Planet of Time
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| "Planet of Time" (Toki no Wakusei) | ||||||
| Production code | BWN-11 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS, Ashi Productions | |||||
| Airdate | 14 April 1999 | |||||
| Writer | Kazuhiko Gōdo | |||||
| Director | Yūnosuke Yanase | |||||
| Animation studio | Ashi Productions | |||||
| Continuity | Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity | |||||
While seeking an Angolmois capsule on Chronos, Break and Longrack are affected in... profound ways.
Synopsis
[edit]
The Gung Ho arrives at the hourglass-shaped planet Chronos, following another Angolmois capsule signal. Having been called to assemble on the bridge, Stampy looks for Heinrad, who is in his quarters groaning with pain. He insists that he is not, as everyone assumes, trying to shirk work again. Stampy reaches the bridge and relays this to the rest of the team. They're more interested in going to Chronos to get the Angolmois capsule, but NAVI warns them that the odd, cylindrical planet is listed as forbidden for approach and landing.
On the other side of Chronos, the Dinosaur lies in wait. DNAVI, today calling herself Catherine, notes that the Maximals should have arrived already, but haven't yet sent anyone to the planet. The Predacons see this simply as an opportunity to grab the capsule before the Maximals.
Back on the Gung Ho, the Predacons' approach has been noticed, forcing the Maximals' hand. Disregarding NAVI's warnings, Big Convoy dispatches Break and Longrack to the planet. He then goes to check on Heinrad, who explains that the closer they got to Chronos, the more the clock in his stomach hurt. Big Convoy assures him that they'll leave Chronos's orbit as soon as possible.
On the planet's surface, Break and Longrack set off for the capsule's surface. NAVI tries to check in with them, but is unable to make radio contact. She resorts to thermal tracking, which shows the pair heading towards the capsule. Later, the away team reach a cave from which the capsule signal is emanating. Keen for action against the Predacons, Break stays outside on guard while Longrack investigates the cave. Walking through the ruins of an ancient civilization, he finds the capsule on a pedestal in a room with flagstones set into the floor. He steps on one of these as he approaches the capsule, causing the structure to quake and a red light to fill the chamber. From the bridge of the Gung Ho, the team watch in amazement as Chronos dramatically tilts.
Outside the cave, Break is attacked by Sling and Saberback. Longrack calls to let him know he's on his way back with the capsule, but he struggles to carry it out of the cave. When he arrives on the scene, everyone is surprised to find he's noticeably smaller. The Predacons shrug off the change and go for the capsule. Break tells Longrack to take care of the capsule while he fends off the Predacons, but the snub-giraffebot throws a tantrum, insisting that he wants to prove he can fight too. He fires his Double Missile, but they bounce harmlessly off Sling's shield. The Predacons counterattack, causing Longrack to cry in panic.
Big Convoy, Colada, and Stampy arrive in time to ward off the Predacons. Returning to the Gung Ho, they're all astounded by the childlike Longrack, who throws a crying tantrum over his situation. Realizing that Longrack has been de-aged, NAVI recalls having heard of a "Planet of Time". Heinrad arrives on the bridge and tells the rest of the crew about this so-called Planet of Rejuvenation, which allowed beings to de-age themselves without limit so they could live for eternity. This ability inevitably led to wars for control of the planet, until it was declared off-limits and the records of why erased. Heinrad isn't sure if there's any way to return Longrack to his original age — though Stampy doesn't know why he'd even want to bother — until he goes to the planet to look, but warns that Longrack could just end up being made even younger. The thought of a baby Longrack terrifies the crew and Longrack slinks off to weigh his options.
On the Dinosaur, Saberback and Sling report back on the de-aging ability of Chronos. Noting that the Maximals will likely return to the planet to investigate the cave again, Guiledart and Dead End are sent by Magmatron to wait in ambush. The Maximals visit Longrack in his quarters and convince him it's worth the risk to try and return him to his original age. He returns to the planet with Big Convoy, Break and Heinrad and rushes to the cave, only to find Dead End and Guiledart waiting. They demand the Angolmois capsule in return for passage to the de-aging cave. Big Convoy instead takes on the pair, sending Heinrad, Break and Longrack to the device.
Inside the chamber, Longrack explains that he stepped on one of the flagstones. Break realizes he's stepped on some now and a blue light shines down on him. The planet tilts back to its previous position. The Maximals flee from the cave, Longrack still young, but Break now accelerated into old age. He tries to attack the Predacons, but his Break Anchor feebly fails to reach its target. He complains of his aching joints and poor vision. The Predacons are bemused, but figure they still only have to deal with Big Convoy, given the others are an old man, a child and "the useless one", which Heinrad angrily realizes is him. Guiledart and Dead End attack again, but Heinrad activates his Time Freeze and rearranges the Predacons to fire on each other. Confused and frightened by the situation, the Predacons flee back to the Dinosaur, once they get "Catherine"'s name right.
Now safe, Longrack demands to know why Heinrad doesn't use such a powerful secret weapon more often. Heinrad simply says it takes a long time to recharge and slumps down to rest. Big Convoy admits that he's been reckless, before Vector Sigma makes him add that he shouldn't have acted until he had more intel and that his cadets have paid the price. He asks Heinrad to experiment with the time device for as long as it takes to return Break and Longrack to their correct ages.
From the Gung Ho, the team watches as Chronos tilts to a level position. Break hobbles onto the bridge with the support of a cane, tufts of white hair spurting from his penguin mode body, claiming that the process didn't work. Colada, NAVI and Stampy are shocked, but Breaks reveals he's just joking and has been returned to normal. Heinrad and the restored Longrack follow him onto the bridge and confirm they've stored the Angolmois capsule. As NAVI comments on the dangerous nature of the forbidden planet, she is interrupted by another Angolmois capsule signal, which the Gung Ho sets off for.
Capsule score
[edit]- Maximals: 7
- Predacons: 3
Featured characters
[edit](Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Maximals | Predacons | Others |
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Notes
[edit]Continuity errors
[edit]- Who put the Angolmois capsule on the pedestal? They were all made and ejected from Nemesis at the end of Beast Wars II, which wasn't that long ago, whereas Chronos has been off-limits and abandoned long enough for the remnants of its civilization to fall into ruin and most memory of its abilities to have been forgotten. The time device only moves beings along their own timeline, rather than having a greater effect on time, and isn't powered by the Angolmois capsule. So what's the capsule doing there, deep in a cave system?
Home video releases
[edit]- VHS
1999 — Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo — ACT. 4 (Pioneer LDC)
- DVD
2012 — Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo — DVD-BOX (Video Maker)
