Sari Sumdac (Animated)
- Sari Sumdac is a human from the Transformers Animated franchise.
Sari Sumdac, the adopted daughter of robotics genius Isaac Sumdac, doesn't get out much. She spends all her time within her father's laboratories, receiving her education from robots. Despite this, she doesn't seem like a shut-in. She's curious, excitable, adventurous, and knows that crying can sometimes get her what she wants. She just doesn't know what it's like to be around other kids. Fortunately, she has Bumblebee and Bulkhead to help with that, and she claims that Bee is the best friend she's ever had. In fact, she's become very possessive of all her robotic friends.
The key around her neck has miraculous powers from the All Spark, but her guardian, the robotic dog Sparkplug, thinks it's just another chew toy.
Fiction
Transformers: Animated continuity
- Voice actor: Tara Strong (English)
When her pet robot dog, Sparkplug, stole her security key card, Sari chased it outside and was confronted by Bumblebee and Bulkhead, who spoke to her as if she were Sparkplug's pet. Naturally, she freaked out, but quickly befriended Bumblebee once he saved her from a giant bug that had grown from her father's nanite experiment gone awry. Stowing away on Bumblebee and coming aboard the Ark, she came across the All Spark, which infused part of its power into her security key. This allowed her to heal Transformers, such as the injured Prowl, earning her brownie points with the 'Bots. She also managed to talk the police down from shooting the Autobots, saying they were friendly (except Ratchet, who was grumpy, but not evil). Sari later helped teach the Autobots about Earth and humans.
During the unveiling of her father's new transit system, Starscream arrived and attacked. Bumblebee took a shot meant for Sari, allowing Starscream to capture him, Professor Sumdac, the Mayor, and Captain Fanzone. Sari came up with the idea to distract Starscream while she and Prowl rescued the others (even faking some tears to make it happen). Her key later saved Optimus Prime's life when she used it to revive his spark. Transform and Roll Out!
Sari would go on to be Bumblebee's usual partner in crime, encouraging him to engage in such questionable activities as high-profile wrestling matches Total Meltdown and installing rocket boosters to make him go faster. Nanosec Sari likely hangs out with Bumblebee because she knows she can scare the holy beprimus out of him. Along Came a Spider
On Sari's birthday, the only other kids who turned up were the children of her dad's employees. None of them really wanted to be there and soon focused their attention on the Autobots. Sari was left alone and shunned along with Bulkhead, both morose that the kids didn't like them. Her father's present, a music robot called Soundwave, cheered her up, and she soon began neglecting her friendship with Bulkhead in favour of her new toy. Repeated uses of her All Spark Key turned Soundwave into a malevolent, sentient being who tried to enslave Humanity, and she learnt she'd been wrong to ignore her friend. Sound and Fury
It should be noted that in "Along Came a Spider", she agreed to stop using the key so much. Yes, she was going back on this and abusing it massively by the next episode, making Soundwave the fourth crisis the key has caused. Girl is not going to be happy until she creates an Animated Protoform X...
Notes
- Sari is the first person to explain human reproduction to a Transformer (in a whisper). Optimus Prime looked shocked by the explanation. However, it is possible that she described what a typical parent would tell a child, such as a stork delivering children, which would undoubtably sound ludicrous. However, since the Transformers seem to have little to no experience with organic life, Optimus may have taken Sari's explanation as fact. Logic may also dictate that, since Sari must have been created by the process, she would almost assuredly know what it is, further adding credibility.
- Fan reaction to Sari has been mixed—some fans hate her, quite a few love her, and some are neutral. Considering the widespread vitriol heaped upon previous child characters in Transformers shows (e.g., Kicker), that means she's come off reasonably well.
- In contrast, her deus ex machina All Spark key was initially less popular. However, later episodes in the first season showed it to have potentially disastrous effects when used frivolously (e.g., Soundwave), and hopefully, she will cease using it as the cure for all ills.
- Unused animation from an early version of the series' opening credits showed Sari using a tricycle that transformed into a jetpack. This device hasn't surfaced in the series as of February 2008.
