The Road to Transformers for Adults

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Finally proof Shockwave doesn't always have good ideas.
"The Road to Transformers for Adults" オトナ向けのトランスフォーマーへの道 () (Otona-muke no Transformer e no Michi)
Airdate	August 17, 2015
Writer	Kotaro Ishidate
Director	Kotaro Ishidate
Animation studio	DLE

The Decepticons mistakenly believe that discussing Kiss Players will lead to anything helpful.

Synopsis

Soundwave reports that Optimus Prime's group is discussing the mistakes of past Transformers shows in order to attract new fans. Megatron thinks this is a great idea and they should do the same, though Starscream thinks they'll just find animation errors and shows beholden to selling toys, which Megatron asserts are part of the charm. Shockwave suggests they discuss Transformers: Kiss Players which he describes as unusual. Starscream thinks this is perfect as it never had a cartoon and therefore no animation errors. Soundwave and Shockwave note that the series specifically revolved around the concept of cute girls kissing Transformers to fuse with them and grant them powers. Megatron's interest is piqued, but Starscream labels the concept insane. Megatron coyly asks if he appears and gets to be kissed by cute girls, but Soundwave breaks the news that Starscream is the only one of them who appears, and then only as a ghost who possesses one of the heroines. Megatron is outraged that he's been outdone by Starscream and sends his subordinate flying with a punch.

Megatron asks how the series was received, and the others explain that with all the new elements and some shocking scenes, it was confusing to audiences. He resolves to learn from the mistakes of Kiss Players so they can come up with a new Transformers series for adults. Starscream thinks they should think about the sorts of places adults go. The others mull on this for a few seconds before he reveals he was thinking of funeral homes. He suggests a Transformer who turns into a hearse, though Megatron's opinion is that would be grim and depressing to have around. Soundwave suddenly yells "Eject!" to which Starscream tells him not to eject weird DVDs, resulting in Soundwave actually producing a questionable-looking disc. The others reflect on how talkative Soundwave has become lately and Starscream calls him an idiot.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Others
Optimus Prime (6) (discussion topic)	Soundwave (1) Laserbeak (2) Megatron (3) Starscream (4) Shockwave (5)	Marissa Faireborn (6) (discussion topic) Atari Hitotonari (9) (discussion topic)	Legion (8) (discussion topic)

Notes

Transformers references

• When reflecting on the fact Kiss Players has no animation errors, Starscream recalls the two Starscreams error from "Transport to Oblivion", and moments later Megatron brings up this error from "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1". Both images are redrawn rather than using actual screencaps, in the latter case meaning that the characters featured are in different positions than in the animation error. Notably, the character being called out as Galvatron is actually drawn as Octane.

Real-world references

• This episode takes place outside AEON Mall Fukuoka.
• When Megatron claims the use of shocking scenes in Kiss Players sounds like a magical girl anime, it flashes censored images of Madoka Kaname and Mami Tomoe from the anime Puella Magi Madoka Magica. Mami is notably only shown from the neck down, referencing her infamous death scene in the series.

Trivia

• At the end of the credits, Shockwave professes a desire to kiss Megatron.