Tako Tank: Difference between revisions
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[[File:TakoTank1.gif|upright=1.67|thumb|It ain't quite "Mech-Taco", but close enough.]] | [[File:TakoTank1.gif|upright=1.67|thumb|It ain't quite "Mech-Taco", but close enough.]] | ||
The '''Tako Tank''' (タコタンク ''Tako Tanku'') is an amphibious vehicle used by the Maximals fighting the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] on [[Gaia]]. | The '''Tako Tank''' (タコタンク ''Tako Tanku'') is an amphibious vehicle used by the Maximals fighting the [[Beast Wars (event)|Beast Wars]] on [[Gaia]]. It is nominally in the care of [[Ikard]], although it is more frequently used by his cousin [[Scuba]], who shows a real proficiency for using the machine to its fullest potential. | ||
The Tako Tank | The tentacles of the Tako Tank are equipped with suction cups that allow the Tako Tank to climb vertical surfaces. Would this not be enough for freedom of movement, the Dome Open function of the Tako Tank opens up the cab so the detachable speeder bike within, the '''Sumii Car''' (スミーカー), can move out. The Sumii Car has both a bike mode and a flight mode, but doesn't protect its driver like the full Tako Tank does. As for weaponry, the Tako Tank firstly relies on its powerful arms to lash out and grab things, which is called Octo Power Arm (オクトパワーアーム). Secondly, there's a cannon located in the snout that can fire ink, water, and a laser, although not all three at once. The Sumii Car doesn't have these, but it does have twin missile launchers installed called the Surumewinder (スルメワインダー). | ||
==Fiction== | ==Fiction== | ||
===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon=== | ===''Beast Wars II'' cartoon=== | ||
To support [[Scuba]] in his work as part of the [[Maximal]] army, his family pooled funds and bought him the Tako Tank as a gift. [[Ikard]], Scuba's cousin and owner of [[Octopus Pot Marked Express Home Delivery Service]], brought it over to him on [[Gaia]] just as the [[Lio Convoy Unit]] was in a fight with the recently upgraded [[Megastorm|Gigastorm]] backed up by the [[Combatron (BW)|Combatrons]]. It was love at first sight for Scuba and he readily went to test Tako Tank out against his adversaries. He started with a blast of Octopus Ink into Gigastorm's face, blinding the giant and thereby giving himself the time to retreat up a cliff. The Tako Tank safely out of reach, he activated the Dome Open function and continued attacking Gigastorm with the Sumii Car in flight mode. After a salvo of Surumewinder, he landed and continued in bike mode, but more wasn't needed of him because [[Magnaboss (BWII)|Magnaboss]] finished the job. Once the [[Predacon (BW)|Predacons]] had properly fled, the other Maximals had the time to admire Scuba's new acquisition. Scuba was kind enough to promise that they could drive it too some time, although Ikard warned that the Tako Tank was tuned to Scuba. {{storylink|The New Weapon, Tako Tank}} | |||
{{charstubfiction}} | |||
Scuba agreed to teach the other Maximals how to operate the Tako Tank, but when [[Lio Junior]] felt the evil [[Angolmois Energy]] act up and ran off to investigate, the others recognized the priority and followed after him. {{storylink|Gigastorm's Treachery}} During an activity lull, [[Tasmania Kid]] and [[Diver (BW)|Diver]] had the Tako Tank on their minds again and went to gaze at it while Scuba was elsewhere. Diver confided that he'd recently seen Scuba clean the vehicle late into the night while singing children's songs. This being highly uncharacteristic behavior, he concluded that the Tako Tank meant a lot to Scuba and that they'd do well not to touch it without his permission. Tasmania Kid dismissed the warning and entered the vehicle, where he couldn't help himself but to push a blinking red button. This activated a program in which the Tako Tank runs away and self-destructs and Tasmania Kid couldn't figure out how to stop it. Quickly alerted of Tasmania Kid's peril, all of the Lio Convoy Unit came after him. When the countdown reached fifteen seconds, Scuba caught up and rode along on the roof as he paged through the instruction manual. At six seconds to go, he found the solution and at two seconds to go, he ended the program. Tasmania Kid was deeply relieved, but there wasn't much time for the Maximals to collect themselves because [[Starscream (BW)|Hellscream]] and [[BB (BW)|Max-B]] attacked. Scuba took control of the Tako Tank and grabbed the two with the vehicle's tentacles. Holding them out before him, he drove the Tako Tank down a cliff at the bottom of which was a river of Angolmois Energy. Rotating the base, he used the vehicle's water cannon to break apart the cliff, dumping the two [[Cyborg Beast]]s in the Angolmois Energy while large chucks of rock fell down on them. He himself crawled back up the cliff to safety. {{storylink|The End of Starscream}} | |||
{{charstubfiction|{{storylink|The Lio Convoy Assassination Plot}}{{storylink|The Great Angolmois Freezing Tactic}}{{storylink|Knock Out Nemesis}}{{storylink|Lio Junior's Revolt!?}}{{storylink|Emissary of the Fourth Planet}}{{storylink|The Crisis of Planet Gaia}}{{storylink|Fly Out! Planet Gaia}}{{storylink|Revenge of the Space Pirates}}{{storylink|Breaking into Nemesis}}{{storylink|Farewell! Lio Convoy}}}} | |||
===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity=== | ===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity=== | ||
| Line 50: | Line 53: | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
*''Tako'' (蛸, 鮹, 章魚, 鱆, or タコ) is Japanese for "octopus". | *''Tako'' (蛸, 鮹, 章魚, 鱆, or タコ) is Japanese for "octopus". | ||
*Like the [[Niagara Base]] from the same line, there is speculation that the Tako Tank was originally an unreleased ''[[Microman]]'' concept. This may explain the bike's dubious-at-best compatibility with its pilots and why—uncharacteristically for Transformers toys by that time—there was no mode that could store all the missiles at once. | *Like the [[Niagara Base]] from the same line, there is speculation that the Tako Tank was originally an unreleased ''[[Microman]]'' concept. This may explain the bike's dubious-at-best compatibility with its pilots and why—uncharacteristically for Transformers toys by that time—there was no mode that could store all the missiles at once. | ||
*Sumii Car (スミーカー) is a pun on ''sumiika'' (スミーカ), which is the Japanese word for "cuttlefish". An English approximation is "Carttlefish". | |||
*"Surumewinder" as ''Surumewaindā'' is a pun on [[Screamwinder]] as ''Sukurīmuwaindā'', replacing "scream" with "surume", which means "dried squid". | |||
[[Category:Beast Wars vehicles]] | [[Category:Beast Wars vehicles]] | ||
[[Category:Beast Wars II vehicles]] | [[Category:Beast Wars II vehicles]] | ||
Revision as of 12:26, 23 January 2026
The Tako Tank (タコタンク Tako Tanku) is an amphibious vehicle used by the Maximals fighting the Beast Wars on Gaia. It is nominally in the care of Ikard, although it is more frequently used by his cousin Scuba, who shows a real proficiency for using the machine to its fullest potential.
The tentacles of the Tako Tank are equipped with suction cups that allow the Tako Tank to climb vertical surfaces. Would this not be enough for freedom of movement, the Dome Open function of the Tako Tank opens up the cab so the detachable speeder bike within, the Sumii Car (スミーカー), can move out. The Sumii Car has both a bike mode and a flight mode, but doesn't protect its driver like the full Tako Tank does. As for weaponry, the Tako Tank firstly relies on its powerful arms to lash out and grab things, which is called Octo Power Arm (オクトパワーアーム). Secondly, there's a cannon located in the snout that can fire ink, water, and a laser, although not all three at once. The Sumii Car doesn't have these, but it does have twin missile launchers installed called the Surumewinder (スルメワインダー).
Fiction
Beast Wars II cartoon
To support Scuba in his work as part of the Maximal army, his family pooled funds and bought him the Tako Tank as a gift. Ikard, Scuba's cousin and owner of Octopus Pot Marked Express Home Delivery Service, brought it over to him on Gaia just as the Lio Convoy Unit was in a fight with the recently upgraded Gigastorm backed up by the Combatrons. It was love at first sight for Scuba and he readily went to test Tako Tank out against his adversaries. He started with a blast of Octopus Ink into Gigastorm's face, blinding the giant and thereby giving himself the time to retreat up a cliff. The Tako Tank safely out of reach, he activated the Dome Open function and continued attacking Gigastorm with the Sumii Car in flight mode. After a salvo of Surumewinder, he landed and continued in bike mode, but more wasn't needed of him because Magnaboss finished the job. Once the Predacons had properly fled, the other Maximals had the time to admire Scuba's new acquisition. Scuba was kind enough to promise that they could drive it too some time, although Ikard warned that the Tako Tank was tuned to Scuba. The New Weapon, Tako Tank
Scuba agreed to teach the other Maximals how to operate the Tako Tank, but when Lio Junior felt the evil Angolmois Energy act up and ran off to investigate, the others recognized the priority and followed after him. Gigastorm's Treachery During an activity lull, Tasmania Kid and Diver had the Tako Tank on their minds again and went to gaze at it while Scuba was elsewhere. Diver confided that he'd recently seen Scuba clean the vehicle late into the night while singing children's songs. This being highly uncharacteristic behavior, he concluded that the Tako Tank meant a lot to Scuba and that they'd do well not to touch it without his permission. Tasmania Kid dismissed the warning and entered the vehicle, where he couldn't help himself but to push a blinking red button. This activated a program in which the Tako Tank runs away and self-destructs and Tasmania Kid couldn't figure out how to stop it. Quickly alerted of Tasmania Kid's peril, all of the Lio Convoy Unit came after him. When the countdown reached fifteen seconds, Scuba caught up and rode along on the roof as he paged through the instruction manual. At six seconds to go, he found the solution and at two seconds to go, he ended the program. Tasmania Kid was deeply relieved, but there wasn't much time for the Maximals to collect themselves because Hellscream and Max-B attacked. Scuba took control of the Tako Tank and grabbed the two with the vehicle's tentacles. Holding them out before him, he drove the Tako Tank down a cliff at the bottom of which was a river of Angolmois Energy. Rotating the base, he used the vehicle's water cannon to break apart the cliff, dumping the two Cyborg Beasts in the Angolmois Energy while large chucks of rock fell down on them. He himself crawled back up the cliff to safety. The End of Starscream
Dreamwave Generation One continuity
A toy remarkably similar to the Tako Tank startled an EDC soldier at a movie theater. On reflection, he thought it might be a GoBot. Infestation
2006 IDW Beast Wars continuity
During an Angolmois-induced riot on Cybertron, the Tako Tank broke through a wall while leading various crazed Maximals and Predacons, including Scuba. The Ascending #4
Games
Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars
While battling for control of the super-powerful Energon Quartz, Scuba could summon the Tako Tank to perform a devastating "Vulcan Rush" attack. Duel Fight Transformers Beast Wars
Toys
Beast Wars
- Ikard & Tako Tank (イカード&タコタンク, 1998)
- ID number: X-5
- Release date: 1998 October
- Accessories: Motorcycle, 6 missiles, pump
- Known designers: Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy), Masakatsu Saito (concept artist)
- Part of the ninth wave of Takara's Beast Wars II toys, the Tako Tank is a large mechanical octopus. Twin puppet-rods in the back give control of the front two tentacles, which are made of a soft rubbery plastic, and are also one of the most fun play-features in Transformers ever. A plunger in the back runs through the body, which activates a removable pump in the tank's "mouth". A small wheel behind each "eye" allows them to spin in concert, though for what purpose is unknown.
- The tank-head splits open to reveal a removable motorcycle Basic-scaled toys can ride. This bike has two flip-around spring-loaded missile launchers, featuring small pegs that are compatible with the Claw Jaw/Scuba mold's tentacle-hands. The wheel assembly can serve as either a traditional land-based vehicle or swivel and tilt to perform as a hoverbike. The launchers fold up into the bike's rider compartment for storage inside the Tako Tank, so the Tank cannot be "piloted" in this form; however, once the bike is deployed, there is room to seat a Basic-scaled figure in the left-over socket to pilot the tank body, plus a nice window for them to look out of.
- The Tako Tank came with its pilot, Ikard.
Merchandise
Beast Wars
- Ofurode Tatakae Tako Tank (おふろで戦えタコタンク, 1998)
- Accessories: Ikard figurine, 3 effervescent bath pucks
- "Bath Fight Tako Tank" is a "diving" style tub-toy, which came with a translucent blue PVC of Ikard. It uses one of the three bath bomb pucks included to generate carbon dioxide gas from within the Tako Tank, raising the toy to the top of the water, where it dispels the gas and then sinks back to the bottom to repeat the process.
- The bath bombs also give their color to the water... unfortunately, that color is yellow.
Notes
- Tako (蛸, 鮹, 章魚, 鱆, or タコ) is Japanese for "octopus".
- Like the Niagara Base from the same line, there is speculation that the Tako Tank was originally an unreleased Microman concept. This may explain the bike's dubious-at-best compatibility with its pilots and why—uncharacteristically for Transformers toys by that time—there was no mode that could store all the missiles at once.
- Sumii Car (スミーカー) is a pun on sumiika (スミーカ), which is the Japanese word for "cuttlefish". An English approximation is "Carttlefish".
- "Surumewinder" as Surumewaindā is a pun on Screamwinder as Sukurīmuwaindā, replacing "scream" with "surume", which means "dried squid".
