kooky ''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (franchise)|Victory]]'' [[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (manga)|manga]].

===Real-world references===
* Pg 97 – [[Slo-Mo]] is here given the first name of Samantha, and on pg 143, the surname of Lomow. So hey, it turns out that her real name is the same as Hasbro Senior Vice President of Global Marketing [[Samantha Lomow]], on whom she was based.
* Pg 105 – [[Ming-Li]] is named after author Jim Sorenson's wife, Ming-Li Wang. [[Shana Story]] is named for a friend of author Bill Forster, Shana Storey, who is credited in the acknowledgments section of their previous book, ''[[Transformers: The Ark II]]''.
* Pg 106 – Porter C. Powell's limousine is branded as a "TUX model", named for the [[GoBots (franchise)|GoBot]] it was designed to resemble.

===Errors===
* Page 85: The "d" is left out of "Powdered Sugar."

==Chapter 4 - Events==
The episodes and comic stories that make up the primary Animated continuity, in order.
{{collist|2|
*[[Transform and Roll Out]] as three Autobot Incident Reports by Optimus Prime and a page from Isaac Sumdac's journal
*[[Dispatches]] as musings from [[Vector Prime]]
*[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Total Meltdown]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Blast from the Past]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[The Arrival issue 4#.22A Few Loose Strands.22|A Few Loose Strands]] as [[Venus (magazine)|Venus]], the trans-dimensional magazine for Decepti-femmes
*[[The Thrill of the Hunt]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Ratchet
*[[The Arrival issue 5|The Arrival #5]] as a page from Swindle's ledger and an evaluation form
*[[Nanosec (episode)|Nanosec]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Along Came a Spider]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 2#.22Whatever Happened To Whatisname.3F.22|Whatever Happened To Whatisname?]] as a page from Professor Princess' [['Lil Spoiled Brat|diary]]
*[[Sound and Fury]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 2#.22Attention Surplus Disorder.22|Attention Surplus Disorder]] as two pages from the [[Detroit Powell Press]]
*[[Lost and Found (episode)|Lost and Found]] as Lugnut's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[The Arrival issue 3|The Arrival #3]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Survival of the Fittest]] as a police report from Captain Fanzone
*[[Headmaster (episode)|Headmaster]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Arrival issue 4#.22The Insincerest Form of Flattery.22|The Insincerest Form of Flattery]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Bulkhead
*[[Nature Calls]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Prowl
*[[Megatron Rising - Part 1]] as Megatron's Encrypted Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Megatron Rising - Part 2]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Elite Guard]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[The Return of the Headmaster]] as Sentinel Prime's private journal and a letter from Sari to her absent father
*[[Mission Accomplished]] as Megatron's Internal Log and a medical report from Ratchet
*[[Garbage In, Garbage Out]] as a box of [[Garbage O's]] cereal
*[[Velocity]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Bumblebee
*[[Rise of the Constructicons]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[A Fistful of Energon]] as Starscream's Internal Log
*[[SUV: Society of Ultimate Villainy]] as excerpts from interrogations conducted by Captain Fanzone
*[[Autoboot Camp]] as Shockwave's Encrypted Internal Log
*[[First (and Second) in Flight]] as a page from Ultra Magnus's memoirs
*[[Black Friday (episode)|Black Friday]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
*[[Sari, No One's Home]] as a letter from Sari to her absent father
*[[A Bridge Too Close, Part I]] as Megatron's Internal Log
*[[A Bridge Too Close, Part II]] as an Autobot Incident Report by Optimus Prime
}}

===Transformers references===
*Pg 112 – An observation of the events of the [[Dispatches|first issue]] of the Animated comic by the trans-dimensional [[Vector Prime]]. He uses the aforementioned Universal Stream classification system to catalog this manuscript, identifying the Animated cartoon universe as “Malgus 1207.26 Alpha”. The designation is later used again on pg 117.
* Pg 116 - Presumably, the trans-dimensional magazine [[Venus (magazine)|Venus]] is named for Beast Wars [[Blackarachnia (BW)|Blackarachnia's]] voice actor, [[Venus Terzo]]. Whatever currency its cover price is in, it's represented with a “B” in Predacon Cybertronix! Blackarachnia wears the crown, shoulderpads and cape donned by Generation 1 Starscream for his coronation in [[The Transformers: The Movie]]. References on the cover include:
:*“Sparkmate” is a term used in the N64 ''[[Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals (N64)|Transformers: Beast Wars Transmetals]]'' video game, to describe Tigatron and Airazor's romantic bond.
:*[[Chain of Command (BW)|Chain of Command]] is the title of a ''Beast Wars'' episode.
:*Readers are invited to compare several pairs of Decepticon and Predacon fembots:
:**[[Clio]] is a Decepticon [[Powermaster]] mentioned by [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]] in the letters page of issue #315 of Marvel UK's Generation 1 comic. She is pitted against [[Lyzack]], sister of Decepticon Breastforce warrior [[Leozack]], who appears in the final issue of the Victory manga.
:**[[Manta Ray (BW)|Manta Ray]] is a Beast Wars McDonalds Happy Meal figure, who was established as being female by IDW Publishing's Beast Wars Sourcebook. She is up against the equally aquatic [[Scylla]], from [[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars II]].
:**[[Flamewar (G1)|Flamewar]] and [[Nightracer (G2)|Nightracer]] are both BotCon [[exclusive]] female Decepticons, from 2005 and 1995, respectively. The match-up has a deeper meaning; Nightracer was created by notorious Decepticon fan [[Raksha]], and some fans believe that Flamewar's personality is based on Raksha, though her creator [[Ben Yee]] denies it.
:*''Revenge of the Fallen'''s Pretender [[Alice]] teaches readers how to disarm a [[foldspace warhead]], a weapon which appears in the second issue of the UK's 2007 live-action movie comic.
:*The magazine's gossip columnist is [[Freezon]], the Decepticon car included with Tyco's Transformers Electric Racing Set released in the 1980s. She is dishing the dirt on Lugnut and [[Strika (Animated)|Strika]]'s relationship, which was established in Strika's profile, published in issue #24 of the Transformers Collectors Club Official Magazine.
:*[[Beta Maxx]] is the partner of BotCon 2007 exclusive [[Alpha Trion (SG)|Alpha Trion]], while [[Caliburn]] is partnered with 2004 exclusive, [[Megazarak (Universe)|Megazarak]]. The cover identifies them as Mini-Cons, despite the fact that no previous writing has ever done so (Caliburn is explicitly a [[Micromaster]], while Beta Maxx has only been referred to as an Autobot). Funnily enough, in late 2008, author Jim Sorenson was involved in an argument on the Transformers Wiki about Beta Maxx being a Mini-Con... hmmmn. Anyway, they're talking to Cybertron [[Thunderblast (Decepticon)|Thunderblast]].
* Pg 119a – Most of the weapons Swindle sells Lugnut and Blitzwing, and the planets he gets them from, are established, if obscure, Transformers items and locales. Most of them were named in the comic story this page covers, "[[The Arrival issue 5#Everything Must Go|Everything Must Go]]", but a few more things are named here. The full list includes:
:*An [[anti-gravity gun|anti-gravity cannon]] from the planet [[Andellor]].
:*A [[triple crusher cannon]] from the planet Talos Four (probably derived from a mistake on TFWIKI.Net, which misspelled [[Taros Four]] in this manner for a time).
:*A decompression pump from [[Torkulon]].
:*[[Glass gas]] and a [[Digital Impact Mace]] (the weapon of choice of [[BotCon 2000]] exclusive toy [[Apelinq]]) from the planet [[Darhos]].
:*Super glue from the [[Menonia]].
:*An [[omega bomb]] from [[Ganzvort]].
:*Two [[Nemesis Shield]]s from [[Garro|Garo]] and [[Comb|Com]].
:*A [[Chaosmaster Bomb]] from [[Xeptos]].
:*Circuitry repair patches from [[Cheyne]].
* Pg 119b – Optimus's evaluation form is rendered in the style of classic Transformers [[Tech Spec]]s, but not any one particular design. The training exercise from the comic story “Survival Skills” is revealed to have taken place on [[Kaiba-5]].
* Pg 124-125 The article text of the Detroit Powell Press included in the AllSpark Almanac contain numerous references.
:*[[Irwin Spoon (G1)|Irwin Spoon]] was a journalist who appeared in a three-part story in Marvel UK's Generation 1 comic.
:*[[Quake-Maker]] is a supervillain from the UK's Animated comic.
:*The [[Mechanic (G1)|Mechanic]] is a human criminal who battled the Autobots in two issues of the Marvel's original Generation 1 comic.
:*The [[Jack Boys]] are a motorcycle gang from the ''Super-God Masterforce'' cartoon.
:*[[Jake Lomax]] is a mob boss from issue #13 of Marvel's Generation 1 comic.
:*[[Jacob Lee Bonaventure]] is an industrialist from IDW's ''[[Hearts of Steel]]'' mini-series.

:The sidebar on the page also makes numerous references:
:*“Defensor United” refers, of course, to the Generation 1 [[Defensor (G1)|Protectobot combiner]], but more specifically to the recurring discussions of [[Mecha-soccer]] in the Marvel UK comic's letters page, where Defensor United played in the Cybertron Premier Division. The team is thrashed by real-life football team West Ham at [[Tigatron Stadium]], the venue named for the [[Tigatron|Beast Wars character]], which appeared in the Animated episode "[[Five Servos of Doom]]".
:*In the Animated universe, the Generation 1 Decepticon ally, mad scientist [[Doctor Arkeville]], is the surgeon general! He recommends [[Ding Dong]]s (favored by the [[President of the United States]] in the live-action movie!) as a cure for the [[Hate Plague]], a rage-inciting disease that appeared in the Generation 1 two-part episode, "[[The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1|The Return of Optimus Prime]]".
:*Racing queen [[Junko Shiragami]] is a human female from the ''Binaltech Asterisk'' toyline (who was in turn based upon [[Kelly (RID)|Kelly]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''). Here, she is dating scientist [[Michael Avery]], who appeared in the 2007 movie prequel novel, [[Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday|Ghosts of Yesterday]].
:*Street Demon racer Roxy Sparkles (earlier named on page 105) is here noted to be a member of the band [[Purple Fungus]], who were a favorite of [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] in the Find Your Fate Junior novel, "[[Attack of the Insecticons]]".
:*"Princess Ringo" was the nickname by which ''[[Transformers: Kiss Players (franchise)|Kiss Players]]'' character [[Ringo Chikuma]] preferred to be known. Here, she has recently visited [[Mont Porte]], the country that is home to the ''Super-God Masterforce'' Headmaster Junior [[Minerva (Masterforce)|Minerva]].

:Adverts refer to:
:*[[Dancitron]], a musical event named for a dance club from the Generation 1 cartoon episode "[[Auto-Bop]]". Cold Slither is playing here, a band from the G.I. Joe cartoon episode of the same name, created as part of an evil Cobra plot. The piece of music composed as their [[Cold Slither (song)|signature tune]] was used as incidental music in several Transformers episodes.
:*Wyatt Toys, the toy store named after Animated art director [[Derrick J. Wyatt]] which appears in several episodes of the cartoon. The advert notes that the store sells [[Diaclone]] and [[Microman]] figures, the two toylines that were Transformers' progenitors.
:*Roadhog Horton's Motorcycle Show, named after [[Randy Horton|Randy "Roadhog" Horton]], a member of the bounty-hunting motorcyclist [[Roadjammers]] from [[Ca$h and Car-nage!|issue #46]] of the Marvel Generation 1 comic. His show also features autograph signings from Rorza, a reference to the [[Rorza, the Rocket-cycle Racer from Rigel III|Rocket-Cycle Racer from Rigel III]] of the same name from issue #44.
:*A horror movie named “[[Monster from Mars]]”, an elaborate reference to the movie of the same name that was the central plot element of "[[Monstercon from Mars!]]", issue #45 of the Marvel comic. In said issue, Decepticon Pretender [[Skullgrin]] starred in the title role; this poster features a monster designed to look like Skullgrin in the style of Meltdown's [[fusion creature]]s, in reference to the fact that Skullgrin's fellow Pretenders [[Submarauder (G1)|Submarauder]] and [[Bomb-Burst (G1)|Bomb-Burst]] were the base for the two fusion creatures in the cartoon. In both the original comic and this version, the movie is directed by [[Rollie Friendly]] and stars [[Jake Colton]] and [[Carissa Carr]]; this version also adds [[Karen Fishook]], an actress from the Generation 1 cartoon episode, "[[Hoist Goes Hollywood]]". The movie's soundtrack is by the [[High Rollahz]], a band featured in ''[[The Transformers Trilogy]]'' novel, ''[[Transformers: Hardwired|Hardwired]]''.

* Pg 127 – Unnamed in the original comic "[[The Arrival issue 3#"'Bots of Science"|'Bots of Science]]", Ratchet here notes that he has dubbed the cure for Cosmic Rust "[[Corrostop]]". Its ingredients include [[Ingredient X]] and [[razon gas]].
* Pg 134 – The [[Sigma Supreme|Elite Guard ship]] is here given the name ''[[Steelhaven]]''.
* Pg 136 – Sari's notebook paper is decorated with an illustration of "Hello [[Nekomimi A and Nekomimi B|Nekomimi]] Pop-Star", a chibified, "Hello Kitty"-style version of Nekomimi A from the Energon episode, "[[Distribution]]". Nekomimi B appears on pg 147 in a similar fashion.
* Pg 138-139
:*The brand of the tire in the logo is [[Wheeljack's workshop|Wheeljack]] Tyres!

:*In the “fueltritional facts” box alone, there are references to:
:**mercury sauce, a favorite of the [[Mecannibal]]s from the Marvel Generation 1 comic
:**[[Rarified Energon]], introduced in the Transformers Collectors Club magazine storyline, [[Crossing Over]]
:**[[Energon Z]] from [[Transformers: Zone (franchise)|Zone]]
:**budianskium basil (referring to Transformers writer [[Bob Budiansky]])
:**grated gears (a serving suggestion for ants by Beast Wars [[Rampage (BW)|Rampage]] in [[Transmutate (episode)|Transmutate]])
:**janick [[jaAm]] (see below.)

:*The word jumble unscrambles to read “You lived like a warrior ans died to an hero”, an infamous quote from the late-1990s fanfic by MG-Dinobot, “Dinobot's Old Technology”, which was itself a misquote from the Beast Wars episode "[[Code of Hero]]". The quote went on to become one of the most famous online memes from that era of Transformers [[fandom]].
:**The answer at the bottom of the page, however, claims it actually says “WhY mY ShOuldErs hUrT?”, a tortured quote from British fan Blueshift's [[JaAm|famous re-scripting]] of the first Armada pack-in mini-comic. This was also the source of the above-mentioned “jaAm” line, which was since been immortalized on the license plate and packaging bio of the 2009 Universe Hot Shot figure.

:*Illustration B in the “spot the difference” puzzle is, of course, Generation 1 [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock's]] [[character model]].

* Pg 145 – Ultra Magnus's memoir is prefaced with a haiku from "[[Sky-Byte (Animated)|Sky-Byte]], Decepticon poet", referencing the loveable haiku-writing [[Predacon (RID)|Predacon]] [[Sky-Byte (RID)|Sky-Byte]] from ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (franchise)|Robots in Disguise]]''. He has to be a Decepticon here, of course, because there are no Predacons in the ''Animated'' universe. In the course of this page, Magnus mentions [[mitotic spark]]s and the [[Angarrix sector|Angarix Sector]], a region of space introduced in the Generation 1 episode "[[The Quintesson Journal]]".
* Pg 148 – Megatron refers to the act of [[branding]] the Constructicons with the Decepticon symbol as the "[[Rite of the Deceptibrand]]," after the Autobot equivalent, the "[[Rite of the Autobrand]]".

===Real-world references===
{{Main|Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac/Events Real-world references}}

===Errors===
* Page 117: Blackarachnia is spelled "Blacharachnia"
* Page 133: "...have tried harder to recruit the Dinobots as allies, but I was so angry at Prowl's deception that I..." is repeated immediately following the first use in the third paragraph.
* Page 145: The "c" is left out of "First (and Second) in Flight."

==Chapter 5 - Culture==
A catch-all for other aspects of Animated including ships, monsters and customs.
{{collist|3|
*The [[AllSpark]] by Optimus Prime
*Autobot Cybertronian forms by Ultra Magnus
*Decepticon Cybertronian forms by Starscream
*The [[Death's Head (Animated)|Death's Head]] by Lockdown
*[[Emergency shuttle|Autobot Shuttle]] by Blitzwing
*[[Automaton|Sumdac robots]] by Porter C. Powell
*Bulkhead's Art by Ratchet, Optimus Prime and Sari
*[[Halloween]] by Bulkhead and Bumblebee
*[[Space barnacle]]s by Sari
*[[Nanite|Nanobots]] by Ratchet
*The Media by Soundwave
*[[Ability|Powers]] by Prowl
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 161 – Starscream uses the expression “a few [[lipole]]s short of a nest”, referring to the metal-eating bat-creatures native to Jupiter's moon [[Io]], from the Generation 1 multi-part episode, [[Five Faces of Darkness]].
* Pg 164 – Lockdown's spaceship is named the ''[[Death's Head (Animated)|Death's Head]]'', after a certain [[Death's Head (G1)|freelance peacekeeping agent]], yes? It has been upgraded using parts obtained from the planets [[Jörmungandr]] and [[Taxxon]], and the [[Jabbi-Ko]] aliens, outfitted with Vandarian holographic technology (from the same planet as the [[Vandarian fuzz-worm]]s) and [[cybertitanium]] cables (among other items mentioned below as they're non-''Transformers'' references).
* Pg 170 – Bulkhead describes candy as being like [[Ultra-Energon]] for kids.
* Pg 174 – Newscaster [[Lester Black]] is revealed to be the great-nephew of [[Hector Ramirez (Animated)|Hector Ramirez]], a callback to the [[Hector Ramirez (G1)|Generation 1 news reporter of the same name]] (who was actually unnamed in his one ''Transformers'' cartoon appearance).

===Real-world references===
* Pg 164 – Lockdown's spaceship used to be an “IG-2000” class ship, referring to the [[Star Wars (franchise)|Star Wars]] ship that bore that name. It is outfitted with Deckard cannons (named for Rick Deckard from ''Blade Runner''), Samus-blasters (named for Samus Aran from the ''Metroid'' series), and isomorphic controls preventing anyone other than Lockdown from piloting it, as does Doctor Who's TARDIS. Lockdown rounds out the paragraph by saying “a bot's got to know his limitations”, paraphrasing Clint Eastwood in ''Magnum Force''.
* Pg 165 - “A three hour tour!” cackles Blitzwing, quoting the theme tune of ''Gilligan's Island''.
*Pg 170/171 - Among the [[Halloween]] costumes are a [http://ghostbusters.wikia.com/wiki/Samhain Samhain], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless_Horseman Headless Horseman], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afro_Samurai#Afro_Samurai Afro Samurai], [[Destro]], [[Cobra Commander]] and [[Hawk (G.I. Joe)|General Hawk]].

==Chapter 6 - Detroit==
People, places and things in and about Detroit.
{{collist|3|
*[[Augustus Edsel|Detroit's Leadership]] by Sentinel Prime
*Buildings by Jazz
*[[Blackwater Prison]] by Captain Fanzone
*Solar Fusion by Porter C. Powell
*[[Human|Organic Inhabitants]] by Sentinel Prime
*Emergency Responders by Captain Fanzone
*Earth Vehicles by Jazz
*Stupid Organics (i.e. animals) by Sentinel Prime
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 178 – [[Augustus Edsel|Mayor Edsel]] is revealed to be the nephew of famous actor [[Harold Edsel (Animated)|Harold Edsel]].
* Pg 183 – The [[Sidney Biggles-Jones Memorial Solar Fusion Plant]] is named after the [[Sidney Biggles-Jones|scientist]] from the Marvel Comics ''[[G.I. Joe (franchise)|G.I. Joe]]'' / ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (franchise)|Generation 2]]'' crossover. The other scientists named as working on solar fusion, [[Brian Jones (Animated)|Brian Jones]], [[Daichi Onishi]], [[Peter Morris]], and [[Felix Adle]], are named after (respectively) [[Brian Jones (Energon)|Dr. Jones]] from ''[[Transformers: Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', Doctor [[Kenneth Onishi]], [[Peter Anthony Morris|Professor Morris]] and [[Adle|Professor Adle]].
* Pg 185 - [[Bobby Bolivia|Uncle Bobby B]], baby. Uncle Bobby B.

===Real-world references===
* Pg 189 – [[Jeff Litvack]] is a friend of Jim Sorenson's, who he credits in the acknowledgments of this book. [[Krista Kohlhausen]] is Bill Forster's "favorite person", according to the acknowledgments of ''[[Transformers: The Ark]]''.

==Chapter 7 - Settings==
Background pictures and associated character models from the first two seasons of Animated.
{{collist|3|
*[[Autobot Earth Base]] by Bulkhead
*[[Decepticon Earth Base (Animated)|Decepticon Earth Base]] by Mixmaster and Scrapper
*[[Sumdac Systems]] by Isaac Sumdac
*[[Nemesis (Animated)|The Nemesis]] by Blackarachnia
*[[Dinobot Island (Animated)|Dinobot Island]] by Prowl
*[[Meltdown's Subterranean Lab]] by Cyrus "The Colossus" Rhodes
*[[Archa Seven]] by Sentinel Prime
*[[Autobot boot camp]] by Ultra Magnus
}}

===Transformers references===
* Pg 200 – The generic Sumdac Systems technicians are named [[Eddie Fairchild and Matt Conroy]]. These are the names of two prototypical characters who existed in the development phase of the Generation 1 cartoon, who eventually evolved into [[Spike Witwicky (G1)|Spike Witwicky]] and [[Chip Chase]].
* Pg 203 – Noted architect George R. Apple. [[Grapple|G.R.Apple]]? Anybody? Anybody? C'mooon!
* Pg 206 – The [[Nemesis (Animated)|Nemesis]] is equipped with a Grand Mal class force field, named after the [[Grand Mal]], the giant fortress-cum-giant head occupied by Beast Wars [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] in the latter stages of the Beast Machines cartoon. It has a cybertroid alloy star drive (just like the Generation 1 [[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]], as mentioned in the G1 episode [[Microbots]]), and has the most sophisticated sensor array this side of the [[Eshems Nebula]], a region of space introduced in IDW Publishing's live-action movie-based [[Transformers: Defiance]] series.
* Pg 207 – To escape the damaged Nemesis, the Decepticons used Devolan escape pods. The planet [[Dabola|Devola]] was the site of a huge victory for the Decepticon [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Tidal Wave]] in the Armada universe.
* Pg 211 – The crashed Decepticon ship on Archa Seven is named the [[Twilight (Animated)|Twilight]], after the [[Twilight (G2)|flagship]] from the Marvel Generation 2 comics.

==Interstitials==
The only place in the book where out-of-universe is presented, the interstitial pages covered divergent continuities as well as select aspects of the animation process. These appears at the end of a chapter.

{{collist|3|
*Chapter 1: Lighting
*Chapter 2: Transformations
*Chapter 3: Opening Credits
*Chapter 4: Titan Magazine
*Chapter 5: Design Evolution
*Chapter 6: Bee in the City
*Chapter 7: Backgrounds
}}

==Literary elements==
Including the copyright information, title page, foreword and afterwords, notes from the authors and acknowledgments.

===Transformers references===
* Pg 9a – [[Jim Sorenson (Animated)|Jim Sorenson]] and [[Bill Forster (Animated)|Bill Forster]] hail from [[universal stream]] Quadwal -3760.925 Theta. Universal streams are a means of classifying the numerous Transformers universes devised by authors [[Greg Sepelak]] and [[Trent Troop]], which first appeared in the Transformers Collectors Club story, [[Withered Hope]]. This particular classification, however, makes no sense, save for the “Theta” suffix, which indicates a “spoken word” or “live performance” scenario. The “-” sign also indicates they're from a reverse parallel universe, akin to the Shattered Glass fiction introduced at [[BotCon 2008]], the only other universal stream to be marked like this. “Don't ask,” the authors say.
But we're the fraggin' Transformers Wiki, so scrap that "don't ask" stuff. We're nerds, we're gonna do this thing. "Quadwal" is an obvious play on "fourth wall," which is what this universal stream is breaking. September 25, 3760 BC is the first day of the Hebrew calendar, specifically the date some believe Creation began. (So that "-" sign has a double meaning!) So Sorenson and Forster hail from the Real Life Universe, or the negative universe version of it, hence why they are incarcerated criminals.
* Pg 9b – The Reverse-Pretender technology used by Sorenson and Forster is a reference to several 1980s Transformers toy [[commercial]]s, which featured a child leaping into the air and transforming into Ultra Magnus.
* Pg 215 - Marty Isenberg mentions a [[GEEWUN|certain group of fans]], canonizing yet another fan-made term.

===Errors===
* Page 2: In the indicia, the latter "r" is left out of "characters".

==External links==
*[http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/digipedia/annotated_almanac.html The Annotated AllSpark Almanac], listing all the hidden references in the book

{{DEFAULTSORT:Animated: The Allspark Almanac}}
[[Category:Animated books|Allspark Almanac]]
[[Category: IDW titles]]
[[Category: Reference texts]]

Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac

2013-08-19T20:22:09Z

Vehicon Gary: Undo revision 822067 by Escargon (Talk)

Darkness Rising, Part 3

2013-08-19T19:28:45Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Trivia */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 3
|prev=Darkness Rising, Part 2
|next=Darkness Rising, Part 4
|image=DarknessRising3-interrogateFowler.jpg
|caption="D'awwww, lookit the cute ickle human! Coochie coochie cooo!"
|title="Darkness Rising, Part 3"
|airdate=[[December 1]], [[2010]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Todd Waterman]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Optimus and Ratchet head out to investigate Megatron's activities and Arcee and Bumblebee go on patrol, leaving Bulkhead in charge. But things start getting messy when Fowler is abducted.'''

==Synopsis==
[[Image:DarkEnergonbug.jpg|left|thumb|200px|[[Scalpel (ROTF)|Scalpel]], is that you?]]
The three kids and their Autobot guardians head back to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|the Autobot base]], where [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] is being attacked by a piece of [[manipulator arm|animated equipment]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] deals with it, but now suspects that both it and [[Cliffjumper (WFC)|Cliffjumper]] were vivified by [[Dark Energon]].

[[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]], now powered up by the Dark Energon, has decided his next move and leaves the [[Trypticon (WFC)|Decepticon ship]] in [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]]'s hands. Starscream thinks Megatron's gone a bit loopy, and he orders [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] to increase surveillance.

Optimus has realized Megatron's plan to create an undead army. As the rest of the Autobots arrive, Optimus announces he's going on a mission with Ratchet, who doesn't take kindly to [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]]'s suggestion he may be a little rusty. Leaving Arcee in charge, the pair [[GroundBridge|bridge]] out. Arcee immediately puts [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] in charge and goes out on patrol with [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]]. [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] attempts to organize an impromptu band practice, but while she's belting out [[My Fist, Your Face|an electric guitar solo]], the proximity alert goes off. The kids hide behind Bulkhead as [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] walks in to complain about the energon mine explosion. Unfortunately, Miko's guitar gives them away, and Fowler announces he's taking them into federal custody, but Bulkhead puts his foot down, and Fowler storms out.

In a remote region, Prime explains to Ratchet that they're looking for the remains of an old Transformer battlefield, from the period in the war when energon started being hidden on other planets.

[[Image:DarknessRising3-disgust.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Ratchet, turn on the ''Evil Dead'' theme. We'll need all the charisma we can get.]]
As Fowler flies from the Autobot base in his copter, he radios in a report, which is intercepted by Soundwave. Starscream orders Fowler captured, so Soundwave sends out [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]]. The Deployer catches up with Fowler, who engages in some deft maneuvers to try and avoid it, and even gets some shots off before it slices the tail off his copter and abducts him.

Fowler's distress call is picked up at the Autobot base. Though Bulkhead is reluctant to help, the others point out Fowler knows the location of the base. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] sets about hacking into a federal computer so they can locate Fowler. Bulkhead leaves [[Jack Darby|Jack]] in charge and heads out. Bulkhead finds himself near the Decepticon ship, but is surprised when Miko pops up next to him. After dealing with a Decepticon sentry, he contacts Arcee. Back at base, Jack and Raf have realized Miko is gone, and they use the ground bridge to follow. Unfortunately, this leaves the base unmanned when Arcee rings in to get use of the ground bridge. Jack and Raf arrive at Bulkhead's location and immediately manage to attract the attention of the Decepticon drones on guard.

Starscream interrogates Fowler without much success, so he resorts to getting out the [[energon prod]].

Meanwhile, Optimus and Ratchet reach the Transformer graveyard they've been seeeking. Unfortunately, so does Megatron, who uses a chunk of Dark Energon to raise an army of [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]].
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (2)
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (3)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (5)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (7)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (8)

|c2=
* [[Megatron (WFC)|Megatron]] (9)
* [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (10)
* [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (11)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Decepticon drones]] (13)
* [[Laserbeak (WFC)|Laserbeak]] (14)

|c3=
* [[Jack Darby]] (1)
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (4)
* [[Raf Esquivel|Rafael Esquivel]] (6)
* [[William Fowler|Agent Fowler]] (12)

|c4=
* [[Terrorcon (Prime)|Terrorcons]] (15)
}}

==Quotes==
"I NEEDED THAT!"
:—'''Ratchet''''s tools suffer further abuse... from one of his already abused tools.

"I fear that when our master reached for the stars, he came down with a touch of... space madness."
:—'''Starscream''', ever ready to undermine Megatron.

"Besides, Ratchet hasn't been in the field since the war." 
"My pistons may be rusty, but my hearing is sharp as ever!"
:—'''Arcee''', on '''Ratchet''''s current military qualifications.

"Do I look like I do country? Just cover yourself in fake blood and jump around screaming."
:—'''Miko''' doesn't appreciate Jack's harmonica skills.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
*When Megatron turns around and orders Starscream to await his command, his fusion cannon disappears.
*The speakers for Miko's band practice appear spontaneously without any indication of their existence.
*Raf fixes the Nemesis at latitude 39.5 and longitude 116.9, which corresponds to a location roughly halfway between [[Beijing]] and the [[China|Chinese coast]]. Perhaps he meant longitude -116.9, which would put the Nemesis somewhere near the center of [[Nevada]], which definitely works out with the fact that Arcee and Bumblebee are able to drive to the ship in the next episode.
*While on their way back to the base, Jack had his helmet on while riding Arcee. Upon their arrival at the base, his helmet is nowhere to be seen.

===Transformers references===
* Ratchet's comment that his hearing is still good even though his pistons are rusty is possibly a reference to the ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]], who made a similar comment when [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] made a joke about his age.
* Bulkhead has a compartment similar to his ''Animated'' [[Bulkhead (Animated)|incarnation]], but higher up on his chest. [[Miko Nakadai|Objects]] inside his vehicle mode end up there when he transforms.
* The concepts of the Transformers seeding energon on Earth and having had wars there in the distant past before have turned up in recent fiction, [[IDW]]'s comics and ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (franchise)|Revenge of the Fallen]]''. The latter was also in [[Ladybird Books|an '80s Ladybird Book]], "[[Galvatron's Air Attack]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Die dunkle Macht erhebt sicht, Teil 3'''" (The Dark Force Rises, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 7|7 October]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Közeleg a sötétség, 3. rész'''" ("The Darkness Is Nearing, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 11|11 January]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kegelapan Bangkit, Bagian 3'''" ("Darkness Rising, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' 5 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''La rimonta delle tenebre, terza parte'''" ("Darkness Rising, Third Part")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 24|24 September]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Kyūshutsu Henkei! Fowler no Kiki'''" (救出変形! ファウラーの危機, "Rescue Transformation! Fowler in Crisis")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[April 21|21 April]] [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Ak ui Buhwal 3'''" (악의 부활 3, "Return of the Evil, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 5|5 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 7|7 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''El regreso del mal, Parte 3'''" ("The Return of Evil, Part 3")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 7|7 November]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* This episode tries to resolve some of the continuity issues with Dark Energon the previous episode causes. Both Optimus and Ratchet know of its existence and even the rumor that it brings the dead back to life. Supplies of it were just so scarce as to be non-existent, hence their inexperience with it.
* The [[IDW Publishing|IDW]] adaptation of the story, ''[[Transformers Prime: Darkness Falls]]'', specifies that the Terrorcon battle takes place in the [[Grand Canyon]] as does Titan's [[Transformers (Titan Magazine)|''Transformers: Prime'' comic]]. Meanwhile Bantam Books' prose adaption ''[[Megatron Returns]]'' dubs the area the Lost Valley, while LB Kids' storybook version ''[[Autobots versus Zombies]]'' doesn't give it a name at all.
* In an amusing show of cultural differences, Bulkhead tries to order Miko to look away before tearing out a Vehicon's internals (presumably to spare her the sight of the carnage). Miko has no problem with it, only seeing a hunk of metal and a bunch of wires.
* No, really, Bulkhead was going to leave Fowler in Decepticon hands because he didn't like him. What a jerk!
* Twelve-year-old Raf can hack into the United States government's computer network and track down federal agents. What national security?
* Check out where Starscream sticks Fowler with the energon prod. Ouch!
* The area that Fowler's helicopter goes down in looks a lot like the area [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] would later be discovered in "[[Masters & Students]]".
*Arcee first coined the phrase "metal to the pedal", obviously an alteration of "pedal to the metal"; it was later used again by Wheeljack in [[Con Job]]

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Con Job

2013-08-19T19:23:32Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Continuity notes */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 8
|prev=Scrapheap (episode)
|next=Convoy (episode)
|image=ConJob-getthispartystarted.jpg
|caption=Quick! They must [[A Prime Problem|have a race!]] Or [[Where Is Thy Sting?|play video games!]]
|title="Con Job"
|airdate=[[February 25]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Bulkhead awaits the arrival of his friend Wheeljack—what could go wrong?'''

==Synopsis==
With their chores done, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is looking forward to "dune bashing" with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but he'd rather check out the monster truck rally in [[Jasper|town]]. Their plans are interrupted when [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] receives a signal from a starship headed for [[Earth]]. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] wonders if it might be a [[Decepticon]] trap, but Bulkhead identifies the incoming [[Autobot]] as his old friend and [[Wrecker]] pal, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] sends landing coordinates for Wheeljack's landing the next day, and Bulkhead is excited to see his old friend.

On the [[Trypticon (WFC)|Decepticon ship]], [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] has monitored the conversation and it gives [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] the chance he needs. He orders [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] to prepare for a mission.

[[Image:Tfprime_winged_vehicon_pose(2).jpg‎ |thumb|left|250px|Your wallet. They want it.]]The kids are excited to be getting to meet a new Autobot. Ratchet has problems getting the [[GroundBridge]] working, due to the damage sustained during the [[Scraplet]] infestation. Their instruments pick up Decepticon signals closing on [[Jackhammer (Prime)|Wheeljack's ship]]. Indeed, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] manage to shoot down the ship, but Wheeljack emerges from the wreckage and starts smashing the tar out of them. Ratchet finally gets the GroundBridge operational, and Bulkhead, Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] storm through to find Wheeljack finishing off the last of the 'cons. Bulkhead greets his old friend with a massive bear hug, and the four Autobots return to base. Wheeljack hits it off with Miko right away, and checks in with Optimus. Ratchet's not as enthusiastic as the others with Bulkhead's friend, as he senses impending destruction.

Starscream discusses their success in getting a spy into the Autobot base as he and Soundwave pay a visit to their prisoner — the real Wheeljack. Now he's inside the Autobot base, Makeshift will be able to activate the GroundBridge and reveal the base's location so Starscream can send the troops in. Wheeljack mocks Starscream, who's prevented from killing the prisoner by Soundwave since Wheeljack may yet be of use.

The Autobots and kids celebrate Wheeljack's arrival, Miko by breaking out her electric guitar and Bulkhead and "Wheeljack" by engaging in some [[Cybertronian_sport#Lobbing| Lobbing]]. After some encouragement by Miko, [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] busts some dance moves by doing The Robot, and Bumblebee joins in. Makeshift takes some time to fish for info on the GroundBridge from Ratchet, who says it's in the middle of defragging and can't be used for a few hours.

Starscream wonders why Makeshift is taking so long to get the GroundBridge activated, since he won't be able to keep the Autobots fooled for long.

Bulkhead tells the kids about a battle he and Wheeljack took part in, and Makeshift barely covers for his lack of knowledge. Bulkhead observes that his old friend seems different, but Makeshift writes this off as jet lag, and asks Miko to show him around the base. However Bulkhead's suspicions have been raised, and Arcee's suggestions don't allay them.

On the Decepticon ship, Wheeljack manages to kill his guard and get free from his bonds.

[[Image:ConJob-Makeshifthostage.jpg|right|thumb|300px|They're not dolls, they're action figures!]]

Miko wanders the base with Makeshift, and the 'con manages to get the location of the Autobot base out of her. Miko promises to show him the way out, and they return to the control center, where Bulkhead asks his "friend" to tell the story of the [[Battle of Darkmount Pass]]. Makeshift tells the story, but manages to get one crucial detail wrong — Bulkhead wasn't part of the battle. Realizing that his cover's blown, Makeshift takes Miko hostage.

Starscream and Soundwave hang out on top of the Decepticon ship with a bunch of Vehicons, waiting for Makeshift to open the GroundBridge. They're confronted by Wheeljack, who fights his way through a bunch of Vehicons and pounces on Starscream. As more 'cons rush towards Wheeljack, the GroundBridge activates, courtesy of Makeshift. Makeshift's ready to enter the GroundBridge at the Autobot end, when Wheeljack comes flying through it and lands on him. Ratchet shuts down the GroundBridge before any Decepticons come through. The two Wheeljacks draw their swords and fight at length while the Autobots fail to keep track of who's who. Wheeljack, of course, triumphs.

Starscream is pleased when the GroundBridge opens again and orders the Vehicons through, however it's only been reopened so Bulkhead can throw Makeshift through. The 'con lands on Starscream, who asks if Makeshift has obtained the location of the Autobot base. Makeshift's in the process of telling him when Starscream realizes that the grenade Makeshift is wearing has been primed and is about to explode, and he and Soundwave retreat, leaving Makeshift and a number of Vehicons to die in the ensuing explosion.

The Autobots have another party, to Ratchet's pain. Bulkhead suggests they pick out a vehicle mode for Wheeljack, but Wheeljack says he's not staying now that his ship's fixed. The next morning, he offers to take Bulkhead with him, but Bulkhead's too attached to Earth and Miko to leave. Miko snaps a picture of the two Autobots with [[Miko's phone|her cell phone]] before Wheeljack leaves.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (9)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (11)
* [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] (12)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (2)
* [[Jack Darby]] (6)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (7)

}}

==Quotes==
"Yeah, I'm still picking shrapnel out of my backside!"
 "I'm not surprised, given the size of your backside."
:—'''Bulkhead''' reminisces, '''Arcee''' zings.

"Do you not see that you are vastly outnumbered?" 
"I see fellas who might vastly enjoy watching me pound some dents into you."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Wheeljack'''

"It's like a recurring nightmare!"
:—Will '''Ratchet''' ever get a break?

"If anything happens to my favorite Wrecker, I'm coming after you!"
:—'''Wheeljack''' tells Miko to take good care of his best bud for him.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the camera angle moves to show Optimus saying that he knows Wheeljack by reputation only, the shadow of Miko's heel looks lightly separated from it, as if her leg were hovering over Bulkhead's armour plate.
* Apparently, huge, alien robots can leave their tracks in the snow (see Bumblebee and Bulkhead at the beginning of the [[Scrapheap (episode)|previous episode]]), but it looks like they cannot leave any in the sand.
* Part of Wheeljack's right arm goes through his chest as he was preparing for battle on top of the Nemesis.

* When the alarm goes off, the monitor shows five bogies (Vehicons) approaching Wheeljack's ship. But in the next scene, when Wheeljack's ship is being attacked, there are six Vehicons.

===Continuity notes===
* The Autobots refer to their base as "[[Autobot Outpost Omega One]]."
* Ratchet mentions that the equipment's been kind of buggy since "[[Scrapheap (episode)|the infestation]]."
*Wheeljack uses the quote "metal to the pedal", first said in a [[Darkness Rising, Part 3|previous episode]] by Arcee to Bumblebee.

===Transformers references===
* Wheeljack and Bulkhead are former members of the [[Wrecker]]s. This is the team's first mention in a TV series.
* Wheeljack had fought in [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]] near the [[smelting pool|smelting pit]]s.

===Real-world references===
* Wheeljack's ship crashlands near a [[Egypt|trio of pyramids]].
* Raf and Bumblebee perform a dance called "The Robot", a street dance style popularized by the Jackson Five.
* Bumblebee can briefly be seen dancing like John Travolta in ''Saturday Night Fever''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Maulwurf'''" ("The Mole")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 11|11 November]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A régi cimbi'''" ("The Old Buddy"); "'''Besúgó'''" ("Mole") on the Season 1 Volume 2 DVD
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 18|18 January]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Teman Lama'''" ("Old Friend")
:*''Original airdate:'' 12 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Raggiro'''" ("Deception")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 15|15 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Hiken Henkei! Wheeljack Tōjō''' (秘剣変形!ホイルジャック登場, ''Secret Sword Transformation! Introducing Wheeljack'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 26]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seupai'''" (스파이, "The Spy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 20|20 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 14|14 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27|27 December]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Infiltrado'''" ("Infiltrate")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27|27 December]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Infiltrado'''" ("Infiltrate")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Just like with [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], Wheeljack's robot mode clearly has Earth vehicle kibble, even though it's stated that he doesn't yet have a local [[alternate mode]].
* Wheeljack is the first Cybertronian who is not part of the main cast to survive his own debut episode.
* Starscream once again attempts to kill a prisoner (Wheeljack) the moment they insinuate he isn't in charge. Only this time, he is stopped by Soundwave.
* Bulkhead mentions that Wheeljack has a public service record. Presumably, this is true for all Autobots in the military.
* While [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] was the first character shown with a hand-held gun, Wheeljack is the first one shown with a pair of hand-held melee weapons (in this case, two swords).
* Adaptations of this episode include a storybook for younger readers titled ''[[Decepticon in Disguise]]''.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Con Job

2013-08-19T19:18:15Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Continuity errors */

{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 8
|prev=Scrapheap (episode)
|next=Convoy (episode)
|image=ConJob-getthispartystarted.jpg
|caption=Quick! They must [[A Prime Problem|have a race!]] Or [[Where Is Thy Sting?|play video games!]]
|title="Con Job"
|airdate=[[February 25]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Steven Melching]]
|directed by=[[Vinton Heuck]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}
'''Bulkhead awaits the arrival of his friend Wheeljack—what could go wrong?'''

==Synopsis==
With their chores done, [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] is looking forward to "dune bashing" with [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]], but he'd rather check out the monster truck rally in [[Jasper|town]]. Their plans are interrupted when [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] receives a signal from a starship headed for [[Earth]]. [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] wonders if it might be a [[Decepticon]] trap, but Bulkhead identifies the incoming [[Autobot]] as his old friend and [[Wrecker]] pal, [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] sends landing coordinates for Wheeljack's landing the next day, and Bulkhead is excited to see his old friend.

On the [[Trypticon (WFC)|Decepticon ship]], [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] has monitored the conversation and it gives [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] the chance he needs. He orders [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] to prepare for a mission.

[[Image:Tfprime_winged_vehicon_pose(2).jpg‎ |thumb|left|250px|Your wallet. They want it.]]The kids are excited to be getting to meet a new Autobot. Ratchet has problems getting the [[GroundBridge]] working, due to the damage sustained during the [[Scraplet]] infestation. Their instruments pick up Decepticon signals closing on [[Jackhammer (Prime)|Wheeljack's ship]]. Indeed, the [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] manage to shoot down the ship, but Wheeljack emerges from the wreckage and starts smashing the tar out of them. Ratchet finally gets the GroundBridge operational, and Bulkhead, Arcee and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] storm through to find Wheeljack finishing off the last of the 'cons. Bulkhead greets his old friend with a massive bear hug, and the four Autobots return to base. Wheeljack hits it off with Miko right away, and checks in with Optimus. Ratchet's not as enthusiastic as the others with Bulkhead's friend, as he senses impending destruction.

Starscream discusses their success in getting a spy into the Autobot base as he and Soundwave pay a visit to their prisoner — the real Wheeljack. Now he's inside the Autobot base, Makeshift will be able to activate the GroundBridge and reveal the base's location so Starscream can send the troops in. Wheeljack mocks Starscream, who's prevented from killing the prisoner by Soundwave since Wheeljack may yet be of use.

The Autobots and kids celebrate Wheeljack's arrival, Miko by breaking out her electric guitar and Bulkhead and "Wheeljack" by engaging in some [[Cybertronian_sport#Lobbing| Lobbing]]. After some encouragement by Miko, [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]] busts some dance moves by doing The Robot, and Bumblebee joins in. Makeshift takes some time to fish for info on the GroundBridge from Ratchet, who says it's in the middle of defragging and can't be used for a few hours.

Starscream wonders why Makeshift is taking so long to get the GroundBridge activated, since he won't be able to keep the Autobots fooled for long.

Bulkhead tells the kids about a battle he and Wheeljack took part in, and Makeshift barely covers for his lack of knowledge. Bulkhead observes that his old friend seems different, but Makeshift writes this off as jet lag, and asks Miko to show him around the base. However Bulkhead's suspicions have been raised, and Arcee's suggestions don't allay them.

On the Decepticon ship, Wheeljack manages to kill his guard and get free from his bonds.

[[Image:ConJob-Makeshifthostage.jpg|right|thumb|300px|They're not dolls, they're action figures!]]

Miko wanders the base with Makeshift, and the 'con manages to get the location of the Autobot base out of her. Miko promises to show him the way out, and they return to the control center, where Bulkhead asks his "friend" to tell the story of the [[Battle of Darkmount Pass]]. Makeshift tells the story, but manages to get one crucial detail wrong — Bulkhead wasn't part of the battle. Realizing that his cover's blown, Makeshift takes Miko hostage.

Starscream and Soundwave hang out on top of the Decepticon ship with a bunch of Vehicons, waiting for Makeshift to open the GroundBridge. They're confronted by Wheeljack, who fights his way through a bunch of Vehicons and pounces on Starscream. As more 'cons rush towards Wheeljack, the GroundBridge activates, courtesy of Makeshift. Makeshift's ready to enter the GroundBridge at the Autobot end, when Wheeljack comes flying through it and lands on him. Ratchet shuts down the GroundBridge before any Decepticons come through. The two Wheeljacks draw their swords and fight at length while the Autobots fail to keep track of who's who. Wheeljack, of course, triumphs.

Starscream is pleased when the GroundBridge opens again and orders the Vehicons through, however it's only been reopened so Bulkhead can throw Makeshift through. The 'con lands on Starscream, who asks if Makeshift has obtained the location of the Autobot base. Makeshift's in the process of telling him when Starscream realizes that the grenade Makeshift is wearing has been primed and is about to explode, and he and Soundwave retreat, leaving Makeshift and a number of Vehicons to die in the ensuing explosion.

The Autobots have another party, to Ratchet's pain. Bulkhead suggests they pick out a vehicle mode for Wheeljack, but Wheeljack says he's not staying now that his ship's fixed. The next morning, he offers to take Bulkhead with him, but Bulkhead's too attached to Earth and Miko to leave. Miko snaps a picture of the two Autobots with [[Miko's phone|her cell phone]] before Wheeljack leaves.

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (5)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (8)
* [[Wheeljack (Prime)|Wheeljack]] (9)

|c2=
* [[Soundwave (WFC)|Soundwave]] (10)
* [[Starscream (WFC)|Starscream]] (11)
* [[Makeshift (Prime)|Makeshift]] (12)
* [[Vehicon (Prime)|Vehicons]] (13)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (2)
* [[Jack Darby]] (6)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (7)

}}

==Quotes==
"Yeah, I'm still picking shrapnel out of my backside!"
 "I'm not surprised, given the size of your backside."
:—'''Bulkhead''' reminisces, '''Arcee''' zings.

"Do you not see that you are vastly outnumbered?" 
"I see fellas who might vastly enjoy watching me pound some dents into you."
:—'''Starscream''' and '''Wheeljack'''

"It's like a recurring nightmare!"
:—Will '''Ratchet''' ever get a break?

"If anything happens to my favorite Wrecker, I'm coming after you!"
:—'''Wheeljack''' tells Miko to take good care of his best bud for him.

==Notes==
===Animation and technical errors===
* When the camera angle moves to show Optimus saying that he knows Wheeljack by reputation only, the shadow of Miko's heel looks lightly separated from it, as if her leg were hovering over Bulkhead's armour plate.
* Apparently, huge, alien robots can leave their tracks in the snow (see Bumblebee and Bulkhead at the beginning of the [[Scrapheap (episode)|previous episode]]), but it looks like they cannot leave any in the sand.
* Part of Wheeljack's right arm goes through his chest as he was preparing for battle on top of the Nemesis.

* When the alarm goes off, the monitor shows five bogies (Vehicons) approaching Wheeljack's ship. But in the next scene, when Wheeljack's ship is being attacked, there are six Vehicons.

===Continuity notes===
* The Autobots refer to their base as "[[Autobot Outpost Omega One]]."
* Ratchet mentions that the equipment's been kind of buggy since "[[Scrapheap (episode)|the infestation]]."

===Transformers references===
* Wheeljack and Bulkhead are former members of the [[Wrecker]]s. This is the team's first mention in a TV series.
* Wheeljack had fought in [[Darkmount (Cybertron)|Darkmount]] near the [[smelting pool|smelting pit]]s.

===Real-world references===
* Wheeljack's ship crashlands near a [[Egypt|trio of pyramids]].
* Raf and Bumblebee perform a dance called "The Robot", a street dance style popularized by the Jackson Five.
* Bumblebee can briefly be seen dancing like John Travolta in ''Saturday Night Fever''.

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Der Maulwurf'''" ("The Mole")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 11|11 November]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''A régi cimbi'''" ("The Old Buddy"); "'''Besúgó'''" ("Mole") on the Season 1 Volume 2 DVD
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 18|18 January]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Teman Lama'''" ("Old Friend")
:*''Original airdate:'' 12 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Raggiro'''" ("Deception")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 15|15 October]] [[2011]]

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Hiken Henkei! Wheeljack Tōjō''' (秘剣変形!ホイルジャック登場, ''Secret Sword Transformation! Introducing Wheeljack'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 26]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Seupai'''" (스파이, "The Spy")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 20|20 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 14|14 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27|27 December]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Infiltrado'''" ("Infiltrate")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 27|27 December]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish (Spain)'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Infiltrado'''" ("Infiltrate")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 22|22 October]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
* Just like with [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]], Wheeljack's robot mode clearly has Earth vehicle kibble, even though it's stated that he doesn't yet have a local [[alternate mode]].
* Wheeljack is the first Cybertronian who is not part of the main cast to survive his own debut episode.
* Starscream once again attempts to kill a prisoner (Wheeljack) the moment they insinuate he isn't in charge. Only this time, he is stopped by Soundwave.
* Bulkhead mentions that Wheeljack has a public service record. Presumably, this is true for all Autobots in the military.
* While [[Skyquake (Prime)|Skyquake]] was the first character shown with a hand-held gun, Wheeljack is the first one shown with a pair of hand-held melee weapons (in this case, two swords).
* Adaptations of this episode include a storybook for younger readers titled ''[[Decepticon in Disguise]]''.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac

2013-08-19T19:16:00Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Transformers references */

Scrapheap (episode)

2013-08-16T22:43:20Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Script errors */

{{disambig2|the ''Prime'' episode|the Generation 1 Junkion|Scrapheap (G1)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 7
|prev=Masters & Students
|next=Con Job
|image=PrimeScrapletsEp7.gif
|caption=Aw, look at the cute little—
|title="Scrapheap"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Optimus and Arcee are trapped in the Arctic, the base is invaded by deadly Scraplets.'''

==Synopsis==
Trudging through the [[Arctic]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] locate a huge pod buried in the snow. They take it back to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], where their systems are checked over by [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] asks about the pod, but Ratchet says it can't be opened while it's still frozen. Even as it sits defrosting in another part of the base, the pod cracks open from the inside.

[[Image:Scrapheap-adorableScraplet.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Leprosy was never this adorable. As far as we know.]]

Optimus and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] prepare to travel to the Arctic to look for more clues regarding the pod's origins, and Ratchet gives them some temperature sensors so they can tell when their core temperatures drop to dangerous levels. The kids arrive in time to see them off, and [[Jack Darby|Jack]]'s initially keen on going with them, until he finds out where they're headed. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s still interested in seeing some snow, but Optimus says the conditions are too harsh. No sooner have Prime and Arcee stepped through the [[GroundBridge]] than the ground bridge system goes down. While the Autobots start trying to repair it, Jack and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] start playing [[Generic racing game|video games]], and Raf wanders off. He's playing "being in the Arctic" in a corridor when he stumbles on a tiny, cute metal critter. He plays Fetch with it using a bolt...which it promptly eats. Happy with his new pet, he heads back to the control room, unaware that there's a sparking hole in the equipment behind him.

Ratchet's just dug out a GroundBridge component damaged by bite-marks, when Raf returns with his find. The Autobots react in terror to the tiny critter. The kids are surprised at the reaction to what the Autobots are calling a [[Scraplet]], but then the creature starts chowing down on Bumblebee, and Raf has to beat it to death with a crowbar. Ratchet's suspicions as to the Scraplet's origin are confirmed when they check the Arctic pod and find it's been broken open — thousands of Scraplets now infest the base.

In the Arctic, Optimus and Arcee find their core temperatures have dropped into the danger zone, but Optimus is unable to contact base to request use of the ground bridge.

[[Image:Scrapheap-Ratchetinfected.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[wikipedia:Botfly|Ro-botflies]]]]

Ratchet discovers that the Scraplets have now broken the comm system. Bulkhead and Bumblebee are in favor of bugging out, but doing so will mean certain doom for Optimus and Arcee. After hearing Bulkhead's detailed description of what Scraplets can do to a 'bot, the kids volunteer to help. Since the Scraplets aren't interested in eating them, they pair off with the three Autobots, Jack helping Ratchet repair the ground bridge while the others hunt for the Scraplets. Miko and Bulkhead explore the corridors where Raf saw the first Scraplet, and after an embarrassingly girly scream and an encounter with a bunch of overhead cables, Bulkhead is set upon by the little monsters. Elsewhere, Raf and Bumblebee likewise run into a group of the things. Ratchet has meanwhile finished repairing the ground bridge, but it still refuses to function. As he investigates further, a swarm of Scraplets enter the main control room via a vent and begin flying overhead. They attack the terrified Ratchet, but Jack uses a nearby [[fire extinguisher]] to freeze them off. There are many more of the pests flying overhead, however, and as the others return from their search, the Scraplets attack and easily overwhelm the Autobots.

[[Image:Scrapheap-huddleforwarmth.jpg|left|thumb|300px|And not a tauntaun for miles.]]

While Arcee and Optimus try to keep themselves conscious and functional by talking, the kids manage to eliminate the Scraplets attacking their friends. However, from the sounds elsewhere in the base, it's clear there are many more lurking about. They come up with a plan to send the Scraplets to the Arctic by getting the ground bridge working, and Ratchet works out there must be an [[energon]] fuel line breach preventing the system from starting. The three kids take a tool kit and go to fix the breach. They're just finishing when the Scraplets decide it's time for lunch and break into the main control room, again attacking the Autobots.

Back in the Arctic, Arcee bemoans the frozen death that apparently awaits her and Optimus, especially after all they've survived so far. Optimus offers what words of philosophical comfort he can, and she says it's an honour to serve with him.

At the base, the kids rush back to the command room and let Ratchet know that the GroundBridge is back online. He opens the bridge to the Arctic before collapsing, and Bulkhead acts as bait, leading the Scraplets through. He arrives in the Arctic to see Optimus and Arcee staggering towards the bridge, and the Scraplet horde bursts through behind him. Optimus braces for attack, but the Scraplets rapidly freeze in the air and bounce harmlessly off him.

Back at base, Ratchet supervises repairs on Bumblebee and Bulkhead. He and Optimus pay tribute to the strength of their human allies, but just then Miko spots a spider and runs away screaming.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (5)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
* [[Jack Darby]] (7)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (8)

|c4=
* [[Scraplet]]s (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow." 
"I would invite you to join, Rafael, but the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots." 
"I understand..." 
"But I will bring you back a snowball."
:—'''Raf''' is snow deprived and '''Optimus''' says things you would not expect a giant alien robot to say.

"If we don't eradicate these creatures immediately, they will reduce the entire base to a scrapheap!" 
"Well, I say we bug outta here and let 'em keep it!" 
''(Bumblebee buzzes in agreement)''
:—'''Bulkhead''' reminds '''Ratchet''' that there are times when you just run.

"Bulkhead, you ''never'' run!" 
"Miko, you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot. I ''have''. They pick you apart from the inside out, going for the small, juicy bits first—fuse by fuse, circuit by circuit, 'til there's nothing left, and I mean ''nothing''...not even your optics."
:—'''Miko''' gets some nightmare fuel from '''Bulkhead'''.

"I get to be your bodyguard for once. How cool is that?!" 
"Raf found the first one here, right?" 
''(the lights turn off for a second and Bulkhead screams loudly)'' 
"Did you just scream like a little girl?" 
"No! ... Maybe. ... Can we talk about this later?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Bulkhead''' searching, and a more hilarious reversal of roles cannot be found.

"What do you suggest? Wait. How about a game? Let's play 'Who Screwed Things Up Back at Base?'" 
"Our predicament could be the result of a simple malfunction." 
"Caused by Bulkhead."
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Optimus''' prove that when things go wrong, blame it on Bulkhead.

"Bulkhead may be...too large for this world, but his inner strength is without bounds. One should not be measured by size alone."
:—'''Optimus''' gives us a life lesson while finding a nice way to call Bulkhead fat.

"You know the worst part? After battling 'Cons all these years, smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" 
"Arcee, this may not be the finish that we had planned, but if this is indeed the end, if we are to be come one with the [[Allspark]]..." 
"It's been an honor serving with you, Optimus Prime". 
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Arcee''' prepare to accept their supposed end. [[Thirst|Hey, look! (Almost all) These words repeated again!]]

"Ready for the main course? Come and get it!"
:—'''Bulkhead''', king of one-liners.

"I'd invite you in, but the place is a mess."
:—Seriously, give '''Bulkhead''' a crown.

"We're just fortunate that this infestation happened...on a Saturday."
:—'''Ratchet''' finds there's an upside to having human companions.

(''Miko screams loudly'') 
"Scraplet?!" 
"Spider! Is it on me?!" (''Miko runs away screaming'') 
"Did she just scream like a little girl?" 
:—'''Jack''' and '''Bulkhead''' learn that even '''Miko''' has her fears.

==Notes==

===Script errors===
*Although perhaps not technically an error, when Optimus was addressing Raf as to why he couldn't tag along, he says, "The conditions are much too extreme, even for '''we''' Autobots", which even sounds wrong as he says it. The correct way to say such would be "us Autobots."

===Animation errors===
*After Ratchet tries to communicate with Optimus and turns to look at the rest of the Autobots, the white part of his shoulder plate seems to slightly go through his chest.

===Continuity errors===
*When Jack, Miko and Raf reach the damaged energon fuel line, the breach on the duct is shown beneath, where the energon is seen dripping. When the kids seal the duct, they are shown doing so only on its side.

===Transformers references===
*To everyone's surprise, these Scraplets behave similar to their [[Scraplet|namesakes]], but are closer in appearance to [[Mecannibal]]s.
*At the episode's conclusion, Bumblebee is hooked up to an "[[electropulse]]" monitor, a feature of Transformer biology that got its first and only previous mention waaaay back in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]] cartoon episode, "[[Divide and Conquer]]", when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] declared his to be fading.
*Arcee mentions Bulkhead running into power lines shortly after arriving on Earth, which recalls a different [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s [[Transformers (film)|"tingly" encounter]].

===Real-world references===
* A [[wikipedia:dolly zoom|dolly zoom]] happens when Raf realizes the Scraplet is attacking Bumblebee.
* Ratchet remarks the Scraplet's bites on Bumblebee's are "[[Wikipedia:Black Knight (Monty Python)|just a mesh wound]]".
* The initial search for the scraplets is called a "[[Wikipedia:Aliens (film)|bug hunt]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Invasion der Scraplets'''" ("Invasion of the Scraplets")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 4|4 November]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Scraplet-ek'''" ("Scraplets"); "'''Roncskupac'''" ("Scrapheap") on the Season 1 Volume 2 DVD
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 17|17 January]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Invasi Scraplet'''" ("Scraplet Invation")
:*''Original airdate:'' 11 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Schegge'''" ("Slivers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 9|9 October]] [[2011]]
:** Due to the lack of a proper word to translate "Scraplet" with, the Scraplets have been renamed "Schegge" (singular: "Scheggia"), which means "slivers" or "fragments".

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Gokkan Henkei!? Minicon no Kyōfu''' (極寒変形!?ミニコンの恐怖, ''Freezing Transformation!? Terror of the Minicons'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 19]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gongpo ui Seukeurepeullit'''" (공포의 스크레플릿, "Scraplets of Terror")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 19|19 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|13 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20|20 December]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20|20 December]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*A sequence from this episode (from the start of Miko and Bulkhead exploring up to Bulkhead's arm thrusting into the air) was shown to the attendees of [[Toy Fair 2011]] prior to the episode's premiere.
*Miko's hair moves during this episode. When Bulkhead first screams, the shadow of her twin buns can be seen jumping up. After, when she screams thinking she saw a spider, the buns ''and'' her ponytail curl up.
*Raf never did get that snowball. Guess Optimus was too busy dying to scoop some up.
*This is the first, and so far only, episode which doesn't feature the [[Decepticon]]s.
*It is not an error that the Autobots can freeze in the [[Arctic]] but not in space. The idea that being in space will immediately freeze you up like a popsicle is a [http://www.universetoday.com/77070/how-cold-is-space/ lie perpetuated by bad science fiction]. This isn't the [[Fire in the Sky|first time]] [[Megatron (Movie)|it's happened]].
*Bulkhead [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|is not the only Autobot]] with a "girlish scream".
**When he screamed, his eyes briefly widened. You could see it clearly when the lights went out.
* The entire plot of this episode is very similar to an episode from Prime's fellow [[Hasbro]]-sponsored show, ''[[My Little Pony]]: Friendship is Magic,'' namely the episode ''Swarm of the Century''. Both episodes revolved around a character bringing in an innocuous-looking creature that proceeded to rapidly multiply and cause havoc by devouring various things, and the characters themselves trying (and failing) to remove the threat. However, fitting the difference in tone between the two series, Scraplets are significantly more dangerous than Parasprites; they pose a direct threat to the heroes themselves, it takes more than a jaunty polka tune to deal with them, and they're a fair bit less cute (at least, when they open their mouths). Both plots are likely based off the episode of ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''The Trouble With Tribbles''.
*This episode was later adapted as a storybook under the name ''[[Attack of the Scraplets!]]''.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

Scrapheap (episode)

2013-08-16T22:42:44Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Notes */

{{disambig2|the ''Prime'' episode|the Generation 1 Junkion|Scrapheap (G1)}}
{{episode|
|otherseries=''[[Transformers: Prime (cartoon)|Transformers: Prime]]'' ep 7
|prev=Masters & Students
|next=Con Job
|image=PrimeScrapletsEp7.gif
|caption=Aw, look at the cute little—
|title="Scrapheap"
|airdate=[[February 18]], [[2011]]
|written by=[[Marsha Griffin]]
|directed by=[[Shaunt Nigoghossian]]
|animation studio=[[Polygon Pictures]]
|production company=[[Hasbro Studios]]
}}

'''While Optimus and Arcee are trapped in the Arctic, the base is invaded by deadly Scraplets.'''

==Synopsis==
Trudging through the [[Arctic]], [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] and [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] locate a huge pod buried in the snow. They take it back to [[Autobot Outpost Omega One|base]], where their systems are checked over by [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]]. [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus]] asks about the pod, but Ratchet says it can't be opened while it's still frozen. Even as it sits defrosting in another part of the base, the pod cracks open from the inside.

[[Image:Scrapheap-adorableScraplet.jpg|left|thumb|200px|Leprosy was never this adorable. As far as we know.]]

Optimus and [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] prepare to travel to the Arctic to look for more clues regarding the pod's origins, and Ratchet gives them some temperature sensors so they can tell when their core temperatures drop to dangerous levels. The kids arrive in time to see them off, and [[Jack Darby|Jack]]'s initially keen on going with them, until he finds out where they're headed. [[Raf Esquivel|Raf]]'s still interested in seeing some snow, but Optimus says the conditions are too harsh. No sooner have Prime and Arcee stepped through the [[GroundBridge]] than the ground bridge system goes down. While the Autobots start trying to repair it, Jack and [[Miko Nakadai|Miko]] start playing [[Generic racing game|video games]], and Raf wanders off. He's playing "being in the Arctic" in a corridor when he stumbles on a tiny, cute metal critter. He plays Fetch with it using a bolt...which it promptly eats. Happy with his new pet, he heads back to the control room, unaware that there's a sparking hole in the equipment behind him.

Ratchet's just dug out a GroundBridge component damaged by bite-marks, when Raf returns with his find. The Autobots react in terror to the tiny critter. The kids are surprised at the reaction to what the Autobots are calling a [[Scraplet]], but then the creature starts chowing down on Bumblebee, and Raf has to beat it to death with a crowbar. Ratchet's suspicions as to the Scraplet's origin are confirmed when they check the Arctic pod and find it's been broken open — thousands of Scraplets now infest the base.

In the Arctic, Optimus and Arcee find their core temperatures have dropped into the danger zone, but Optimus is unable to contact base to request use of the ground bridge.

[[Image:Scrapheap-Ratchetinfected.jpg|right|thumb|250px|[[wikipedia:Botfly|Ro-botflies]]]]

Ratchet discovers that the Scraplets have now broken the comm system. Bulkhead and Bumblebee are in favor of bugging out, but doing so will mean certain doom for Optimus and Arcee. After hearing Bulkhead's detailed description of what Scraplets can do to a 'bot, the kids volunteer to help. Since the Scraplets aren't interested in eating them, they pair off with the three Autobots, Jack helping Ratchet repair the ground bridge while the others hunt for the Scraplets. Miko and Bulkhead explore the corridors where Raf saw the first Scraplet, and after an embarrassingly girly scream and an encounter with a bunch of overhead cables, Bulkhead is set upon by the little monsters. Elsewhere, Raf and Bumblebee likewise run into a group of the things. Ratchet has meanwhile finished repairing the ground bridge, but it still refuses to function. As he investigates further, a swarm of Scraplets enter the main control room via a vent and begin flying overhead. They attack the terrified Ratchet, but Jack uses a nearby [[fire extinguisher]] to freeze them off. There are many more of the pests flying overhead, however, and as the others return from their search, the Scraplets attack and easily overwhelm the Autobots.

[[Image:Scrapheap-huddleforwarmth.jpg|left|thumb|300px|And not a tauntaun for miles.]]

While Arcee and Optimus try to keep themselves conscious and functional by talking, the kids manage to eliminate the Scraplets attacking their friends. However, from the sounds elsewhere in the base, it's clear there are many more lurking about. They come up with a plan to send the Scraplets to the Arctic by getting the ground bridge working, and Ratchet works out there must be an [[energon]] fuel line breach preventing the system from starting. The three kids take a tool kit and go to fix the breach. They're just finishing when the Scraplets decide it's time for lunch and break into the main control room, again attacking the Autobots.

Back in the Arctic, Arcee bemoans the frozen death that apparently awaits her and Optimus, especially after all they've survived so far. Optimus offers what words of philosophical comfort he can, and she says it's an honour to serve with him.

At the base, the kids rush back to the command room and let Ratchet know that the GroundBridge is back online. He opens the bridge to the Arctic before collapsing, and Bulkhead acts as bait, leading the Scraplets through. He arrives in the Arctic to see Optimus and Arcee staggering towards the bridge, and the Scraplet horde bursts through behind him. Optimus braces for attack, but the Scraplets rapidly freeze in the air and bounce harmlessly off him.

Back at base, Ratchet supervises repairs on Bumblebee and Bulkhead. He and Optimus pay tribute to the strength of their human allies, but just then Miko spots a spider and runs away screaming.
{{-}}

==Featured characters==
{{featuredcharacters
|c1=
* [[Bulkhead (Prime)|Bulkhead]] (1)
* [[Bumblebee (WFC)|Bumblebee]] (2)
* [[Ratchet (WFC)|Ratchet]] (3)
* [[Optimus Prime (WFC)|Optimus Prime]] (4)
* [[Arcee (WFC)|Arcee]] (5)

|c3=
* [[Miko Nakadai]] (6)
* [[Jack Darby]] (7)
* [[Raf Esquivel]] (8)

|c4=
* [[Scraplet]]s (9)

}}

==Quotes==
"The Arctic? I've always wanted to see snow." 
"I would invite you to join, Rafael, but the conditions are much too extreme, even for we Autobots." 
"I understand..." 
"But I will bring you back a snowball."
:—'''Raf''' is snow deprived and '''Optimus''' says things you would not expect a giant alien robot to say.

"If we don't eradicate these creatures immediately, they will reduce the entire base to a scrapheap!" 
"Well, I say we bug outta here and let 'em keep it!" 
''(Bumblebee buzzes in agreement)''
:—'''Bulkhead''' reminds '''Ratchet''' that there are times when you just run.

"Bulkhead, you ''never'' run!" 
"Miko, you haven't seen a swarm of these things devour a bot. I ''have''. They pick you apart from the inside out, going for the small, juicy bits first—fuse by fuse, circuit by circuit, 'til there's nothing left, and I mean ''nothing''...not even your optics."
:—'''Miko''' gets some nightmare fuel from '''Bulkhead'''.

"I get to be your bodyguard for once. How cool is that?!" 
"Raf found the first one here, right?" 
''(the lights turn off for a second and Bulkhead screams loudly)'' 
"Did you just scream like a little girl?" 
"No! ... Maybe. ... Can we talk about this later?"
:—'''Miko''' and '''Bulkhead''' searching, and a more hilarious reversal of roles cannot be found.

"What do you suggest? Wait. How about a game? Let's play 'Who Screwed Things Up Back at Base?'" 
"Our predicament could be the result of a simple malfunction." 
"Caused by Bulkhead."
:—'''Arcee''' and '''Optimus''' prove that when things go wrong, blame it on Bulkhead.

"Bulkhead may be...too large for this world, but his inner strength is without bounds. One should not be measured by size alone."
:—'''Optimus''' gives us a life lesson while finding a nice way to call Bulkhead fat.

"You know the worst part? After battling 'Cons all these years, smacked down, shot at, blown up, this is how our lights go out?" 
"Arcee, this may not be the finish that we had planned, but if this is indeed the end, if we are to be come one with the [[Allspark]]..." 
"It's been an honor serving with you, Optimus Prime". 
:—'''Optimus''' and '''Arcee''' prepare to accept their supposed end. [[Thirst|Hey, look! (Almost all) These words repeated again!]]

"Ready for the main course? Come and get it!"
:—'''Bulkhead''', king of one-liners.

"I'd invite you in, but the place is a mess."
:—Seriously, give '''Bulkhead''' a crown.

"We're just fortunate that this infestation happened...on a Saturday."
:—'''Ratchet''' finds there's an upside to having human companions.

(''Miko screams loudly'') 
"Scraplet?!" 
"Spider! Is it on me?!" (''Miko runs away screaming'') 
"Did she just scream like a little girl?" 
:—'''Jack''' and '''Bulkhead''' learn that even '''Miko''' has her fears.

==Notes==

===Script errors===
*Although perhaps not technically an error, when Optimus was addressing Raf as to why he couldn't tag along, he says, "The conditions are much too extreme, even for '''we''' Autobots.", which even sounds wrong as he says it. The correct way to say such would be "us Autobots." Go figure.

===Animation errors===
*After Ratchet tries to communicate with Optimus and turns to look at the rest of the Autobots, the white part of his shoulder plate seems to slightly go through his chest.

===Continuity errors===
*When Jack, Miko and Raf reach the damaged energon fuel line, the breach on the duct is shown beneath, where the energon is seen dripping. When the kids seal the duct, they are shown doing so only on its side.

===Transformers references===
*To everyone's surprise, these Scraplets behave similar to their [[Scraplet|namesakes]], but are closer in appearance to [[Mecannibal]]s.
*At the episode's conclusion, Bumblebee is hooked up to an "[[electropulse]]" monitor, a feature of Transformer biology that got its first and only previous mention waaaay back in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1]] cartoon episode, "[[Divide and Conquer]]", when [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]] declared his to be fading.
*Arcee mentions Bulkhead running into power lines shortly after arriving on Earth, which recalls a different [[Ratchet (Movie)|Ratchet]]'s [[Transformers (film)|"tingly" encounter]].

===Real-world references===
* A [[wikipedia:dolly zoom|dolly zoom]] happens when Raf realizes the Scraplet is attacking Bumblebee.
* Ratchet remarks the Scraplet's bites on Bumblebee's are "[[Wikipedia:Black Knight (Monty Python)|just a mesh wound]]".
* The initial search for the scraplets is called a "[[Wikipedia:Aliens (film)|bug hunt]]".

===Foreign localization===
'''German'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Invasion der Scraplets'''" ("Invasion of the Scraplets")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[November 4|4 November]] [[2011]]

'''Hungarian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Scraplet-ek'''" ("Scraplets"); "'''Roncskupac'''" ("Scrapheap") on the Season 1 Volume 2 DVD
:*''Original airdate:'' [[January 17|17 January]] [[2012]]

'''Indonesian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Invasi Scraplet'''" ("Scraplet Invation")
:*''Original airdate:'' 11 September [[2012]]

'''Italian'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Schegge'''" ("Slivers")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[October 9|9 October]] [[2011]]
:** Due to the lack of a proper word to translate "Scraplet" with, the Scraplets have been renamed "Schegge" (singular: "Scheggia"), which means "slivers" or "fragments".

'''Japanese'''
:*''Title:'' '''Gokkan Henkei!? Minicon no Kyōfu''' (極寒変形!?ミニコンの恐怖, ''Freezing Transformation!? Terror of the Minicons'')
:*''Original airdate:'' [[May 19]], [[2012]]

'''Korean'''
:*''Title:'' "'''Gongpo ui Seukeurepeullit'''" (공포의 스크레플릿, "Scraplets of Terror")
:*''Original airdate:'' [[September 19|19 September]] [[2011]]

'''Polish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 13|13 December]] [[2011]]

'''Portuguese'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20|20 December]] [[2011]]

'''Spanish'''
:*''Title:'' ?
:*''Original airdate:'' [[December 20|20 December]] [[2011]]

===Trivia===
*A sequence from this episode (from the start of Miko and Bulkhead exploring up to Bulkhead's arm thrusting into the air) was shown to the attendees of [[Toy Fair 2011]] prior to the episode's premiere.
*Miko's hair moves during this episode. When Bulkhead first screams, the shadow of her twin buns can be seen jumping up. After, when she screams thinking she saw a spider, the buns ''and'' her ponytail curl up.
*Raf never did get that snowball. Guess Optimus was too busy dying to scoop some up.
*This is the first, and so far only, episode which doesn't feature the [[Decepticon]]s.
*It is not an error that the Autobots can freeze in the [[Arctic]] but not in space. The idea that being in space will immediately freeze you up like a popsicle is a [http://www.universetoday.com/77070/how-cold-is-space/ lie perpetuated by bad science fiction]. This isn't the [[Fire in the Sky|first time]] [[Megatron (Movie)|it's happened]].
*Bulkhead [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|is not the only Autobot]] with a "girlish scream".
**When he screamed, his eyes briefly widened. You could see it clearly when the lights went out.
* The entire plot of this episode is very similar to an episode from Prime's fellow [[Hasbro]]-sponsored show, ''[[My Little Pony]]: Friendship is Magic,'' namely the episode ''Swarm of the Century''. Both episodes revolved around a character bringing in an innocuous-looking creature that proceeded to rapidly multiply and cause havoc by devouring various things, and the characters themselves trying (and failing) to remove the threat. However, fitting the difference in tone between the two series, Scraplets are significantly more dangerous than Parasprites; they pose a direct threat to the heroes themselves, it takes more than a jaunty polka tune to deal with them, and they're a fair bit less cute (at least, when they open their mouths). Both plots are likely based off the episode of ''[[Star Trek]]'', ''The Trouble With Tribbles''.
*This episode was later adapted as a storybook under the name ''[[Attack of the Scraplets!]]''.

[[Category:Prime episodes]]

2013-08-10T20:02:27Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the Autobot from Generation 1|the Autobot from Animated|Erector (Animated)}}
:''Erector (giggle) is an [[Autobot]] [[Micromaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1Erector MTMTE.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Maybe I should form a support group with [[Heave]] and [[Discharge]].]]
'''Erector''' is horrified by the destruction of war, and goes out of his way to construct battle plans that minimize loss of life and collateral damage. Indeed, he will sometimes put himself at risk to save beautiful buildings or scenery. As a result, his fellow Autobots respect his reticence, not least because of his immense durability and strength. They also admire the cunning plans he uses to trap Decepticons without gunfire (many of them involving his trailer's hydraulic crane, which can throw 'Cons into the next county). As a construction engineer, he specializes in fortifications.<ref>''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #2</ref>

{{bigquote|Everyone loses if there's nothing to win.|The only thing Erector's ever said|from his [[bio]] quote.}}

==Fiction==
===''Zone'' story pages===
When the ocean-covered world of [[Wall]] was attacked by [[King Poseidon|Aquatic General King Poseidon]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Saurian General Trypticon]], [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] charged into battle, but was quickly overwhelmed. Luckily, the four commanders, [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], Erector (chuckle), [[Missile Bull]], and [[Skywave]] arrived to save him. Commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road]], [[Jet Patrol Team|Jet]], and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol]] Teams, they arrived in time to save the drowning citizens of Wall, rescue Victory Saber, and beat back the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

===''Hall of Fame'' bio===
Once a member of the [[Constructicon (disambiguation)|Constructicon]]s, Erector was rejected in favor of [[Hook (disambiguation)|Hook]] because he wasn't green. After helping win the battle of [[Tyger Pax]] through the power of being a superlative bullet magnet, Erector became known as the top Autobot engineer, designing the [[Armada Laserbeak Surveillance System]] and the [[Real Gear Quick Action Weaponry]]. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}}

{{note|Many of the Hall of Fame entries are skewed towards the new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned continuity]]. Erector's bio seems to lean this way as well, but as there is no such established character as Aligned Erector yet in any fiction, the entry has been placed here. Where it finally belongs is open to debate.}}

[[File:ErectorHaulerVsConstrcuticonsPanel.jpg|right|175px|thumb|"Ya Yellow Bellied Runt!".]]
===''Wings Universe''===
Erector and [[Hauler]] were part of an Autobot taskforce who ambushed the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s at [[Elevation Recostalus]] and succeeded in neutralizing the Decepticon team. {{storylink|Transformers I.Q.#issue 45|Transformers I.Q. last issue review}}

===''Regeneration One''===
{{ongoing}}
After twenty-one years of peace, the resurrected Decepticon [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and infected most of the Autobots with a [[Gene Key]] that turned them into Decepticons. Having undergone this process, Erector assisted Scorponok and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] in creating a planet-scale version of the Gene Key in the [[Sonic Canyons]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part 4|Natural Selection #4}}
{{-}}

==Commercials==
[[Image:Erector-commercial.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He knows his place.]]
Erector was included in an army of Micromaster Autobots who swarmed and overwhelmed a [[Giant Decepticon Soldier]]. He was also part of a vast Micromaster city/society that could fit in the palm of [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s hand. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2sGiQPOSxs]
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1-toy Erector.jpg|300px|thumb|If you experience an Erector lasting more than three hours, contact your doctor immediately.]]
*'''Erector''' (Micromaster Transport, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Crane trailer

:Erector transforms into a yellow and gray semi cab pulling a relatively huge [[Crane|crane trailer]]. Being asymmetrical, the cab does not resemble traditional semi cabs, instead looking like the front end of a (one-piece) mobile crane, such as [http://www.kato-works.co.jp/eng/products/allterr/r01.html this Kato model].

:Despite their small size, Erector and his trailer have lots of sculpted detailing; e.g., he has windshield wipers 1/8th" (3.2mm) long. For [[paint operation]]s, by contrast, he's limited to orange paint on his face, windshield, and side window (the trailer has none whatsoever). His fifth wheel (known as a "hitch" among fans) nominally allows the cab to turn as it tows the trailer (out of the box, it's too tight a fit for this). The crane itself can be removed from the trailer, and connected directly to Erector's hitch.

:Erector's transformation, as for most Micromasters, is trivial: flip his conjoined legs around, fold up his head, and you're done. His only articulation is at his (oddly-placed) hips, and shoulders. His crane trailer transforms into a battle station, with a main gun, and a smaller double-barreled gun that Erector can man (though he can't grasp the handles). He can man it either standing (there's a peg for his feet), or sitting (there's a circular indentation that fits the hitch on his calves).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Autobot/Erector/erector.htm More information on Erector at TFU.info]''

===Zone===
*'''Cragun''' (Micro TF DX, 1990)
**''Accessories'': Crane trailer

:Erector was sold without changes a year later in Japan as "Cragun".
{{-}}

==Notes==
*As we're pretty sure you've already seen (please don't deny it), Erector really has one of, if not ''the'' most awkward names in all of the Transformers Universe. The only one that perhaps ties with him is Autobot [[Discharge]].
*According to [[Hasbro]] designer [[Joe Kyde]]'s [http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090101122334/http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsid=4EC7EA7D-D56F-E112-46AC70D02754072E design notes on Hasbro's Transformers website], the original [[Mudflap (Movie)|Movie Mudflap]] (not [[Mudflap (ROTF)|the twin]]) was initially going to use the unreleased [[Landslide (Decepticon)|Landslide]] deco, with the name "Sawtooth". It was decided that Landslide's deco wasn't realistic enough for the Movie toyline, so a new deco based on Erector was chosen. The names Sawtooth and Erector were unavailable, so he got stuck being Mudflap.
*His Japanese name, "Cragun", apparently comes from his trailer, which is a "crane-gun".
*Erector's nigh-nonexistent fictional appearances are augmented by his presence on the cover of [[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue .232|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]]. He's in the upper-right corner, and appears to be about the size of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s head.
*In a ''[[Lil Formers]]'' strip included in "[[Spotlight: Wheelie]]", [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] reveals that Erector is 7660th in the line of succession to be [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], just after [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], but before [[Chip Chase]]. So, one huge bot-killing spree would give us an Erectimus Prime.
*As the word "Erector" in the domain of toys is ''thoroughly'' [[trademark]]ed by [[wikipedia:Meccano Ltd|Meccano Ltd]] for [[Erector set]] construction toys—they even own it [http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77878820 specifically for toy robots!]—the only chance of seeing it on a ''Transformers'' toy again would be if Meccano Ltd were to suddenly go out of business.
*As a [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] nominee, Erector's name was rendered as "Autobot Erector". This was something of an empty gesture, as putting "Autobot" in front of his name wouldn't actually allow Hasbro to use that trademark in the field of toys. (Granted, a write-up on a webpage isn't actually something that you can trademark...)
*Erector's Hall of Fame candidacy came about from a push by various Transformers message boards, starting with TFW2005. Though some board admins reported that many of Erector's Hall of Fame votes came from new users who signed up just to vote for him, the campaign nonetheless attracted a lot of followers. These dedicated fans even had badges produced and handed out for free at BotCon, business cards, vinyl banners, and an online store for Erector apparel, which donated all of its profits to charity. There were mixed feelings about Erector's candidacy, and when Erector fans carried a series of banners into the Hall of Fame auditorium, there was a lot of booing in response.
*His bio quote, above, is no longer technically the ''only'' thing he's ever said. His Hall of Fame nominee quote was, "Wait, what is this? Why am I here?"
*Due to Erector's near-total lack of fictional appearances, [[Hasbro]] had to take a different approach to Erector's Hall of Fame nomination video than has been used for other characters. The video is more analogous to the videos for human inductees, featuring a series of interviews, and describes a long history of instances of Erector almost, but not quite, turning up in later incarnations of the brand. Visuals include a ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' redeco of his toy in colors reminiscent of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], a ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' version with a beaver [[alternate mode]], an ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Erector (Animated)|Erector]] who would have formed the "pants" of an ''Animated'' [[Devastator (Animated)|Devastator]], a [[Movie (franchise)|movie]] Erector design, and an Erector-based ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' cover. There was also a ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]''-styled Erector designed by [[Jagex]]. All of this was, of course, completely fictional and invented for the video. Following the video, [[Aaron Archer]] noted that doing this was fun once, but asked the fandom to please not do a similar thing again.
*Since Erector was nominated for the Hall of Fame, this page has expanded to nearly triple its previous size, thus proving there's always ''something'' to say about ''anything''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cragun''' (クレーガン ''Kurēgan'')
*''French:'' '''Éregon'''
*''Italian:'' '''Tractor'''

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External Links==
*[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-2011-Nominee-ERECTOR.cfm Erector's ''Transformers Hall of Fame'' nomination entry]

[[Category:Constructicons]]
[[Category:Engineers]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Decepticons]]
[[Category:Micromasters]]
[[Category:Turncoats]]
[[Category:Zone Autobots]]

Erector (G1)

2013-08-10T20:01:32Z

Vehicon Gary: /* Notes */

{{factions|autobot|decepticon}}
{{disambig2|the Autobot from Generation 1|the Autobot from Animated|Erector (Animated)}}
:''Erector (giggle) is an [[Autobot]] [[Micromaster]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''

[[Image:G1Erector MTMTE.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Maybe I should form a support group with [[Heave]] and [[Discharge]].]]
'''Erector''' is horrified by the destruction of war, and goes out of his way to construct battle plans that minimize loss of life and collateral damage. Indeed, he will sometimes put himself at risk to save beautiful buildings or scenery. As a result, his fellow Autobots respect his reticence, not least because of his immense durability and strength. They also admire the cunning plans he uses to trap Decepticons without gunfire (many of them involving his trailer's hydraulic crane, which can throw 'Cons into the next county). As a construction engineer, he specializes in fortifications.<ref>''[[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye|More than Meets the Eye]]'' #2</ref>

{{bigquote|Everyone loses if there's nothing to win.|The only thing Erector's ever said|from his [[bio]] quote.}}

==Fiction==
===''Zone'' story pages===
When the ocean-covered world of [[Wall]] was attacked by [[King Poseidon|Aquatic General King Poseidon]] and [[Trypticon (G1)|Saurian General Trypticon]], [[Star Saber (Victory)|Victory Saber]] charged into battle, but was quickly overwhelmed. Luckily, the four commanders, [[Overload (G1)|Overload]], Erector (chuckle), [[Missile Bull]], and [[Skywave]] arrived to save him. Commanding the [[Off Road Patrol|Off Road]], [[Jet Patrol Team|Jet]], and [[Race Car Patrol|Race Car Patrol]] Teams, they arrived in time to save the drowning citizens of Wall, rescue Victory Saber, and beat back the [[Decepticon]]s. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Zone (story page)|Zone Part 3}}

===''Hall of Fame'' bio===
Once a member of the [[Constructicon (disambiguation)|Constructicon]]s, Erector was rejected in favor of [[Hook (disambiguation)|Hook]] because he wasn't green. After helping win the battle of [[Tyger Pax]] through the power of being a superlative bullet magnet, Erector became known as the top Autobot engineer, designing the [[Armada Laserbeak Surveillance System]] and the [[Real Gear Quick Action Weaponry]]. {{storylink|Transformers Hall of Fame}}

{{note|Many of the Hall of Fame entries are skewed towards the new [[Aligned continuity family|Aligned continuity]]. Erector's bio seems to lean this way as well, but as there is no such established character as Aligned Erector yet in any fiction, the entry has been placed here. Where it finally belongs is open to debate.}}

[[File:ErectorHaulerVsConstrcuticonsPanel.jpg|right|175px|thumb|"Ya Yellow Bellied Runt!".]]
===''Wings Universe''===
Erector and [[Hauler]] were part of an Autobot taskforce who ambushed the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicon]]s at [[Elevation Recostalus]] and succeeded in neutralizing the Decepticon team. {{storylink|Transformers I.Q.#issue 45|Transformers I.Q. last issue review}}

===''Regeneration One''===
{{ongoing}}
After twenty-one years of peace, the resurrected Decepticon [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]] returned to [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]] and infected most of the Autobots with a [[Gene Key]] that turned them into Decepticons. Having undergone this process, Erector assisted Scorponok and [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] in creating a planet-scale version of the Gene Key in the [[Sonic Canyons]]. {{storylink|Natural Selection, Part 4|Natural Selection #4}}
{{-}}

==Commercials==
[[Image:Erector-commercial.jpg|right|thumb|300px|He knows his place.]]
Erector was included in an army of Micromaster Autobots who swarmed and overwhelmed a [[Giant Decepticon Soldier]]. He was also part of a vast Micromaster city/society that could fit in the palm of [[Powermaster]] [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]]'s hand. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2sGiQPOSxs]
{{-}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[Image:G1-toy Erector.jpg|300px|thumb|If you experience an Erector lasting more than three hours, contact your doctor immediately.]]
*'''Erector''' (Micromaster Transport, 1989)
**''Accessories'': Crane trailer

:Erector transforms into a yellow and gray semi cab pulling a relatively huge [[Crane|crane trailer]]. Being asymmetrical, the cab does not resemble traditional semi cabs, instead looking like the front end of a (one-piece) mobile crane, such as [http://www.kato-works.co.jp/eng/products/allterr/r01.html this Kato model].

:Despite their small size, Erector and his trailer have lots of sculpted detailing; e.g., he has windshield wipers 1/8th" (3.2mm) long. For [[paint operation]]s, by contrast, he's limited to orange paint on his face, windshield, and side window (the trailer has none whatsoever). His fifth wheel (known as a "hitch" among fans) nominally allows the cab to turn as it tows the trailer (out of the box, it's too tight a fit for this). The crane itself can be removed from the trailer, and connected directly to Erector's hitch.

:Erector's transformation, as for most Micromasters, is trivial: flip his conjoined legs around, fold up his head, and you're done. His only articulation is at his (oddly-placed) hips, and shoulders. His crane trailer transforms into a battle station, with a main gun, and a smaller double-barreled gun that Erector can man (though he can't grasp the handles). He can man it either standing (there's a peg for his feet), or sitting (there's a circular indentation that fits the hitch on his calves).

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/1989/Autobot/Erector/erector.htm More information on Erector at TFU.info]''

===Zone===
*'''Cragun''' (Micro TF DX, 1990)
**''Accessories'': Crane trailer

:Erector was sold without changes a year later in Japan as "Cragun".
{{-}}

==Notes==
*As we're sure you've already seen (don't deny it), Erector really has one of, if not ''the'' most awkward names in all of the Transformers Universe. The only one that perhaps ties with him is Autobot [[Discharge]].
*According to [[Hasbro]] designer [[Joe Kyde]]'s [http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20090101122334/http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/default.cfm?page=News/Item&newsid=4EC7EA7D-D56F-E112-46AC70D02754072E design notes on Hasbro's Transformers website], the original [[Mudflap (Movie)|Movie Mudflap]] (not [[Mudflap (ROTF)|the twin]]) was initially going to use the unreleased [[Landslide (Decepticon)|Landslide]] deco, with the name "Sawtooth". It was decided that Landslide's deco wasn't realistic enough for the Movie toyline, so a new deco based on Erector was chosen. The names Sawtooth and Erector were unavailable, so he got stuck being Mudflap.
*His Japanese name, "Cragun", apparently comes from his trailer, which is a "crane-gun".
*Erector's nigh-nonexistent fictional appearances are augmented by his presence on the cover of [[Transformers: More than Meets the Eye#Issue .232|''More than Meets the Eye'' #2]]. He's in the upper-right corner, and appears to be about the size of [[Grimlock (G1)|Grimlock]]'s head.
*In a ''[[Lil Formers]]'' strip included in "[[Spotlight: Wheelie]]", [[Alpha Trion (G1)|Alpha Trion]] reveals that Erector is 7660th in the line of succession to be [[Prime (rank)|Prime]], just after [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], but before [[Chip Chase]]. So, one huge bot-killing spree would give us an Erectimus Prime.
*As the word "Erector" in the domain of toys is ''thoroughly'' [[trademark]]ed by [[wikipedia:Meccano Ltd|Meccano Ltd]] for [[Erector set]] construction toys—they even own it [http://tarr.uspto.gov/servlet/tarr?regser=serial&entry=77878820 specifically for toy robots!]—the only chance of seeing it on a ''Transformers'' toy again would be if Meccano Ltd were to suddenly go out of business.
*As a [[Transformers Hall of Fame]] nominee, Erector's name was rendered as "Autobot Erector". This was something of an empty gesture, as putting "Autobot" in front of his name wouldn't actually allow Hasbro to use that trademark in the field of toys. (Granted, a write-up on a webpage isn't actually something that you can trademark...)
*Erector's Hall of Fame candidacy came about from a push by various Transformers message boards, starting with TFW2005. Though some board admins reported that many of Erector's Hall of Fame votes came from new users who signed up just to vote for him, the campaign nonetheless attracted a lot of followers. These dedicated fans even had badges produced and handed out for free at BotCon, business cards, vinyl banners, and an online store for Erector apparel, which donated all of its profits to charity. There were mixed feelings about Erector's candidacy, and when Erector fans carried a series of banners into the Hall of Fame auditorium, there was a lot of booing in response.
*His bio quote, above, is no longer technically the ''only'' thing he's ever said. His Hall of Fame nominee quote was, "Wait, what is this? Why am I here?"
*Due to Erector's near-total lack of fictional appearances, [[Hasbro]] had to take a different approach to Erector's Hall of Fame nomination video than has been used for other characters. The video is more analogous to the videos for human inductees, featuring a series of interviews, and describes a long history of instances of Erector almost, but not quite, turning up in later incarnations of the brand. Visuals include a ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'' redeco of his toy in colors reminiscent of the [[Seacon (G1)|Seacons]], a ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (franchise)|Beast Wars]]'' version with a beaver [[alternate mode]], an ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Animated]]'' [[Erector (Animated)|Erector]] who would have formed the "pants" of an ''Animated'' [[Devastator (Animated)|Devastator]], a [[Movie (franchise)|movie]] Erector design, and an Erector-based ''[[The Transformers: All Hail Megatron|All Hail Megatron]]'' cover. There was also a ''[[Transformers: Prime (franchise)|Prime]]''-styled Erector designed by [[Jagex]]. All of this was, of course, completely fictional and invented for the video. Following the video, [[Aaron Archer]] noted that doing this was fun once, but asked the fandom to please not do a similar thing again.
*Since Erector was nominated for the Hall of Fame, this page has expanded to nearly triple its previous size, thus proving there's always ''something'' to say about ''anything''.

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Cragun''' (クレーガン ''Kurēgan'')
*''French:'' '''Éregon'''
*''Italian:'' '''Tractor'''

==Footnotes==
<references />

==External Links==
*[http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/en_US/discover/news/TRANSFORMERS-HALL-OF-FAME-2011-Nominee-ERECTOR.cfm Erector's ''Transformers Hall of Fame'' nomination entry]

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