Animation error

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The error you've seen over 33 times.

Animation errors are phenomena in cartoons, which means some scenes are weird, inconsistent, or even illogical. Sometimes these represented multiples of otherwise unique characters, characters appearing in inappropriate scenes (even after their original deaths in some cases), inexplicable deviations from character models, and odd size variations. They were most rampant in the original Generation 1 cartoon, due to the low animation budget. However, the cartoon was not alone in this respect considering the production values of most other cartoons in the 1980s.

Types of animation errors

Animation errors are often separated into two types:

Animation and technical glitches

Discoloring

Best example, ever. Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4

Perhaps the most common error is when a character is colored incorrectly. Sometimes they are colored like other characters mistakenly; other times the coloring is totally off, like Optimus Prime painted white (and not as Ultra Magnus). Discoloring should not be confused with palette swaps, which are for the most part intentional.

Layer issues

These amusing cases involve the various animation cels for individual characters being stacked wrong, leading to characters who should be in the back in group shots appearing in the front. Since they were supposed to be in the background, of course, they were drawn as being smaller, hence when they inadvertently get moved up front, they're hilariously dinky. Layer issues should not be confused with the Size changing.

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/d/d3/Tinybluestreak.jpg/120px-Tinybluestreak.jpg" width="120" height="87" border="0" /> Looks like Bluestreak participated in bring-your-kid-to-work-day. City of Steel

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/4/46/Huge_Ironhide_and_Small_Ratchet.jpg/120px-Huge_Ironhide_and_Small_Ratchet.jpg" width="120" height="80" border="0" /> Aw, look. So did Ratchet. They're so cute. Masquerade

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/9/92/CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg/120px-CarnageMiniBlaster.jpg" width="120" height="90" border="0" /> Okay, this is getting annoying. Carnage in C-Minor

Continuity error

Dead men standing

There have been several examples of characters appearing after they have supposedly died, most notably in The Transformers: The Movie. Brawn and Huffer made appearances in the third season of the cartoon, while Prowl and Wheeljack showed up in the The Headmasters and Victory cartoons.

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/b/b0/DeceptiBrawn1.jpg/120px-DeceptiBrawn1.jpg" width="120" height="90" border="0" /> Brawn appears in the third season while he has died previously. Carnage in C-Minor

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/d/d0/Windcharger-COTP01.jpg/120px-Windcharger-COTP01.jpg" width="120" height="61" border="0" /> Windcharger appears in the third season while he has died previously, too. Call of the Primitives

Wrong place at the wrong time

Sometimes, characters who have been captured or gone missing will suddenly show up in their base or team with no explanation.

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/b/ba/Transfixatron.jpg/120px-Transfixatron.jpg" width="120" height="90" border="0" /> Came to Earth to search for his right hand. The Autobot Run

<img alt="" src="/w2/images2/thumb/6/60/Decepticons_w_galvatron.jpg/120px-Decepticons_w_galvatron.jpg" width="120" height="90" border="0" /> "Yay, we're going to save me, Galvatron!" Five Faces of Darkness, Part 1

Notable examples

Generation One

The Epic "Missing Piece Optimus Prime" (Not MP) The Search for Alpha Trion

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Animation errors in remastered versions

Some animation errors could happen after remastering, such as those in the episode "Fire on the Mountain".

Notable episodes

• B.O.T.
• Carnage in C-Minor
• Child's Play

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