Tune Out

« Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy ep 40 »
"Tune Out"
Production code	140
Season	1
No. in season	40
Production company	Allspark Animation
Airdate	November 2, 2019
Writers	Ciarán Morrison and Mick O'Hara
Director	Pete Slattery
Animation studio	Boulder Media Studio
Watch this episode on YouTube

When Hoist is put in charge of a new sonic fence, he can only remember its access code by creating a tune. But when that tune becomes too catchy and endangers missions, the team has to learn to remain calm to succeed.

Synopsis

Heatwave calls Hoist to his office over the PA. Hoist quickly runs through his list of chores and, realizing he's forgotten to raise the flag, assumes that's why Heatwave's looking for him. As it turns out, Heatwave actually just wants him to look after a new device, a Virtual Sonic Fence which creates a safety barrier of harmless sound. Hoist has to memorize the security code for the device as three failed attempts will lock it down. After a failed attempt, Heatwave tells him to take it slower, and Hoist successfully unlocks the sonic fence.

Hoist later shows the device off to the other recruits, revealing that he's remembered the code by singing the five tones that the keys make. As the recruits carry out their chores, they find themselves unconsciously humming and whistling the tune. Their next task is to carry out a practice sim using the sonic fence tech. Hot Shot spies the pod of narwhals that they have to keep away from the simulated oil rig, but the operation quickly breaks down as the recruits can't focus with the tune in their heads. With the narwhals heading towards the rig, Hoist deploys the sonic fence just a fraction too late, and the mission fails. Heatwave is angry, and the recruits resolve to never sing that song again.

They find this is easier said than done, and keep catching each other humming the tune. Medix hits on the idea of playing other music to dislodge the tune from their processors, and it works. The recruits are celebrating the fact they're cured when the alarm goes off. Heatwave briefs them on their mission to the planet Herboo, where a karknoid beetle is endangering a town of Herboovians. They arrive on Herboo, where Hot Shot's plan to pick up and move the beetle turns out to be unworkable when the beetle in question turns out to be giant size. They fall back on using the sonic fence, but Hoist soon realizes he can no longer remember the tune that unlocks the device. He makes a couple of attempts, aided by Whirl and Medix, but both fail. The other recruits do their best to stall the beast, until Hoist has them gather around him and take a breath. They successfully remember the tune and Hoist activates the sonic fence, causing the beetle to recoil from the sound and take off the beetle running. The recruits and Herboovians celebrate their success, though they are surprised to find the beetle now has the song stuck in its head as well. They soon run from Medix when he begins singing.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Others
Whirl (1) Wedge (2) Hot Shot (3) Hoist (4) Medix (5) Heatwave (6)	Herboovians (7) Karknoid beetle (8)

Quotes

"Ah, before you try again, stop for a moment, pause, and take a deep breath."
"Uh, but Bots don't breathe, sir."

—Heatwave and Hoist

[flat] "Da da da da da."
"Um, keep practicing, Medix!"
"Why? I sang it just like you all did, didn't I?"

—Medix and Hoist

Notes

Continuity notes

• TBA

Transformers references

• Wedge compares the tune in his head to Insecticons.

Real-world references

• TBA

Animation and technical errors

• The display stands in Heatwave's office are empty as he briefs Hoist on the new device. Usually there are artifacts of various kinds floating in the beams of light.

Trivia

• Cybertronian text on the image of the beetle and Herboovians: ZOOM, SCANNING, LUCK CHUCK. Presumably copied from Whirl's scanning screen from "Tough Luck Chuck".

Foreign localization

• TBA