Ruin

This article is about the Armada episode. For one half of the Wreckers' duo, see Rack'n'Ruin (disambiguation).

« Transformers: Armada ep 11 »
"Ruin" 記憶 (みやこ) (Miyako) "Remembrance: Capital"
Production code	TF: A-11
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS
Airdate	November 15, 2002 (English) 21 March 2003 (Japanese)
Writer	Ryō Motohira
Director	Shigeki Awai
Animation studio	Actas Inc.
Continuity	Unicron Trilogy

The Transformers track a new Mini-Con to a ruined undersea city which was once the scene of a great disaster.

Synopsis

Carlos races frantically through the Autobot base, ducking into a lift. He bursts in on the other Autobots, who are working on Optimus. They observe he appears to be somewhat impatient and speculate it's about the holographic girl from whom they've been receiving a transmission. Carlos runs to the control centre where Alexis is waiting, and the pair watch as the pretty holographic girl pleads for help on the monitor. Finally, the Autobots are ready, and they launch, arriving somewhere underwater. They fire up the turbines they've been attaching to themselves and begin looking for a Mini-Con, much to Carlos' dismay—he'd thought they were looking for the girl from the transmission.

"Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."

Hot Shot scouts ahead and almost drives into a ravine before reporting he's found an undersea city. Rad thinks that it is Atlantis. The Autobots drive through the city and soon encounter the Decepticons. Megatron dispatches Leader-1 and Bonecrusher to find the entrance to the ruins. While Hot Shot and Red Alert fight the Decepticons, Optimus and Smokescreen head down to find the entrance as well. Weapons fire from Megatron begins to fracture Optimus's windows, much to the alarm of the kids inside. Carlos tells Optimus to keep on going. Smokescreen yanks open the doors to the ruin, and Optimus drives through, his passenger compartment rapidly filling with water. Fortunately, the ruins contain an air pocket, and once inside, he lets the kids out. While the kids go on to try to find the Mini-Con, Optimus goes back to help fight the Decepticons.

Where's a Ghostbuster when you need one?!

The kids ride their Mini-Cons through tropical gardens. Rad points out the odd vibrations, which he believes mean there's something underneath them. A sharp jolt sends them to the ground, as well as knocking over Megatron, who sends his men in to face Optimus and Smokescreen. The three kids recover to find that the ruins have suddenly been repopulated by people in ancient clothing, including the girl from the transmission, who says she's been expecting them. Carlos runs after the girl. Rad attempts to follow, and finds himself passing through one of the ruin's inhabitants—they're all holograms.

Meanwhile, Carlos discovers much the same thing when his hand passes through the girl. She explains to the kids that she's from a long-lost civilisation, destroyed in a war started by three Mini-Cons who combined into a flaming sword. Her people were able to harness the power of the sword and use it as a weapon to enslave the other peoples; but in time their enemies overcame them, toppling their civilisation.

Outside, the Decepticons are pinned down. Megatron combines with Leader-1 and begins blasting, causing the Autobots to scramble for cover.

The animators took tips from José Delbo and AKOM in character model tracing.

The girl continues her story, telling how the Mini-Cons fell dormant and the fallen nation preserved themselves as holograms to warn people not to reactivate them. Despite her dire warnings, the kids resolve to try to find the Mini-Con. Carlos wants to try to take the girl with them, which Rad takes to mean not to let the Decepticons destroy the holograms. At this point, Megatron bursts through the wall, and the kids' Mini-Cons combine into Perceptor to wrestle with Leader-1. Optimus also arrives and attacks Megatron. Leader-1 finally spots the Mini-Con stuck in a damaged pillar, and Megatron retrieves it. The ground begins to shake and the ruins start collapsing, so the Decepticons teleport out with their prize.

Atlantis won't be arising anymore...

As the Autobots begin to retreat, Carlos says goodbye to the holographic girl. Although he still wants to help her, the water closes in, and he's forced to get into Red Alert. The ruined temple collapses into the ground as the Autobots drive away.

Up on the Moon, Megatron announces they've captured one of the most powerful Mini-Cons. The Autobots explain to Alexis that Megatron captured only one of the Mini-Cons required to create the sword. Outside the base, Carlos mourns the loss of the holographic girl and speculates that she was a princess while Rad comforts him.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Mini-Cons
Optimus Prime (2) Smokescreen (3) Red Alert (6) Hot Shot (7)	Megatron (11) Starscream (12) Cyclonus (13) Demolishor (14)	Carlos Lopez (1) Rad White (4) Alexis (8) Amphitrite (9)	High Wire (5) Jolt (10) Leader-1 (15) Bonecrusher (16) Grindor (17) Sureshock (18) Sonar (19) Jetstorm (20) Runway (21) Perceptor (22)

Quotes

Hot Shot: "Whoa, you're not gonna believe this!"
Rad: "Come on! Tell us!"
Hot Shot: "There's a city down here!"
Carlos: "OK, guys, it's official: Hot Shot has finally gone off the deep end."

—The Autobots find the lost city

"And that girl we saw was..."
"It's just a hologram! I hope you're not disappointed."
"No! Of course not."
"Yeah, like I'm buying that one, Rad."
"Hey, would you just get off my case already?"
"Hmph!"

—Rad and Alexis discuss how the ruin's populated by holograms.

"Boys. Huh."
"What is she talking about?!"

—Alexis and Rad, who doesn't understand girls.

Notes

Differences with Micron Legend

• The dialogue in the opening scene differs between the two dubs but the English one has some glaring errors. In Armada, Carlos is running in a frenzy, saying that something is driving him nuts! When he runs out into the launch bay, the Autobots are attaching turbines onto Optimus' truck form. Carlos calls out to Rad and asks if the Autobots have figured it out yet but Hot Shot says they're still working on it. Rad tries to make Carlos calm down since "these things take time", but Carlos says they don't have any and runs off. After Hot Shot makes the point about the girl on the monitor being a hologram, Rad blushes and says to him defensively, "So what?" Micron Legend begins with Carlos asking if someone is in danger, removing Carlos panting and needlessly mumbling as he runs into the elevator. On the launch bay, instead of calling Rad, Carlos asks if the Autobots are done preparing and Hot Shot answers no. Rad tries to get Carlos to chill out, but his friend blows up at him for being calm and runs off frustrated. Hot Shot asks Rad if he doesn't care about the girl on the monitor, and the blushing Rad sheepishly replies, "Not particularly."
• The holographic girl is named after the Greek goddess, Amphitrite, in Micron Legend. In the English dub, she is never given a name.
• In Armada, when he runs into the control room, Carlos asks Alexis if the girl on the monitor is there, Alexis' line to Carlos is extended, and during the shot panning up to the monitor, Carlos has an extra line to cover the silence as he expresses relief that the girl's image is "back". Micron Legend removes the extra dialogue added in the English dub and corrects the grammar errors.
• Despite the girl's hologram having the static effect, Armada omits the static sound effect, making the girl's message clear to understand, and Alexis and Carlos wonder where the signal is coming; in Micron Legend however, the static sound is present over her dialogue, and Alexis and Carlos say it's hard to decipher what she is saying.
• Just before launching, Armada has Optimus give a countdown, Hot Shot is given a line as he launches, and he is heard whooping and cheering offscreen after Smokescreen warps; Micron Legend removes the countdown and Prime only says the launch command, and the rest of the warping scene is silent.
• In Micron Legend, when Carlos expresses concern about the kids being underwater, Rad explains that equipment was prepared to be switched on for them to use.
• In Armada, Carlos asks why they are underwater since the girl's transmission didn't look like it came from there. Upon learning the Autobots are trying to find a newly-detected Mini-Con, Carlos feels stupid for believing they were looking for the girl but no one listens to him; in Micron Legend, Optimus says a panel has been detected in an undersea wreckage, Carlos calls the Autobots clueless since people can't live underwater.
• After the above dialogue in Armada, Alexis says "There it is!" (without saying exactly what) and that they're getting closer to it according to the radar; Micron Legend simplifies this to Alexis saying that something is there.
• In Micron Legend, the first shot of the dolphins is silent, and instead of Carlos saying it's a waste of time, he says the dolphins are not the ones they're looking for.
• The shot from behind of Hot Shot and Jolt going off into the distance is silent in Micron Legend but he has a line of dialogue in Armada.
• In Armada, Alexis asks Hot Shot if he's alright, he says that he's "had better days", Alexis asks if he sees something, and then Hot Shot says he has found a sunken city; in Micron Legend, Alexis asks Hot Shot if he has found anything, he says "Just cliffs. Lots of sea too!" before mentioning the underwater city after Alexis calls his name.
• After hearing this, Armada has Carlos think that Hot Shot has "gone off the deed end" before Rad says, "You serious?!" and everyone sees that Hot Shot is right; Micron Legend has Carlos ask how a city can be underwater. Then Rad confirms there being a city as the others stop on the cliff's edge. In Armada, Carlos reacts as soon as the scene changes but, in Micron Legend, he doesn't react until the shot is almost done panning to the upper-right corner.
• The Atlantis reference that Alexis makes is exclusive to the English dub.
• Instead of wondering who built the city as he does in Armada, Rad notes how much of an incredible find it is.
• In Micron Legend, when the Decepticons make their presence known, Megatron orders the others to "entertain their enemies." In Armada, he orders for the Autobots to receive a "warm Decepticon welcome" before they're finished off.
• Rather than Optimus saying that he and Smokescreen find the entrance to the undersea ruins, Micron Legend has Optimus tell Smokescreen to find the entrance alone while Red Alert and Hot Shot provide cover.
• Before he fires at them, Megatron simply notices Optimus and Smokescreen approach in Micron Legend; in Armada, he says "It's time to get serious." Optimus doesn't tell the kids to hang on in the Japanese dub.
• When the window of Prime's cab is cracked in Micron Legend, Carlos' line is cut, Alexis points it out, and Rad says the pressure will crush them.
• After more windows are cracked, Carlos is presented as straight-up irrational and suicidal in Armada as he tells Optimus not to surface because the girl might be there, and if she can survive underwater then so can they; it's improved a bit in Micron Legend since Carlos tells Optimus to use his weapons, and if the girl is in the ruins, then there must be air.
• As more water flows in, Armada has Carlos tell Optimus to hurry as they are running out of time. After Smokescreen opens the entrance, Megatron notices the Autobots down below and, after Optimus enters the ruins, Megatron faces Smokescreen and, calling him "metalhead", thanks him and tells the Autobot to remind the Decepticon leader to destroy him later. In Micron Legend, Carlos says he, Rad, and Alexis will be fine and tells Optimus to go through the entrance quickly. Megatron wonders if the Autobots found the entrance and, upon finding Smokescreen at it, Megatron announces it has been opened and for the Decepticons to gather.
• The scene of Optimus driving up the stairs towards the air pocket is silent in Micron Legend.
• The two dubs play different music after Optimus transforms. Also, in Armada, he tells the kids to find the Mini-Con while he "looks after" the Decepticons; in Micron Legend, he says he will stay behind while they look for the Mini-Con.
• Armada adds Megatron's line to remove the silence as Optimus shoots at him on the stairs.
• In Micron Legend, the girl doesn't say she was expecting the kids and only welcomes them.
• Armada makes it sound as if Alexis is surprised the people in the city are holograms, but in Micron Legend, she says it is what she expected.
• Instead of introducing himself and asking for the girl's name, Micron Legend has Carlos say how amazing the city is.
• Between the two versions of the episode, the dialogue between Amphitrite and the kids differs:
  • Her voice remains stoic throughout in Armada but she sounds despondent in Micron Legend.
  • In Micron Legend, Amphitrite refers to the Mini-Cons as "Orichalcums", a legendary substance from Atlantis. Armada fumbles this and the word gets warped into "Olihalicons". After this, Armada has Amphitrite use the Mini-Con term.
  • According to Amphitrite in Micron Legend, her civilization relied on the teachings of wisdom and power from the "Orichalcums", their name for the Mini-Cons, which is the reason why her civilization existed. In Armada, she says her civilization became lost after the Mini-Cons' arrival. In the Japanese version, Amphitrite doesn't acknowledge Rad and her nodding to Carlos makes sense as he asks her about the metal that gave her people their wisdom.
  • In Micron Legend, Alexis apparently recognizes Jetstorm as the Mini-Con laying dormant in something called the "Astro Gate". In Armada, she says the Autobots probably detected one of the Star Saber Mini-Cons on the radar.
  • Amphitrite calls the Star Saber the "Sword of the Sun" in the Japanese dub.
  • Armada has Alexis' line overlap with the next scene of the ancients praying to the Star Saber. Micron Legend adds a line for Rad just before Alexis speaks, and her line doesn't overlap with the scene after, which is partially silent before Amphitrite continues her story. In Armada, she says her people became obsessed with controlling the Mini-Cons' power, which led them to wage wars with civilizations on other continents. In Micron Legend, Amphitrite says her people used the Star Saber's power against another Orichalcum (the Skyboom Shield), and this led to a continental war; the scenes of the Star Saber unleashing a green whirlwind of energy are silent.
  • Alexis asks the Mini-Cons if Amphitrite is telling the truth in Armada but if the other Orichalcum consisted of Mini-Cons as well in Micron Legend.
  • In Armada, Amphitrite's line begging the question of why people can't learn that trying to gain power over everything leads to self-destruction overlaps with the scene showing people fighting. Then she says her people believed the sword would protect them, but they became the world's enemies before their cities fell and the people didn't survive the wrath of their enemies. Carlos says that's harsh and Amphitrite explains how her people realized they were fighting a war they couldn't win and resigned themselves to their fate before their cities were sent to the ocean floor. Rad says what happened is terrible and how he never realized how much power the Mini-Cons have on their own. Then Amphitrite says her civilization barely managed to survive for years since it sank. In the Japanese dub, Amphitrite asks why people should be obsessed with power and the need to show it off. The following scene of people fighting is silent, and then she says the battles brought great harm as the city was destroyed, mountains were leveled, and the flames of war engulfed people. Distraught, Carlos asks how that could have happened. Amphitrite says her people continued to destroy themselves until both of their civilizations ended up underwater. Then Rad asks her if the people couldn't control the Mini-Cons' power and killed themselves, and Amphitrite says they've barely been able to do anything since the city sank.
• In Armada, Cyclonus begs Megatron to give the other 'Cons a break since they're fighting underwater but in Micron Legend, he says he can't move properly underwater.
• After being shot back by Red Alert, Micron Legend has Starscream say the Autobots are putting up a fight. Then Megatron notes their cleverness and decides to wipe them out in one shot with his Full Burst Mode. In Armada, Starscreams complains about having a bad day before Megatron has enough of the chess game and decides to "bring out the heavy artillery."
• In Armada, Amphitrite says after the Mini-Cons went dormant, she and her people preserved themselves as holograms to warn those in the future not to disturb the Mini-Cons otherwise their cities would suffer the same fate as hers; however, her dialogue doesn't make sense with the scene depicting two men taking two of the panels. Then Alexis determines that Amphitrite won't tell them where the Mini-Cons are. In Micron Legend, Amphitrite says the Orichalcums went dormant after having their power exhausted, and to prevent history from repeating itself, her people agreed to split up the panels, and thus two were given to travelers, giving Alexis the idea that one of the panels is still in the ruins.
• Armada makes some questionable changes to the following dialogue as it has Alexis ask what is happening after the place shakes despite already knowing before Rad says they need to find "those Mini-Cons", a noticeable grammar error; Micron Legend corrects these to have Alexis wondering if the Autobots are alright, and Rad talks about finding a single Mini-Con panel, using the correct singular terms instead of plural.
• In Micron Legend, Amphitrite reveals that if the kids can see her hologram then it means the Orichalcums have awoken and asks if they are here looking for them. She says she can't let the kids repeat her people's mistakes and if they insist on finding the panels, then the ruins and her people's history will sink further into the ocean. In Armada, Amphitrite tells the children to heed her warning about the Mini-Cons power, to leave the ruins, forget about the Mini-Cons, and save themselves as they are doomed if they continue to seek out the Mini-Cons and because of history repeating itself.
• Armada has Rad believe that Carlos wants to save the girl's image and to do that, they need to make sure the Decepticons don't destroy the holograms. In Micron Legend, Rad says the memories of Amphitrite and her people live on in the ruins.
• In Armada, when the Street Action Mini-Con Team combines into Perceptor, the Transformers theme and the transforming sound effect are added. Then Megatron says if Perceptor can take him on before unleashing Leader-1 and Bonecrusher on him; in Micron Legend, no music is heard when the Mini-Cons combine, instead, the music from before them combining continues playing, and Megatron says he does not have time to deal with Perceptor.
• Armada has Megatron tells Leader-1 to find the Mini-Cons while he deals with Optimus. Micron Legend has Megatron first say Optimus is getting on his nerves, and then he tells Leader-1 to find the panel with Bonecrusher.
• Amphitrite pleading is more urgent in Micron Legend while her voice remains stoic in Armada.
• Instead of Megatron somehow knowing the panel will remain dormant until the other two are awakened as he says in Armada, Micron Legend corrects this to have Megatron say that the Mini-Con is still dormant.
• In Armada, Rad claims there is an earthquake but, in Micron Legend, he says the city is sinking further underwater.
• As the Decepticons retreat with the panel, Micron Legend has Cyclonus and Demolishor brag about them getting the Mini-Con. Armada has them be more quippy and say that they would love to stay and chit-chat but "the party is about to crash."
• In Armada, Rad insensitively tells Carlos to forget about Amphitrite since they need to escape. In Micron Legend, he tells Carlos that he was wrong to think he failed to protect Amphitrite and that this doesn't mark the end for her since the memories of the people will live on in the ruins.
• Back on the Moon, Armada has Megatron boast about the Decepticons' victory as they got "one of the most powerful combinations in the universe." Micron Legend ties it back to him seeing the projection of the Star Saber, and he says the sword is strong enough for him to conquer the universe and demands that the other panels be found and ensure that they awaken.
• At the Autobot base in Armada, Alexis asks the Autobots if Megatron got just one out of the three Star Saber Mini-Con panels as if she doesn't already know that. Red Alert says Megatron needs the other two and Optimus says it will lead to their doom. Then Hot Shot says the Autobots have their work cut out for them in trying to get the other two before the Decepticons. Micron Legend changes it to have Alexis explain Megatron getting one of the three Mini-Cons. Then Red Alert and Optimus say the Mini-Cons combine to form the Star Saber, and Hot Shot says the sword should be kept out of Decepticon hands. In Micron Legend, instead of fuming about Rad and Carlos "going gaga over a girl", Alexis says they also need to wake up.
• The ending scene between Rad and Carlos goes differently between the English and Japanese versions as the latter ties in their conversation with the Transformers. In Armada, Rad tells Carlos that he understands how he feels. Carlos says it doesn't matter and Rad tells him to remember Amphitrite was just a hologram. Carlos said she looked real to him, and he let his heart get in his head's way as a result. They agree that she was both lifelike and pretty, and Carlos surmises that Amphitrite was a princess who grew up into a queen, to which Rad says Carlos has quite the imagination. Carlos says he will never forget her and Rad believes they might see her again as her hologram might still exist and come to the surface one day, much to Carlos' excitement. Then Rad does a 180 and tells Carlos to forget about Amphitrite since they are still "buds for life", which Carlos agrees with. In Micron Legend, Rad tells Carlos that others understand, and he asks if that is true. Then Rad says it isn't always possible for the Autobots to avoid fighting and everyone's protection is something Optimus always has to think about. Carlos says he knows that and there must be a way to stop the fighting since he feels sorry for Amphitrite, something Rad agrees with. Rad says Amphitrite was cute but she had a lot of sadness in her face, bashfully confirming he also thought the girl was pretty when Carlos asks him. Then Carlos says that Amphitrite might have been an actress in her day or even a top-class idol. He says he wanted to see her smile, to which Rad says Carlos may see in his mind when the fight against the Decepticons finally ends. Carlos asks Rad if that's what he imagined and Rad says it's important to have an imagination, and Carlos says inspiration.

Animation and technical errors

• The turbines fitted to the Autobots appear and disappear depending on the shot.

How ominous...

• Optimus calls Smokescreen "Hot Shot". Specifically, he says "Cover me, Hot Shot!" which Smokescreen interprets as a command to open the doors to the ruin while Optimus covers him.
• After the kids and their Mini-Cons go through the arched corridor in the ruins, Rad's hair is miscolored brown. This happens again when Rad passes through a hologram.
• The shot of Megatron dispatching Leader-1 and Bonecrusher is reused when he sicks them on Perceptor in the ruins but without the distorted colors.
• Just before the rest of the 'Cons retreat after Megatron, Demolishor's voice is near identical to Cyclonus'.
• After Hot Shot transforms into vehicle mode in the ruins, Jolt suddenly appears on him in the next shot.

Continuity errors

• Despite everyone seeming to be quite clear that they're seeing a holographic girl in the transmission, the kids are all surprised later when the inhabitants of the ruin all turn out to be holograms.
• None of the kids seem to notice that one of the Mini-Cons shown is the one they found earlier.
• On that note, later at the end of the episode the Autobots are discussing how Megatron has Sonar now and that they need to find the other two, despite already obtaining Jetstorm earlier.

Transformers references

• Seen for the first time in the flashback are both the Star Saber and the Air Defense Mini-Con Team.
• Also seen for the first time, in silhouette, is the Skyboom Shield.

Real-world references

• Alexis compares the city to Atlantis.

Trivia

• The kanji 記憶 would be pronounced as "kioku", while "miyako" is used for the kanji 都 or 京.
• This episode has Megatron using his Full Blast Mode toy gimmick for the first time.
• This episode marks the only time in the English dub that a Transformer says "Evolution", the Japanese term for powerlinxing with a Mini-Con, courtesy of Megatron when he debuts his Full Blast Mode.

Foreign localization

German

• Title: "Das Mädchen vom Meeresgrund" ("The Girl from the Bottom of the Sea")
• Original airdate: This episode was never shown on TV, but was dubbed in 2003. The dub premiered in 2009 with the German DVD release of the show.

Hungarian

• Title: "Romok a víz alatt" ("Ruins Under the Sea")

Polish

• Title: "Ruiny" ("Ruins")

French

• Title: "La cité engloutie" ("The Sunken City")

Korean

• Title: "해저도시의 비밀" ("Ocean City's Secret")

Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

DVD

2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 3 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:04 (Warner Music Video)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2005 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:04 (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)