High Wire (Armada)

This article is about the Armada and Energon Mini-Con. For the Universe Mini-Con, see High Wire (Universe).

High Wire is a Mini-Con from the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Ohh, it's a deep burn! Oh, it's so deep! Oh, I can barely lift my right arm 'cause I did so many.

High Wire is a bike. Motivational, intelligent, yet ego-free, he believes unwaveringly in the power of teamwork, and though he wouldn't admit it, he is great at leadership.

He combines with his fellow Street Action Mini-Con Team members to form Perceptor. On at least one occasion he has demonstrated a limited ability to manipulate time.

Japanese name: Wheelie (Armada), Hopper (Energon))

Russian name: Wire (Armada)

Fiction

Cartoon continuity

Armada

Voice actor: SFX, Terry Klassen (US); SFX, Akira Tomisaka (Japan)

A million years ago, a ceasefire was called between the Autobots and the Decepticons, during which it was decided to banish the Mini-Cons from Cybertron so they would never be used as tools of war again. High Wire was among the Mini-Cons who were placed in stasis inside Mini-Con storage panels on board the starship Exodus for the long journey into deep space.

However, during the launch of the Exodus, the Decepticon leader Megatron betrayed the ceasefire and attacked, hoping to take all the Mini-Cons for himself. The Autobots managed to hold off the Decepticons long enough for the Exodus to make it to a warp gate and leave Cybertron behind forever. After drifting through space for countless years, the Mini-Con ship collided with the moon of a primitive world that would become known as Earth and broke apart, half of it remaining on the moon while the rest crash-landed on the planet's surface.

Thousands of years later, a human schoolboy named Rad and his friend Carlos were exploring the caves under the local observatory when they discovered the remains of the Exodus. Rad was drawn to the glowing, green Mini-Con panel in the darkness, and when he touched it, the systems of the Exodus reactivated and sent a signal back to Cybertron. Now the Transformers knew what had become of the Mini-Cons. After Rad and Carlos exited the caves and met up with Alexis, they were confronted by Megatron himself. In his fear, Rad stumbled and dropped the Mini-Con panel, which activated and released High Wire. High Wire was shocked to see Megatron and scanned Rad's bicycle to enable the escape for his new friends and liberators. However, Megatron managed to stop them and demanded the humans turn over High Wire. Fortunately for all concerned, the Autobot leader, Optimus Prime, arrived to confront the Decepticon leader. First Encounter

Legends anthology

After Alexis, Carlos and Rad failed to adequately explain Halloween, they invited the Mini-Cons along with them while Trick-or-Treating. High Wire was the first to catch on, but was confused by Rad mentioning that if they didn't get candy, they could t.p. the house. Something Robotic This Way Comes

Toys

Armada

• Street Action Mini-Con Team (Mini-Con Team, 2002)

Armada High Wire transforms into a tiny BMX bicycle with turning pedals. His robot mode is adorable. He can combine with Sureshock and Grindor to form Perceptor, becoming the head and back of the gestalt form.

This mold was also used to make Universe High Wire.

• More information on High Wire at TFU.info

• Street Action Micron Anime Color (CD w/ toy, 2003)

These redecoes of the Street Action Team were available only with the CD single of the first Micron Legend theme song, "Transformer: Dream Again" by Psychic Lover. The toys were decoed to be more cartoon-accurate; in High Wire's case, he has more detailed paint operations for his face and his Perceptor head kibble is a lighter blue.

• More information on Anime Color Wheelie at TFU.info

• Wheelie (Change Micron, 2003)

Part of the first assortment of Kabaya Change Microns, this candy toy version of High Wire is almost identical to the original toy, but was actually made using an all-new mold. The most obvious change is his face, which is now painted with a red mouthplate and no eyes. High Wire came in an individual box, packed with a baggie of sugar-pellets.

• More information on Change Micron Wheelie at TFU.info

• Magna Convoy DX Set (Multi-pack, 2003)

An X-Dimension redeco of the Street Action Mini-Con Team was packaged only with the Toys "R" Us Japan exclusive Magna Convoy DX toy. Grindor was given a red and black color scheme.

• More information on X-Dimension Wheelie at TFU.info

Energon

• Perceptor (Basic, 2004)

Energon High Wire transforms into a dirt bike that doesn't hold together very well. His robot head can be used as a kickstand in this mode. Once again, he can combine with Sureshock and Grindor to form Perceptor. For some reason, it's hard to tell what side of his head is actually his face.

This mold was also used to make Energon Brake and Axle.

• More information on Energon High Wire at TFU.info

File:Energon Kicker HighWire toy.jpg

He will crush the other Mini-cons under his gargantuan feet!

• Energon Kicker with High Wire (Deluxe, 2005)

High Wire is a much larger, near Basic-sized version of Energon High Wire. He is an all-new design with increased detailing and some minor design changes, but unfortunately is out of scale of the Kicker figure he is packed with. He has a spark crystal on his chest rather than a Mini-Con powerlinx port.

• More information on large Energon High Wire at TFU.info

Universe (2003)

• Perceptor (Basic, 2005)

Universe Perceptor is a repack of Energon Perceptor, with no changes to the contents within.

Cybertron

I'll never have normal hands, will i?

• Blastcharge vs High Wire (Mini-Con 2-pack, 2006)

Cybertron High Wire is a redeco of Energon High Wire. His vehicle mode's paint scheme is based upon Evel Knievel's various American flag-themed motorcycles. He retains his ability to combine with Sureshock and Grindor to form a patriotically-coloured Perceptor.

• More information on Cybertron High Wire at TFU.info

Notes

• The Energon Kicker with High Wire set was not "mech-designed" or engineered by Takara employees, a rarity for normal-series Transformers toys.