The Insecticon Syndrome

« The Transformers ep 29 » « Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers ep 21 »
I think they have a special shampoo for that.
"The Insecticon Syndrome"
Production code	#700-28
Production company	Sunbow Productions
Airdate	October 9, 1985
Written by	Douglas Booth
Continuity	Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Insecticons feed on a source of power which causes them to grow... and will cause them to explode if not cured.

Japanese title: インセクトロン・シンドローム (Insectron Syndrome)

Synopsis

J'ACCUSE!

At a park, Jeff, a park ranger has called for help. Spike, Hound, Beachcomber, and Bumblebee respond, driving along a rocky road (and Bumblebee is especially having trouble). The ranger shows the Autobots some trees that appeared to have been chewed on by something. Beachcomber quickly realizes that something did chew on the trees, but not by an animal—it was the Insecticons. Meanwhile, the Insecticons are hiding in their current lair/hive/base thingy. They complain that the trees didn't fill them up the way that they wanted to, so the Insecticons decide to go feast on some redwoods. Meanwhile, Jeff is having trouble accepting the possibility of giant robotic insects (even though he's talking to a trio of giant robotic cars). Suddenly, another ranger calls him, saying he's seeing giant robotic insects. The Autobots proceed to roll out.

Meanwhile, the Decepticons are searching for their Insecticon "allies". Megatron has come up with a plan that will require their unique abilities. As Soundwave spots the Autobots, Megatron takes it as a chance to observe them in action. As the other ranger barely dodges a falling tree, the Autobots arrive. The Autobots and Insecticons throw down, until the Insecticons push a log down a hill that nearly crushes the Autobots. Our heroes jump into a river to avoid death, but they then fall over a waterfall...at least, that's what the Insecticons believe, for Hound used his holograms to make it appear that the Autobots and humans fell over. After that, Megatron and the Decepticons arrive. He explains that he intends to attack Iron Mountain, a human military base, but offers the Insecticons to gorge themselves at the Nova Power Plant if they help them. Overhearing this, the Autobots contact the base.

Here's your problem, ma'am. See that? Termites.

Receiving their signal, Optimus Prime leads a strike force to the Nova Power Plant. Unfortunately, the Decepticons are already there. The Seekers quickly down the helicopters the humans have to defend the base, while Megs, Soundwave, Laserbeak and Buzzsaw go to stop the Autobots. The Insecticons reach the Nova Power Core, which they proceed to drain. However, the protons within the core cause them to grow in size, making them as large as Optimus Prime and Megatron. Soundwave overhears what is happening, but Bombshell implants him with a cerebro-shell. The Insecticons proceed to kick the slag out of Ironhide and Wheeljack, and the Autobots are forced to retreat with their fallen comrades. Megatron is pleased with the Insecticons' new power, unaware that the Insecticons plan to off him.

At the base, the Autobots use Teletraan I to calculate what will happen to the Insecticons. It says that the energy from the Power Core will cause the Insecticons to explode unless something is done. However, the Autobots receive a distress signal from Iron Mountain, where the Decepticons are attacking. If the Insecticons explode there, they'll kill everyone there. Ratchet and Wheeljack quickly work on an antidote.

Hound's a bottom? Who'da thunk it?

At Iron Mountain, the Decepticons attack. However, the human defenses are surprisingly advanced for simple flesh creatures. Finally, Shrapnel takes control of the human weapons, causing them to attack the base. The Autobots arrive, but are quickly buried in rubble by the Insecticons. Entering the base, Soundwave manages to access the computer. Megatron declares that it's time to eliminate the Insecticons, only to discover that his army has been taken over by the Insecticons. Bombshell fires a cerebro-shell into Starscream, but Megatron manages to grab the shell fired at him and destroy it. Having finally dug themselves out, the Autobots explain the explosive situation to Megatron. Fortunately, Ratchet and Wheeljack have arrived with an antidote.

Ahhh, my head asplode. Asplode.

Heading into Iron Mountain, the Insecticons begin to reach critical mass, and will explode at any minute. As Megatron transforms into gun mode for Optimus to use, the Autobot leader uses the Decepticon leader to fire the antidotes into Bombshell and Kickback. However, Shrapnel manages to avoid his cure, so Spike bravely manages to get the cure into Shrapnel...who blows up anyway. The cures cause the cerebro-shells to deactivate, but also erase the information Soundwave downloaded. Bombshell uses a special shell to cause Shrapnel to reassemble, and the Insecticons run away, with the angry Decepticons in pursuit. With the Decepticons defeated, the day is saved.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Beachcomber (1) Hound (2) Bumblebee (3) Optimus Prime (15) Inferno (16) Ironhide (17) Wheeljack (18) Jazz (19) Ratchet (20)	Kickback (6) Shrapnel (7) Bombshell (8) Megatron (10) Soundwave (11) Starscream (12) Thundercracker (13) Skywarp (14) Buzzsaw (21) Laserbeak (22)	Jeff, the young park ranger (4) Mike, the old park ranger (9) Spike Witwicky (5)

Quotes

"Gigantic robot insects that eat trees? YOU'VE GOTTA BE KIDDING!"

—Jeff the Park Ranger's suspension of disbelief is ruined.

"The Insecticons have done well."
"Yes...perhaps they should lead us."
"You test my patience, Starscream."

—Megatron and Starscream after the Insecticons defeat some Autobots.

"Why, if it isn't Megatron, and his merry mechanical men!"

—Bombshell

"Oh boy, a robotoid turkey shoot!"

—Inferno takes aim at Laserbeak and Buzzsaw.

"Power has made the Insecticons obnoxious."
"And invincible."

—Starscream and Megatron

"What's the matter, Megatron? Weakling humans too tough for you, for you?"

—Shrapnel to Megatron, after the latter has been shot by a human weapon.

"Ohhhh....that Nova Power Core is giving me heartburn...that is, if I have a heart."
"If you have a brain, you'll realize that we've got a battle to fight!"

—Bombshell and Megatron

"Guys, you all right?"
"Just great...if you don't mind two tons of Inferno sitting on your head plates."
"Look, you get ten tons of boulders off my shoulder struts, and I'll get off your noggin."

—Spike, Hound and Inferno

"No one gets into my cranial chamber!"
"Auugh, my cerebro-shell! My precious shell!"

—Megatron and Bombshell

"We Insecticons, know how to get... it... together!!"

—Bombshell delivers a cheesy line after reassembling Shrapnel.

Notes

Animation or technical glitches

• Jeff's pointing hand is layered behind Beachcomber when saying his "What kind of animals can devour trees this size?" line.
• In the second binocular view of the Insecticons, Shrapnel's "cockpit" isn't colored yellow.
• Shrapnel's transformation to robot mode gets only half a transformation noise, and it's not timed to line up with the animation.
• Kickback is supposed to be in insect mode when he lands to kick the log after the Autobots, but he's drawn in robot mode, lying on his back!
• Starscream's Decepticon insignias are incorrectly the right way up when the Decepticons first approach the Insecticons.
• Megatron is missing his chest insignia during the line "At the Nova Power Plant".
• Two Skywarps are shown flying against the human helicopters.
• Buzzsaw and Laserbeak both leave Soundwave's chest with no chest-opening sound effect and no transformation noise.
• Bombshell is shown during Kickback's "making me grow" line, though given the lack of lip flap for the insect-mode Insecticons, it's not an incontrovertible mistake.
• The animation is not especially consistent about how much the Insecticons have grown. Inside the power core, they're gargantuan; when they enslave Soundwave, they're only a few heads taller than him. During the attack on Iron Mountain they're the same size as the other Decepticons.
• As Shrapnel gets Soundwave into a full nelson, Soundwave has a purple Autobot insignia.
• A trace of Ironhide's accent slips into Peter Cullen's delivery as Optimus Prime orders Bumblebee, Inferno, Beachcomber, and Jazz to help him.
• Jazz has a Decepticon insignia during a shot in Autobot Headquarters after they discover the Insecticons are time bombs, just before the second commercial break.
• Improbable viewpoints:
  • Teletraan I supplies a 3/4 view of the Decepticons attacking Iron Mountain. The view travels with them as they fly.
• Starscream's wings are mounted much too high on his shoulders as he watches Soundwave absorb the computer info.
• When Bombshell turns to order his slaves to fire, he gets a whirring sound effect as if he were sitting on a moving platform.
• Megatron's upper gun body is black instead of light gray after he transforms in Prime's arms.
• Shrapnel loses his last-word-repeating gimmick as he summons the lightning.
• As he watches Spike run up to Shrapnel, Optimus calls him "Pike". Or maybe "Bike". For real.
• Bumblebee's nose is yellow instead of white as Spike makes his awful, horrible joke.

Continuity errors

• Soundwave eavesdrops on the Insecticons with a Transformer-sized stethoscope. As if this weren't implausible enough, he's wearing and using it in proper human fashion even though he doesn't have ears.
• Wheeljack and Ironhide climbing the transmission towers does not appear to serve any rational purpose.
• Spike once again gets a wrist watch that shows up only in the shots where he needs to tell the time.
• From the time Spike looks at his watch and issues the 30-second warning to the point where Shrapnel explodes, about 1 minute and 46 seconds pass. As well, when he gives Shrapnel his 10-second warning, it takes about 47 seconds until he detonates. (On a minor note, it takes Spike 6 out of the available 10 seconds to say that Shrapnel is going to explode.) Either their estimates on when the Insecticons would explode were off, or seconds are longer in this episode than they are elsewhere.
• Inferno disappears from the episode after a quick appearance inside of Iron Mountain, just before Shrapnel's big explosion. He doesn't even get to laugh with the other Autobots at the end.

Continuity notes

• This episode features the first appearances of Beachcomber and Inferno. However, no explanation of their origins is given.
• Where's the trailer go?
  • At the start of the Nova Power Plant attack, in a head-on shot, Prime's trailer just rolls off behind him and disappears over the horizon.
• Bombshell sure gets upset when one of his (presumably limitless) cerebro-shells is destroyed. This is the closest the cartoon ever got to showing his tech spec weakness, which notes that the shells can be used against him.
• This is not the first time that Optimus Prime has fired Megatron in gun mode, nor the first time that they've teamed up to save their skins. Nor would it be the last time.
• It's also not the first time that the Decepticons have chased the Insecticons off into the sunset.
• According to Spike, the Insecticons have "trilithium stomachs".
• After he climbs up the electrical tower and gets electrocuted, Ironhide's forearm panel pops open and the word "Ironhide" is written on the circuits inside.

Real-world references

• Star Wars sound effects:
  • During the battle in the park, Bombshell and Kickback both launch and fly with Millennium Falcon engine noises.
  • The sound of a lightsaber igniting is used as Prime blasts away the rocks pinning down the other Autobots.

Trivia

Remember kids, guns are awesome!

• Spike totally gets his own laser gun in this ep.
• Amongst the text that comes up on the Iron Mountain computer is a mess of BASIC programming commands and repeated "Syntax error"s.

Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

VHS

2000 — The Original Transformers — Volume 6: Evolution Revolution (Rhino Entertainment)

Laserdisc

1994 — Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers — Convoy Set (Takara) — Japanese audio only.
1998 — The Transformers — Autobot Edition (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.

DVD

2001 — The Transformers — DVD Box 1 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2002 — The Original Transformers — Season 2 Part 1 (Rhino Entertainment)
2002 — The Original Transformers — Season 2 Part 1: Vol. 2 (Rhino Entertainment)
2003 — Transformers — Season 2 Part 1 (Metrodome)
2004 — Transformers — Collection 2: Series 2.1 (Madman Entertainment)
2006 — Transformers — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome)
2007 — The Transformers — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2008 — Transformers — Volume 04: Stagione Due Parte Seconda (Medianetwork Communication) — English and Italian audio.
2009 — Transformers — Season Two: Part One (Metrodome)
2009 — The Transformers — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — The Transformers — Season Two, Volume One: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)
2009 — The Transformers — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)

External link

• Dossier at the Cybertron Chronicle