Confrontation (episode)
| This article is about the Armada cartoon episode. For the Dreamwave comic story, see Confrontation (issue). |
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 Why me? | ||||||
| "Confrontation" (Wana) "Ruins: Trap" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-09 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | October 25, 2002 (English) 7 March 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Shōji Tonoike | |||||
| Director | Masayuki Motsumoto | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
Cyclonus captures Billy and Fred to trade them for the Mini-Cons.
Synopsis
Fred and Billy muse over why the Autobots are on Earth, before they spot Rad, Carlos and Alexis and set off in pursuit. The trio speeds up when they notice they're being followed, but then Cyclonus appears overhead and they split up to try to avoid him. Cyclonus toys with Rad until the boy hides behind a tree and uses Laserbeak to shock the Decepticon before making off. After trailing Rad for a bit, Cyclonus loses him and spots Billy and Fred. He grabs the pair, telling Rad and the others that they're hostages until Optimus turns over the Mini-Cons. Rad commands Laserbeak to tail the Decepticon.
The kids report to Optimus Prime and the Autobots soon track Laserbeak to a ghost town. Cyclonus is waiting there with Starscream and Demolishor, neither of whom are particularly enthusiastic about the chances for the plan's success. Trapped in a nearby derelict building, Billy and Fred spot their guard, Leader-1, and try to work out what they're going to do.
The Autobots arrive at the ghost town with their human companions and split up. Optimus, Red Alert and Hot Shot confront the three Decepticons and attempt to negotiate the safe return of the hostages.
Meanwhile, Billy and Fred jump Leader-1, wrestling the Mini-Con to the ground, but it fires off a laser which blasts a hole in the roof, and they quickly back off. The Autobots notice the building but are prevented from moving closer by the Decepticons. A fight breaks out. The kids sneak into the building with their Mini-Cons, who surround Leader-1 and have a brief conversation in bleeps. They're interrupted by Megatron transforming from under the pile of junk that's been cluttering the building. The Decepticon leader traps them all in a sphere of energy. Bursting through the wall of the building with his prize, he gloats to the Autobots.
Outraged, Hot Shot punches Cyclonus out of the air but is prevented from doing any more damage when Megatron threatens his hostages. Optimus reluctantly agrees to hand over the Mini-Cons. This done, Megatron refuses to turn over the kids. Rad gives him a zap using Laserbeak. Despite Leader-1 attempts to stop Rad from shocking Megatron, the Decepticon leader is forced to drop the kids except for Rad. Megatron threatens to crush the boy unless the Autobots obey him and hand over the rest of the Mini-Cons. With everyone stunned into inaction, Fred picks up Laserbeak and attempts to shock Megatron's foot with it, but the Decepticon sends Leader-1. Fred's plea for friendship makes the Mini-Con pause, distracting Megatron long enough for Hot Shot to kick Rad out of his hand and give him a punch to the head. Realizing their plan has fallen apart, the Decepticons teleport away.
Rad thanks both Hot Shot and Fred for saving his life, and Billy and Fred are introduced to the Autobots.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"I bet they're from the future."
"I say they're from space and I bet their mission is to take over the world too."
"I dunno, they don't seem that evil to me."
- —Fred and Billy discuss the Autobots.
"So what are they gonna do?"
"Well, what do you think? They're gonna drain our brains, doofus."
"They can't! I-I need my brain!"
- —Fred and Billy, on the Decepticons' plans.
"You're the most annoying Autobot I've ever met!"
- —Cyclonus to Hot Shot.
"Oh, I was just thinking of keeping them as pets."
- —Megatron, regarding his hostages.
Optimus: "We've come through with our part of the deal. Now release the children, Megatron."
Megatron: "Oh no, I don't think so."
Optimus: "What?!"
Hot Shot: "You double-crossed us!"
- —The Autobots have perhaps forgotten whom they're dealing with.
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
- When Billy stops in the forest, Fred tells him to wait up instead of saying it's a good rest stop.
- After blocking Rad's path for the third time, Cyclonus says "The game ends here." Then when Rad hides behind the tree, Cyclonus tells him that hiding is pointless.
- After Rad shocks him with Laserbeak, Cyclonus says Rad has a death wish.
- Optimus's line about Billy and Fred being taken hostage is shortened, with no mention of Cyclonus, and he doesn't speak until just before the scene cuts to the close-up of him.
- In Armada, Hot Shot says the Decepticons have gone too far by kidnapping Fred and Billy, while he simply says it's unforgivable in Micron Legend. Then, in Armada, Alexis says Laserbeak is still following Cyclonus. In Micron Legend, she says that Cyclonus has landed.
- The conversation between Demolishor, Cyclonus, and Starscream differs greatly between the two versions: In Armada, Demolishor says the Autobots better arrive for Cyclonus's sake. Cyclonus assures him that they will before Starscream says it will be on Cyclonus's head if they don't. Then Cyclonus tells Starscream to relax since he has a plan. In Micron Legend, Demolishor asks what happened to the kids and their Mini-Cons, and Cyclonus says he couldn't catch them. Then Starscream asks Cyclonus not to tell him that he screwed up, and Cyclonus tells him to relax since the Autobots will undoubtedly come.
- In Armada, Fred whines about how he should've stayed home and hates bicycling. Billy surmises the Transformers need them to carry out their "world domination" plan. Micron Legend changes this to Fred asking how they got involved in this mess, and Billy saying how they need to escape before they end up in more trouble with the Transformers.
- Instead of Billy and Fred assuming they're going to get their brains drained and Billy bragging about being smarter than Fred, Billy says the Transformers plan to bring them to their planet and that Rad, Alexis, and Carlos are being manipulated.
- After they spot Leader-1, Billy says he's guarding them so he and Fred should scare and capture him unless Fred wants to do nothing and stay caught.
- In Armada, when they see the Autobots arrive and Cyclonus tells Demolishor and Starscream to let him handle it, the latter laughs and says, "Go ahead. Be my guest." In Micron Legend, Starscream asks if they should see what the Autobots brought for them.
- In Armada, Rad says the team should split up, but says the kids will let the Autobots know when they find where Fred and Billy are being held in Micron Legend.
- Before Fred offers a potato chip to Leader-1, he says at least he still has them in Armada. In the Japanese dub, Fred tries to convince Leader-1 that they taste good.
- Optimus simply asks Cyclonus if Billy and Fred are safe, and doesn't threaten him.
- As he and Billy hold Leader-1 down, rather than telling the Mini-Con not to eat his chips, Fred tells him to hold still.
- After seeing the video feed of Leader-1 with Fred and Billy, Alexis says they're safe. Then Carlos says the Autobots might be unable to help, so Rad says it's up to them.
- After the commercial bumper, Billy and Fred don't ask who High Wire, Grindor, and Sureshock are. Then, instead of believing the Mini-Cons are talking, Fred recognizes them as being with Rad, Carlos, and Alexis.
- While shooting at Hot Shot, Cyclonus says the Autobot is paying for Optimus not surrendering the Mini-Cons in Armada. In Micron Legend, Cyclonus says the Decepticons will let the Autobots go if they just hand over the Mini-Cons. Then Armada has Hot Shot complain and wish Cyclonus would "give it a rest"; in Micron Legend, Hot Shot says Cyclonus isn't getting away with this.
- As Leader-1 is beeping frantically, Rad says they should hurry. Then Megatron says, "Transform!" while he emerges from the junk instead of before as he does in Armada.
- As he holds the kids and Mini-Cons hostage, Megatron says the Mini-Cons are now unable to transform or powerlinx.
- When he downs Cyclonus, Hot Shot says, "I'm pissed off! Especially for these dirty tricks!" Then Megatron says, "Young lad, I don't think you quite understand the current situation."
- In Armada, Megatron jokes about keeping the hostages as pets. In Micron Legend, he demands the Autobots to hand over their Mini-Cons first.
- When Optimus agrees to the request, he demands Megatron to promise to guarantee the release of the hostages. Then Megatron says Prime is becoming repetitive and repeats that the Mini-Cons be surrendered.
- Carlos says the Decepticons will become too powerful in Armada, but in the Japanese dub, he instead says they will figure something out. In response, Optimus says he understands how the kids feel but won't let them sacrifice themselves.
- After Megatron tells the children to be quiet, the kids go silent before shouting indistinct dialogue in the following close-up shot in Armada. In Micron Legend, they resume screaming intensely and it carries through the next shot.
- Hot Shot's "What a ripoff!" line is removed.
- When he attacks Megatron with Laserbeak, Rad says his line immediately, instead of until the screen pans over to him.
- When Megatron stops Hot Shot, the Decepticon leader says, "Not so fast! That's quite reckless. Aren't you in the least bit concerned?" Rad is also heard struggling and it continues into the next shot.
- In Armada, Fred's internal monologue is him telling himself to act quickly. In Micron Legend, his internal dialogue is "It was a promise...", as in Megatron's promise to let the kids go.
- When Fred attacks Megatron, the latter remarks on it being a cheap trick, and Fred calls Megatron a liar again.
- Rather than pleading for friendship with Leader-1 as he does in Armada, Fred repeats that Megatron lied and broke his promise.
- Instead of Hot Shot shouting, "It's lights out, Megatron!", he only says, "Unforgivable!"
- In Armada, Megatron regrets trusting Cyclonus to have a plan, and says they will discuss it back at the base. In Micron Legend, he says the plan failed because he left it in Cyclonus's hands, and orders a retreat.
- As the other kids thank Fred, Billy compliments him for being capable though Fred says he "acted on impulse."
- After Billy and Fred introduce themselves to the Autobots, Optimus says that he's glad they are safe.
- For Rad's ending monologue, he says that Billy and Fred shared the secret of the Autobots from that day forward. Armada adds the extra line of Billy and Fred having nothing to worry about as long as the Decepticons stay out of the picture.
Animation and technical errors
- The animation changes between low and high-quality in some scenes, such as when Hot Shot flies toward Cyclonus.
- In the beginning, when Billy tells Alexis, Carlos, and Rad to wait for him and Fred, Billy's mouth still moves after he says his line. This is because his line is a bit longer in the Japanese dub.
- In Micron Legend, Alexis asks Carlos if he and Rad are "waiting" for Billy and Fred. In this case, the English dub is right since she asks if Carlos and Rad "invited" them.
- In Demolishor's first appearance, he has an unexplained sad look on his face. In the same scene, when Cyclonus says he has a plan, his mouth still moves after he's done talking.
- The Transformers' proportions are off in some scenes.
- In the shot of Demolishor, Starscream, and Cyclonus on the left of the barn, Cyclonus has four windows on his chest instead of the usual two.
- Before he kicks Demolishor, Optimus's left leg is seen wobbling.
- Before Megatron threatens the kids, he tells Hot Shot to "stay right here" instead of there.
- When he tells Leader-1 to deal with Rad, Megatron's lips still move a second after he finishes his line.
- In the shot of Megatron holding Rad as the others watch, Starscream's open mouth is the same color as his face.
- After the stock footage of Hot Shot and Red Alert powerlinxing, part of Starscream's head is miscolored like his face instead of dark gray.
- As Fred thanks Rad and the others for saving him and Billy, a faint diagonal line can be seen on the lower half of his face whenever it turns toward the screen.
Real world references
- Starscream's "Be my guest" line may or may not be a reference to the song "Be Our Guest" from Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
- At one point, Hot Shot calls Cyclonus a "whirlybird," the slang term for a helicopter.
Trivia
- The kanji 廃墟 would normally be pronounced as "haikyo", while "wana" is used for the kanji 罠 or 羂.
- How did Megatron get into that old warehouse in the first place?
- Billy's landing after Megatron drops him may mean that children are out of the question.
- Both Rad and Fred were able to use Laserbeak as a weapon against Cyclonus and Megatron. THIS is the reason he's painted bright orange.
- On Rhino's "Best Battles" DVD compilation, this episode has a chapter entitled "Kids In The Ball," which may or may not be a reference to a similarly-named comedy series.
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Hilfe aus dem All" ("Help from Outer Space")
- This episode was never shown on TV but was dubbed in 2003. The dub premiered in 2009 with the German DVD release of the show.
Hungarian
- Title: "Túszok" ("Hostages")
Polish
- Title: "Konfrontacja" ("Confrontation")
French
- Title: "Les otages" ("The Hostages")
Korean
- Title: "폐허속의 결투" ("Duel in the Ruins")
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 3 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Best Battles (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2005 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:03 (Universal)
2005 — Transformers: Armada — Triple Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
