Transformers: Energon (franchise): Difference between revisions

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{{disambig3|Energon}}
{{disambig3|Energon}}
<div class="center">[[Image:Energonlogo.jpg|none|300px|]]</div>
{{nav-energon}}
<table style="border:1px solid;border-spacing:0em;float:right;margin-left:1em">
<caption> '''Franchise navigation:'''
</caption>
<tr style="background:#ff9090">
<td style="text-align:center;width:12em">[[Armada (franchise)|«]] <strong class="selflink">'''''Energon'''''</strong> [[Cybertron (franchise)|»]]
</td></tr>
<tr style="background:#eeeeee">
<td style="text-align:center">[[Energon (toyline)|Toyline]]
</td></tr>
<tr style="background:#eeeeee">
<td style="text-align:center">[[Energon (cartoon)|Cartoon]]
</td></tr>
<tr style="background:#eeeeee">
<td style="text-align:center">[[Energon (comic)|Comic]]
</td></tr>
<tr style="background:#eeeeee">
<td style="text-align:center">[[Energon (mini-comic)|Mini-comic]]
</td></tr></table>
The '''''Energon''''' [[Franchise|franchise]] is a followup to ''[[Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''.  Its fiction is set in the same [[Unicron Trilogy|Unicron Trilogy]] universe, and it features many returning characters.


 
'''''Transformers: Energon''''' is a followup to ''[[Transformers: Armada (franchise)|Armada]]''. Its fiction is set in the same [[Unicron Trilogy continuity family|Unicron Trilogy]] universe, and it features many returning characters. It was produced concurrently and cooperatively with [[TakaraTomy|Takara]], who named the series '''''Transformers: Super Link''''' (トランスフォーマー スーパーリンク ''Toransufōmā Sūpā Rinku'') in their markets.
:'''Japanese name:''' ''Super Link''


The ''Energon'' franchise featured the following primary components:
The ''Energon'' franchise featured the following primary components:


*[[Transformers: Energon (toyline)|A toyline]]
*[[Transformers: Energon (cartoon)|A cartoon series]]
*[[Transformers: Energon (comic)|A comic book series]] from [[Dreamwave Productions]]
*[[Transformers: Energon (mini-comic)|A series of mini-comics]] that came packaged with toys.
*An [[Transformers: Energon Official Guidebook|Official Guidebook]] published by [[Reader's Digest]].


*[[Energon (toyline)|A toyline]]
As with Armada, merchandise was available from third-party firms, such as boxed [[Transformers: Energon Valentine's cards|Valentine's Cards]] and individual birthday cards.  
*[[Energon (cartoon)|A cartoon series]]
*[[Energon (comic)|A comic book series]] from [[Dreamwave Productions|Dreamwave Productions]]
*[[Energon (mini-comic)|A series of mini-comics]] that came packaged with toys.
 
===Homages===
''Energon'' was saturated with frequent and obvious [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] references and [[Homage|homages]], presumably intended as a celebration of the ''Transformers''' 20th anniversary year. Among them are:
 


[[Image:Energon Scorponok toy.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Scorponok, one of the line's many Generation 1 homages.]]
==Homages==
* [[Arcee (Energon)|Arcee]] is based on the [[Arcee (G1)|''Generation 1'' character of the same name]].
''Energon'' was saturated with frequent and obvious [[Generation 1 continuity family|Generation 1]] references and [[homage]]s, presumably intended as a celebration of the ''Transformers''' 20th anniversary year. While many characters referenced previous characters of the same name, others were less obvious. See individual character pages for specific details.


* [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]] shares colors and an alternate mode with [[Beachcomber (G1)|the ''Generation 1'' character]].
==New characters==
A recurring theme in ''Energon'' is that of old characters getting new bodies, often ones with only tangential relation to their former appearance. This has led to fan speculation that Hasbro originally intended these toys—specifically, [[Cyclonus (Armada)|Snow Cat]], [[Tidal Wave (Armada)|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]—to be new [[character]]s, only to have that intent overridden by Takara and/or the producers of the cartoon, who made them into new versions of old characters. This theory was confirmed several years later via [[Hasbro Q&A/August 2009: Answers|one of Hasbro's Q&A sessions]].  


* [[Bulkhead (Energon)|Bulkhead]] shares an alternate mode and color scheme with  [[Springer (G1)|Springer]].
The notion is not without precedent. [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]] was treated by the cartoon as an upgraded [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]]—yet Hasbro issued a [[Bio|character bio]] which established him as a new and separate character.
 
* [[Downshift (Energon)|Downshift]] is based on [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]].
 
* [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]] and his remold [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]] are conceptually based on the ''Generation 1'' characters [[Inferno (G1)|Inferno]] and [[Grapple (G1)|Grapple]], who were likewise a red firetruck remolded into an orange construction crane.
 
* [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]], and especially his Galvatron redeco, is based on [[Galvatron (G1)|Galvatron]].
 
* [[Omega Supreme (Energon)|Omega Supreme]] is conceptually based on the giant [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Generation 1 Autobot of the same name]].  His transformable head '''Omega''''s robot mode is based upon that of the [[Action Master|Action Master]] [[Omega Supreme (G1)|Omega Spreem]], and the very concept of a detachable, transforming head is based on the original [[Headmaster (technology)|Headmaster concept]] from ''Generation 1'',
 
* [[Prowl (Energon)|Prowl]] continues the string of blue Formula-1 race cars which are normally named [[Mirage (G1)|Mirage]].  Like [[Prowl (G1)|his Generation 1 namesake]], he's also a police car. (Yes, a ''Formula-1'' police car.) Interestingly, ''[[Machine Wars|Machine Wars]]'' Prowl's [[Alternate mode|alternate mode]] is also a Formula-1 race car.
 
* [[Rodimus (Energon)|Rodimus]] is heavily based on [[Hot Rod|Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime]].
 
* [[Scorponok (Energon)|Scorponok]] is based on the [[Scorponok (G1)|''Generation 1'' character of the same name]].
 
* [[Shockblast (Energon)|Shockblast]] is heavily based on [[Shockwave (G1)|Shockwave]].
 
* [[Skyblast (Energon)|Skyblast]] is based on [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]]'s second animation model ("Skyfire").
 
* [[Slugslinger (Energon)|Slugslinger]] shares a double-cockpit jet alternate mode with [[Slugslinger (G1)|his Generation 1 namesake.]]
 
* [[Starscream (Armada)|Starscream]] continues to resemble [[Starscream (G1)|his Generation 1 namesake]].
 
* [[Tow-Line (Energon)|Tow-Line]]'s design draws heavily from the original toys of [[Ratchet (G1)|Ratchet]] and [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]]. His colour scheme is based upon [[Skids (G1)|''Generation 1'' Skids]].
 
* [[Ultra Magnus (Energon)|Ultra Magnus]]' colors are loosely based on the [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|''Generation 1'' character]].
 
* The concept of the [[Powerlinx|Powerlinx]] combination is similar to the [[Multiforce|Multiforce]] from ''[[Victory (franchise)|Victory]]''.
 
* The three combiner teams are conceptually based on some of ''Generation 1's'' more famous combining teams.  Specifically:
* [[Air Team|Air Team]] = [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbots]]
* [[Destruction Team|Destruction Team]] = [[Combaticon|Combaticons]]
* [[Construction Team|Construction Team]] = [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]
 
 
* And, of course, there's [[Optimus Prime (G1)|Optimus Prime]].
 
A somewhat less convincing case can be made for [[Megatron (Armada)|Megatron]] = [[Thunderwing (G1)|Thunderwing]], but really now, who cares about anything after 1986, right?
 
 
===New characters===
A recurring theme in ''Energon'' is that of old characters getting new bodies, often ones with only tangential relation to their former appearance.  This has led to fan speculation that Hasbro originally intended these toys—specifically, [[Snowcat|Snowcat]], [[Tidal Wave|Mirage]], and [[Demolishor (Armada)|Demolishor]]—to be new characters, only to have that intent overridden by Takara and/or the producers of the cartoon, who made them into new versions of old characters. 
 
The notion is not without precedent. [[Roadblock (Energon)|Roadblock]] was treated by the cartoon as an upgraded [[Inferno (Energon)|Inferno]]—yet Hasbro issued a [[Bio|character bio]] which established him as a new and separate character.


Likewise, following in the footsteps of ''Armada'' redeco [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (who was cast as a powered-up Starscream by the cartoon), the redecos [[Landquake (Energon)|Landquake]] and [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]] were treated by the cartoon as powered-up versions of characters the molds were originally created for.
Likewise, following in the footsteps of ''Armada'' redeco [[Thundercracker (Armada)|Thundercracker]] (who was cast as a powered-up Starscream by the cartoon), the redecos [[Landquake (Energon)|Landquake]] and [[Beachcomber (Energon)|Beachcomber]] were treated by the cartoon as powered-up versions of characters the molds were originally created for.


 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Energon}}
[[Category:Energon]]
[[Category:Energon franchise| ]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Franchises]]
[[Category:Unicron Trilogy]]
[[Category:Unicron Trilogy]]

Latest revision as of 21:45, 2 June 2021

The name or term "Energon" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Energon (disambiguation).
Unicron Trilogy continuity family
« Energon »

Transformers: Energon is a followup to Armada. Its fiction is set in the same Unicron Trilogy universe, and it features many returning characters. It was produced concurrently and cooperatively with Takara, who named the series Transformers: Super Link (トランスフォーマー スーパーリンク Toransufōmā Sūpā Rinku) in their markets.

The Energon franchise featured the following primary components:

As with Armada, merchandise was available from third-party firms, such as boxed Valentine's Cards and individual birthday cards.

Homages

[edit]

Energon was saturated with frequent and obvious Generation 1 references and homages, presumably intended as a celebration of the Transformers' 20th anniversary year. While many characters referenced previous characters of the same name, others were less obvious. See individual character pages for specific details.

New characters

[edit]

A recurring theme in Energon is that of old characters getting new bodies, often ones with only tangential relation to their former appearance. This has led to fan speculation that Hasbro originally intended these toys—specifically, Snow Cat, Mirage, and Demolishor—to be new characters, only to have that intent overridden by Takara and/or the producers of the cartoon, who made them into new versions of old characters. This theory was confirmed several years later via one of Hasbro's Q&A sessions.

The notion is not without precedent. Roadblock was treated by the cartoon as an upgraded Inferno—yet Hasbro issued a character bio which established him as a new and separate character.

Likewise, following in the footsteps of Armada redeco Thundercracker (who was cast as a powered-up Starscream by the cartoon), the redecos Landquake and Beachcomber were treated by the cartoon as powered-up versions of characters the molds were originally created for.