Editing Scene transition

[[Image:Sunbow wipe.gif|thumb|300px|DUN DA DUN DA NAAAAAAA!]]
A '''scene transition''' is a kind of televisual punctuation, used to mark a break in the action.

There are three main reasons for employing these transitions within a show:

*Shifting focus between the different Transformer factions.
*Jumping forward in time to what the same faction is doing later on.
*Marking a dramatic change of pace within a scene, e.g. the end of a battle.

==Generation 1==
The scene transitions in [[The Transformers (cartoon)|the original Transformers series]] employed a "symbol flip" that was one of its iconic elements. The preceding scene would cut to the [[insignia]] of whichever [[:Category:Factions|faction]] was most prominent at the scene's end, which was large enough to fill the screen. The symbol then receded into a black background for a short distance and flipped around with a flare effect to reveal the symbol of the faction that would be prominent at the beginning of the next scene on its reverse-side. Finally, it moved back into the foreground until it was large enough to fill the screen again before cutting to the next scene. A distinctive [[Media:G1-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|musical sting]] accompanied this transition.

Since only the [[Autobot]] and [[Decepticon]] symbols were used, transitions to or from scenes featuring characters technically belonging to neither faction applied a generic good-guy/bad-guy approach. For example, the [[Quintesson]]s were represented by the Decepticon symbol, while [[human]]s were typically represented by the Autobot symbol (even if the individuals in question were plotting against the Autobots during that scene).

===Takara===
The Japanese Generation 1 follow-up series used minor variations on the original symbol flip, with each series making its own changes to the movement and visual style of the symbol.

;''The Headmasters''
[[Image:HM symbol flip.jpg|thumb|175px|left|Flip me teenage babe.]]
''[[Transformers: The Headmasters (cartoon)|The Headmasters]]'' used redrawn versions of the symbols that were nearly identical to those in the American shows, albeit somewhat less detailed, and continued to use the original musical sting (the only piece of [[Johnny Douglas]] music used in the show).

;''Super-God Masterforce''
During the ''[[Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (cartoon)|Super-God Masterforce]]'' series, however, the iconic flipping symbols were nowhere to be found, with the series relying solely on basic editing techniques.

;''Victory''
[[Image:Victory symbol flip.jpg|thumb|175px]]
''[[Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers: Victory (cartoon)|Victory]]'' saw the return of the flipping symbols, but decorated them with solid colours instead of the familiar gradients. These symbols also moved a lot faster and shrank further into the background than those in other series, accompanied by a new, [[Media:Victory-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|suitably frantic musical motiff]].
{{--}}

===''Devastation'' video game===
''[[Transformers: Devastation]]'' uses very infrequent scene transitions that imitate those of the original series, though instead using flat-color versions of the two faction symbols. The accompanying [[Media:Devastation-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|music sting]] takes its cues from "Face the Devastation", the game's end credits theme.

==''Generation 2''==
[[Image:G2 wipe.gif|thumb|150px|left|[[Computer-generated imagery|Computers can do that?!]]]]
[[Transformers: Generation 2 (cartoon)|The early-90s repackaging of the original series]] used an altered form of the symbol flip that involved the [[Cybernet Space Cube]].

The sides of the cube would iris shut to "enclose" the scene, with the appropriate faction symbol in the middle of the cube face. The cube then rotated to show the opposite face which featured the appropriate new symbol, and opened up again to reveal the next scene already in progress. The original musical effect from Generation 1 was used.

In addition to the new transitions, various effects of "scene viewport panels" that shifted, flipped, and rotated on and around the inner walls of the cube were also used to accentuate regular cuts and edits that had received no special treatment when they aired as part of the original series.
{{--}}

==''Beast Wars''==
The original ''[[Beast Wars: Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars]]'' series didn't feature any kind of transitions. The only exception is the episode "[[Coming of the Fuzors (Part 1)]]", in which the [[Maximal]] brand on [[Cheetor (BW)|Cheetor]]'s forehead detached and grew to fill the screen as the scene changed behind it, in an apparent homage to the G1 symbol flip.

===Takara===
[[Image:BWII wipe.jpg|thumb|175px]]
The Japanese ''Beast Wars'' sequel, ''[[Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers (cartoon)|Beast Wars II]]'', brought with it a new transition style of its own. Rather than the flipping symbols seen in Generation 1, ''BWII'' used a customized expanding {{w|wipe (transition)|iris wipe}} effect shaped like either the Maximal or [[Predacon (BW)|Predacon]] insignia depending on the scene. These wipes were accompanied by [[Media:BWII-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|a short "whooshing" sound effect]].

The same style of transition continued to be used throughout the ''[[Super Lifeform Transformers: Beast Wars Neo (cartoon)|Beast Wars Neo]]'' series, with the only difference being that the "whooshing" sound was replaced by [[Media:BWN-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|something a little more "sproingy"]].
{{--}}

==2001 ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon==
Over a decade after the conclusion of Generation 1, the Japanese ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|Car Robots]]'' series returned to using fully detailed G1-style faction symbols for its transitions, but opted not to flip them in the traditional manner.

Instead, depending on which faction dominated the following scene, the Autobot, Predacon or [[Insignia#Car Robots|Combatron symbol]] would quickly grow from a point in the centre of the screen until it completely filled the foreground as the scene changed behind it, before shrinking back again and disappearing in the same point from where it originated. This action was accompanied by a high-pitched "zipping" sound effect.

[[Image:RiD symbol flips.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Saban]]-imation!]]
The Americanised ''[[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 cartoon)|Robots in Disguise]]'' series reintroduced the classic symbol flip on a black background, but used new, shiny chrome-like [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] symbols, upon which the traditional colour gradients appeared as a reflection. For some reason, the Decepticon symbol's eyes were lit-up whereas the others' weren't.

''Robots in Disguise'' also replaced the "zipping" sound effect with [[Media:RiD-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|a robotic voice saying "Transform"]].
{{--}}

==Unicron Trilogy==
;''Armada'' / ''Legends of the Microns''
[[Image:Armada symbol flip.jpg|thumb|200px|Flip.]]
The American ''[[Transformers: Armada (cartoon)|Armada]]'' series featured symbol flips using Autobot and Decepticon insignias that were very similar in design to their original G1 counterparts, but overlaid them onto a trippy swirling green background instead of the traditional black void.

The flips were accompanied by one of [[Media:Armada-Scene-Transition-Effect-1.ogg|two different]] [[Media:Armada-Scene-Transition-Effect-2.ogg|musical stings]], which were both also used in slightly longer forms by ''Legends of the Microns'' for the series' [[commercial bumper#Armada|commercial bumpers]].

;''Energon'' / ''Super Link''
Similar to the Japanese G1 series, [[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|the middle installment of the trilogy]] does not feature any scene transitions.
{{-}}

;''Cybertron'' / ''Galaxy Force''
''[[Transformers: Cybertron (cartoon)|Cybertron]]'' featured a traditional flipping-symbol transition, depicting shiny metallic CG insignias, accompanied by [[Media:GF-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|a four-beat fanfare]].

[[Image:GF symbol flip.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Ba-dum-BA-DUM!]]
These transitions were also present in ''Galaxy Force''; in addition, ''Galaxy Force'' also employed modified versions of the symbol-flip as a transition between each episode's "cold open" and [[title sequence]] (having the Autobot symbol appear overlaid upon the actual footage of the cold open, rather than on a black background), and as a title card. For the title card, the symbol ''did'' appear on a black background, but flipped to reveal not another symbol, but the brushed-chrome reverse-side of the symbol itself. This silver surface zoomed in until it filled the screen, revealing the symbol of the [[Omega Lock]] stamped in the centre (previously too small to be seen). As this was happening, the episode's title would appear from behind the camera and move towards the background, meeting the reverse side of the insignia half-way with enough inertia to shake the screen.
{{--}}

==''Beginnings''==
[[Image:Beginnings symbol flip.jpg|thumb|175px]]
''[[Transformers: Beginnings (Movie)|Beginnings]]'', the animated comic book and prequel to 2007's [[Transformers (film)|live-action movie]], was punctuated with its own version of the symbol flip.

It started with the preceding scene fading out as a tiny flash of light appears in the centre of the screen, from which the movie version of the Autobot insignia rushed towards the foreground to fill the majority of the screen. It then span 90° so that its right-hand edge faced the camera, before the Decepticon symbol rotated back the same way and shrank back into the far distance, disappearing with another small flash as the next scene faded in.

This was accompanied by the Generation 1 transformation sound effect.
{{--}}

==''Animated''==
For all the Generation 1 homages and references in ''[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]]'', the iconic flipping symbols were notably lacking.

[[Image:Animated symbol flip.jpg|thumb|left|175px]]
When ''Animated'' was dubbed for release in Japan, however, the new production staff decided to add them. These new transitions feature bright brushed-chrome-like symbols, edged in either purple or red depending on the faction, that seem to hold the middle-ground between the ''Animated'' and live-action movie styles. The symbols flip in the traditional way, accompanied by [[Media:Animated-Scene-Transition-Effect.ogg|a beefed-up version of the G1 sting]].

The ''Animated'' transitions seem to be in short supply, as there was only one featured in [[Transform and Roll Out|the first three episodes]] combined. This is probably due to the fact that the Japanese staff already have to cut a lot of footage to make room for the longer [[title sequence]], end credits and [[Otoboto family]] segments, and can rarely spare the extra few seconds each symbol flip would require.
{{--}}

==Timelines==
[[Image:TFCC Symbol Flip.jpg|thumb|250px]]
The prose stories published by the [[Transformers Collectors' Club]]—starting from "[[Gone Too Far]]" onwards—used static representations of the symbol flips as markers between scenes. The symbol for the previous scene was on the left, the symbol for the next scene on the right, and a static representation of a flip in the center.

Which faction symbols were used varies depending on the [[continuity]] of the story, including the [[Transcendent Technomorph|TransTech]] symbols being used in TransTech stories where appropriate, and the opposite-colored symbols being used in "[[Transformers: Shattered Glass (fiction)|Shattered Glass]]" stories.
{{--}}

==''Cyber Missions''==
[[Image:CM symbol flip.jpg|thumb|left|150px]]
The flipping symbols made a return in 2010 with the animated ''[[Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (film)|Revenge of the Fallen]]'' spin-off series ''[[Transformers: Cyber Missions|Cyber Missions]]''.

This webtoon predictably used the insignias from the live-action [[movie continuity]], but added a bit of colour to their otherwise dull grey design by gilding their edges. These symbols performed the classic flipping motion in front of a black background, on top of which sat a nebulous red cloud that radiates light, highlighting the symbols with a fiery orange glow. As the transition went on, dozens of tiny [[Cyberglyphics|Cyberglyphs]] tumbled outward from the centre of the cloud towards the foreground and the edges of the screen.

This was all accompanied by an approximation of the G1 transformation sound effect.
{{--}}

==''Rescue Bots''==
[[File:RBSceneTransition.JPG|thumb|right|250px]]
Transitions on ''[[Transformers: Rescue Bots (cartoon)|Rescue Bots]]'' basically involved the Rescue Bots' [[insignia]] moving across the screen in some manner. The insignia is occasionally modified to reflect events in the episode: for example, in the [[Ghost in the Machine (RB)|Halloween episode]], the insignia was shown as being carved into a pumpkin.

==Notes==
===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Wipe''' (ワイプ ''waipu'')

==See also==
*[[Commercial bumper]]

[[Category:Media]]