Origin

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"This church was built in the middle of the city, so everyone could be equally close to God. I like that, the symmetry, the geometry of belief."
"Origin" 終結 (けっせん) (Kessen) "End: Decisive Battle"
Production code	TF: A-51
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS
Airdate	October 2, 2003 (English) 19 December 2003 (Japanese)
Writer	Ryō Motohira
English adaptation	Terry Klassen
Director	Shigenori Awai
Animation studio	Actas Inc.
Continuity	Unicron Trilogy

After the kids discover that the Mini-Cons were cast in the name of Unicron, the Transformers learn the big origin of Unicron. Meanwhile, Sideways attempts to negotiate Unicron's absorption of Optimus, questioning if Optimus is not guilty of enjoying the millennia of conflict.

Synopsis

Red Alert survives the cave-in that trapped him while he was dropping off the kids at the underground portal to Unicron. Above the ruined landscape, he can see Unicron battle against the combined forces of Autobots, Decepticons, and the giant Mini-Con duplicate of Unicron.

Inside of Unicron, the kids explore, searching for Optimus Prime and Galvatron.

We really need to stop meeting like this.

The two leaders stand in the same chamber of Unicron's core, where the three Mini-Con weapons are plugged into the behemoth. From the core of the monstrosity, Sideways emerges to welcome the two. Through Sideways, Unicron explains how he increased his power by leeching energy from the war between the Autobots and Decepticons that had lasted for so long.

When Galvatron complains that Unicron has become long-winded, Unicron suspends the two leaders in black tentacles, absorbing Galvatron's very essence. Unicron continues to question Optimus's own motives, suspecting that Optimus Prime enjoys the thrill of the conflict.

Outside, Side Swipe blasts open a hole in Unicron's throat, letting a team of fliers inside. The small group of jets fly through the tunnels of Unicron's interior, trying to avoid being destroyed by the shifting terrain, but their efforts to combat Unicron actually feed their enemy the kind of energy that powers him. As soon as his attackers escape out his mouth, he astonishes them by healing all the damage they have inflicted against him.

Not a screenshot from Super Metroid.

In Unicron's core, High Wire objects to Unicron's deconstruction of Optimus. The Street Action Team approaches the Sideways figure, while outside, the green Unicron leaks its component Mini-Cons into Unicron. Unicron laughs and reboots the personalities of the Mini-Cons, returning them to their loyal, drone-like state. With the Mini-Cons out of the way, Unicron captures the kids and continues trying to convince Optimus Prime to merge his essence willingly into Unicron.

Rad awakens in his bed, apparently on Earth. After a second, the location blurs into the desert where the Autobots and the Decepticons first battled, where he meets up with Alexis and the other kids. The background shifts again to the part of Unicron that is Galvatron's fantasy of dominance. Alexis uses her own mind to move the kids to a more pleasant delusion, but the kids are still aware of Unicron's devouring of Cybertron. Rad sets out to locate High Wire, but Unicron takes control of the mindscape. Rad's cries for help reawaken High Wire's true, friendly personality.

All the Mini-Cons move against their evil creator, freeing the three Mini-Con weapons. With Unicron disabled, Sideways tries to lash out at High-Wire, but Optimus defeats the shell with the Requiem Blaster. With Unicron no longer a threat, Galvatron challenges Optimus.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans	Mini-Cons	Other
Red Alert (1) Blurr (3) Hot Shot (4) Optimus Prime (14) Hoist (16) Jetfire (17) Side Swipe (19)	Galvatron (13) Wheeljack (18)	Carlos (6) Rad (7) Alexis (9) Fred (10) Billy (12)	High Wire (5) Sureshock (8) Grindor (11) Race Mini-Con Team (20) Air Defense Mini-Con Team (21) Space Mini-Con Team (22) Mirror (23) Unicron of Light Dead End Drones	Unicron (2) Sideways (15)

Quotes

"How foolish to battle in the name of peace...how absurd. You were programmed for war, Optimus. Without it, you would be just another Autobot. You are exactly the same as Galvatron, only you claim your objective is for peace. How does engaging in war translate into peace?"

—Unicron/Sideways

"As long as hatred exists, I shall remain impervious to attack."

—Unicron/Sideways does his best Sith impression

Galvatron: "What happened?"
Optimus Prime: "The children awoke the Mini-Cons who were under Unicron's spell."
Alexis: "EXACTLY. Now don't you think a simple 'Thank you' would be kind of nice, huh, Galvatron?"
Galvatron: "...ah, thank you."

—Galvatron learns a few manners from Alexis, *cough* likely because he indirectly caused Starscream's death *cough*.

"...I'll have my revenge."

—Sideways

Notes

Animation and technical errors

• Alexis refers to Sureshock as "Grindor" yet again. Likewise, Carlos (presumably, as we don't see which one he is talking to) calls Grindor "Sureshock".
• As Unicron tightens his tentacle grip on Galvatron, Optimus Prime briefly appears prematurely in his Powerlinx colors, as evidenced by his red eyes. Moments later, he is once again in his normal coloring.

Continuity errors

• Optimus expresses surprise that Sideways has been working with Unicron all along. However, in "Cramp", as Sideways snatches away the Star Saber, he announces flat-out that everything has fallen into place, for Unicron to destroy the universe.

Trivia

• The English version of "Origin" first aired in the United Kingdom. It aired in the United States on December 11, 2003.
• Sideways/Unicron's explanation that the two are actually different incarnations of the same evil entity doesn't perfectly line up with "Chase", when Sideways expressed fear of Unicron.
  • It's also interesting to note that Sideways speaks in his original voice after Unicron is disabled. Furthermore, after Sideways is destroyed, he says "This wouldn't have happened if you had just listened to Unicron." Once again, Sideways refers to Unicron in the third person.
• On the other hand, Unicron also says he and the Mini-Cons are "one and the same", despite their clear capacity for independence, so its possible Sideways can be both "a part" of Unicron and still separate enough to feel fear for him.
• Although not explicitly stated, it can be assumed Unicron released the Mini-Cons for the purpose of exacerbating the Autobot/Decepticon conflict. Likewise, this means Sideways' activities on Earth were meant to heighten the conflict.
• The Dead End drones that attack Optimus and Galvatron inside Unicron are referred to by Galvatron as "Laser Pods".
• Within Galvatron's fantasy, Starscream and Thrust were present, but Sideways wasn't.
• Optimus finally receives his Powerlinx colors after being freed from Unicron's grip.
• When Unicron utters the line "So long as hatred exists, I will remain impervious to attack," his mouth actually moves.
• The scene in which Unicron's is seen over Cybertron and the scene where Unicron's abdomen opens and causes the planet's surface to crumble are both reused in Energon for flashbacks (albeit in black and white).

Foreign localization

German

• Title: "Endlich Frieden?" ("Peace at Last?")
• Original airdate: 15 January 2004

Hungarian

• Title: "A világ ura" ("Ruler of the World")

Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

DVD

2004 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 13 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2006 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two (Rhino Entertainment)
2007 — Transformers: Armada — The Collector's Edition (Universal)
2009 — Transformers: Armada — Volume Two (New KSM) — English and German audio.