First Encounter
| This article is about the Armada cartoon episode. For the Armada comic story, see First Encounter!. |
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 Just look at that thousand light-year stare. | ||||||
| "First Encounter" (Deai) "Encounter" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-01 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | August 23, 2002 (English) 10 January 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Ryō Motohira | |||||
| Director | Hidehito Ueda | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
Three ordinary children find themselves faced with robotic visitors from another world and an extraterrestrial war on their own planet.
Synopsis
Eons ago, the Transformers were sent out as explorers, by a "unique digital entity." One of the first planets they inhabited was Cybertron. But the Transformers warred with one another over tiny robots named Mini-Cons, who were used as tools to boost power. Eventually, the Mini-Cons were awakened by an internal protocol and joined forces to resist domination by either Autobots or Decepticons. After a long war, the Autobots and Decepticons called a truce. A craft was constructed for the Mini-Cons and blasted into space to stop them from being used in another war. It traveled for millions of years until it collided with a moon; damaged, it crashed to the surface of the moon's parent planet. The Mini-Cons lay dormant for millions of years, as the planet's terrain shifted and changed around them...
In the present day, a boy named Rad narrates, introducing himself and his friend Carlos. They race to school (Rad wins) and meet a schoolmate named Alexis. Rad asks her if she wants to come with them to explore a cave, but she rejects him. They then meet and argue with two boys named Billy and Fred. They then head to class for the day. So far, an ordinary day.
After school, Rad and Carlos race up the mountain to the cave. Billy and Fred follow them using a locator stuck to Rad's bike. The boys head into the cave, using a rope and a trail of rocks to mark their path. Billy and Fred follow them at a distance and accidentally destroy part of the trail; soon, they become lost after being scared by some bats. While advancing deep into the cave, Carlos treads on a stone plate by accident. It begins to slide downwards, with the boys rapidly riding on top. At the bottom, the boys find themselves in a strange artificial building of an unknown purpose. There they discover a glowing green stone, in reality, a Mini-Con storage panel, and Rad picks it up, activating a beacon that causes an earthquake.
"Strafe, those are LASERS."
"Oh."
Alexis notices the earthquake and heads off to investigate the cave. The beacon disables the Space Research Center's computers. The beacon then fires out of the cave in three parts, one red, one purple, and one green. The green portion of it activates the Moon's spaceship wreckage, causing Mini-Con panels across the earth to activate. The other two parts alert the Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron to the location of the Mini-Cons. The best warriors of the opposing sides teleport to Earth to seek the Mini-Cons.
Back on Earth, the earthquake is over. Rad and Carlos exit the cave safe and sound. Suddenly, they see a strange purple halo in the sky. Then the warp gate opens with a gigantic robot inside. This is Megatron. At this moment, Alexis shows up and tells the boys not to panic, but it is too hard for them. When Megatron moves towards Rad, the boy drops the panel; it activates, and High Wire emerges. High Wire scans Rad's bike and reformats himself so he can transform into a bicycle. The three kids ride High Wire to try and escape Megatron, but Megatron flicks a boulder at them, knocking them off the Mini-Con. Megatron blocks their path, claiming High Wire belongs to him and demanding they return High Wire to him or else. But suddenly another giant robot teleports in, and the two giants square off in battle.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Hey, we were just wondering if you wanted to come with us after school. We're heading up the mountain to scope out this wicked cave we found..."
"Sorry guys, but I'm gonna have to take a rain check. I've got a math test, and I told my mom I'd come straight home. So for the last time, the answer's no!"
- —Alexis uses the old "math test" excuse to blow off Rad.
Rad: "Is it just me, or do you get the distinct feeling that Little Miss Stuck-Up dissed us big time?"
Alexis: "I hope you realize I heard that Rad!"
Carlos: "I tell you, man; there's just no winning when it comes to girls, is there?"
- —Rad and Carlos learn the eternal truth; women are difficult to comprehend.
"Would you hurry up? They've probably gone home already!"
"Hey! You don't have to yell at me, I got feelings too, ya know! I-I'm trying my hardest, but no, nothing's ever good enough for you!"
"Aw, quit your bellyaching!"
"My therapist says I don't have to take this from you because you're not the boss of me! Besides, I'm getting hungry again."
- —Billy and Fred arrive at the cave Rad and Carlos are exploring.
"Ah, it would have had more fun if I'd brought my sister."
- —Billy reflects on the company he keeps.
Megatron: "You have something of mine."
Alexis: "We have what?"
Megatron: "Give it back immediately, or you shall suffer the consequences."
Rad: "Oh...great."
Megatron: "I have given you your chance, Earthling."
- —Megatron giving chances?! Unthinkable!
"Stand down, Megatron!"
- —The line that made a room full of fans cheer at BotCon 2002, as Optimus Prime appears.
Notes
Differences with Legends of the Microns
- The opening scene lacks the narration featured in Armada. Consequently, the episode features no mentions of the Transformers' origins or the "unique digital entity," and there's no talk of a truce between the Autobots and Decepticons. Instead, what we hear is a real-time dialogue taking the form of radio chatter. It clarifies that what we're seeing is a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons as the former tries to keep the latter back until the Mini-Cons' ship can warp away to safety (flying directly in the face of Armada's "truce" idea). Also, the Armada narrator says the Mini-Cons' ship takes millions of years to arrive at Earth, where Legends of the Microns doesn't indicate that the journey is anything other than instantaneous.
- The aerial view of the changing topography of Earth that concludes the opening sequence is cut down and sped up in Armada.
- The scene of Rad and Carlos heading for school is silent in Legends of the Microns, lacking the narration that describes them. Instead, Rad introduces himself to the audience in the later narration about the Cosmoscope Research Center. Furthermore, the boys racing to school and bumping fists over Rad's victory is the Armada interpretation of the scene. Their "brofisting" in the Japanese dub is about them being finally prepared to do something that's revealed later.
- Rad doesn't mention he and Carlos finding a cave when talking to Alexis, and instead says they have something interesting planned. Then Alexis says she's too busy to play with the boys and apologizes. Then Armada has Rad and Carlos muttering about being dissed and not understanding girls. In Legends of the Microns, Rad talks about how Alexis was closer to them and "played in the mud" with them when they were younger, and Carlos says she's now spending all her time studying to become president. Armada has Alexis call back to them sarcastically as she walks away; she says nothing in Legends of the Microns.
- Billy and Fred spout fairly generic "bully" dialogue in Armada. In Legends of the Microns, they specifically make teasing inquiries about Rad and Carlos's plan, recalling the last time they went exploring in the woods. Billy mentions a landslide by the back of a hill a while ago and says Rad and Carlos will face punishment if they don't have permission to go there. According to Fred, they seemingly get punished frequently but never learn their lesson, prompting Carlos to demand that Fred stop feigning innocence. Throughout the episode, Armada makes Billy more hostile towards Fred, and Fred far more pathetic and food-obsessed; these exaggerated traits define them for the rest of Armada, while Legends of the Microns gives them more intelligent moments here and there.
- Rad thinking that Alexis likes him but is playing hard to get is exclusive to Armada. Rad's introductory narration in Legends of the Microns does a better job setting up the episode's plot; he reveals having plans with Carlos that day but, unknown to them, they'd "trigger an outrageous situation." Rad also isn't heard whispering to Alexis.
- Instead of asking Rad if he's excited about going up the mountain, Carlos asks if they are prepared, and Rad assures him that they're ready. Most of Armada's filler dialogue between them as they leave is removed.
- In Armada, Fred's locator was a gift; in Legends of the Microns, it's called a transmitter instead, and Fred says he took it from his dad without asking. The Japanese dub also removes Fred's "glandular problem" line.
- After entering the cave, Rad asks how deeper it goes before asking Carlos if they have enough rope, to which Carlos replies they do. Carlos's dialogue about the rope is removed, and the later shot of Billy noticing the rope is also silent.
- During Billy and Fred's dialogue when they arrive at the cave, Fred complains about being tired and hungry and wants to go home. He claims it's not in his nature to enjoy exploring, and that it's something Billy is better suited at than him. The POV shot of Fred pointing at Rad's bike is silent. Then Billy guesses Rad and Carlos were planning to go spelunking. Fred asks if they should go home, but Billy calls Fred an idiot and says they're going after the others. In Armada, Billy rags on Fred for being a wuss.
- The following scene with Rad and Carlos is mostly silent as Rad's dialogue while he makes the rock arrow is cut down, and so is his next talk with Carlos.
- Legends of the Microns brings up Rad's love and knowledge of the outdoors more than Armada as Carlos asks if Rad loves outdoor exploring and Rad answers yes. After faintly hearing Fred's voice later, Rad tells Carlos it was probably the wind since that's how it makes echoing sound.
- Fred's childhood phobia of dark places dialogue is changed to him being afraid of getting lost, leading to Billy reminding him about the rope before seeing it run out. Then Fred insists that they turn back, and Billy demands him to stop joking around. As Billy stomps on the rock arrow and ruins it, he repeatedly swears and asks where Rad and Carlos went before continuing onward, sounding angrier than he does in the English dub. In Armada, Billy's only source of frustration in the scene is Fred's endless whining.
- After hearing Billy and Fred scream, Carlos doubts it's the wind, and Rad agrees with him. Then Carlos wants to turn back to be sure and tells Rad to accompany him.
- Carlos's line about him and Rad opening a hidden shaft leading to the chamber is changed to him guessing that he lost his Maglite, prompting Rad to bring out the torch. In Armada, the following shot of the boys looking at the ruins fades to black after Rad's line almost instantly. In Legends of the Microns, an echo effect is added to Rad's line, and after the zoom-out, the shot holds for a second before cutting to black instead of fading.
- After the mid-episode commercial bumper, Rad repeats his last line. Then Carlos calls the sight incredible and says it's now like another world in the cave. Instead of calling out to anyone possibly living there, Rad and Carlos decide to explore further, concluding that they've found a wrecked spaceship sooner than in Armada. In Legends of the Microns, it's silent from when Carlos descends the stairs to when Rad finds the Mini-Con panel. Carlos's line about the panel looking radioactive is cut from the Japanese version, and Rad asks what it is in a lower and more hesitant tone. The scene of the ruined ship becoming active again is silent.
- Rad and Carlos's dialogue as they escape the cave is more frantic than it is in Armada. As Megatron appears, Carlos's line about things getting freaky again is removed. Instead of sounding like he's stretching like in Armada, Megatron roars, making his presence known loud and proud.
- Armada has Alexis concerned for Rad and Carlos's safety, and when she sees Megatron, a strangely calm Alexis babbles a list of instructions about keeping still so he doesn't spot them. In Legends of the Microns, Alexis asks why the boys are at Mount Astrogate since she's merely investigating the earthquake, and is equally freaked by Megatron.
- Instead of just agreeing to jump on High Wire as he does in Armada, Carlos wonders how three people can fit on a bike, with the jump-cut to the three of them piled on intended as a comedic moment in Legends of the Microns.
- In Legends of the Microns, Alexis reacts to the Mini-Con's transformation by saying they should name him "Wheelie," which is, of course, the character's Japanese name. As this wouldn't make any sense with High-Wire's English name, Armada replaces the line with Alexis hoping the Mini-Con can outpace Megatron. Then, in Armada, Carlos brags that Megatron can't catch them, and Alexis quips about Carlos speaking too soon. In Legends of the Microns, Carlos, in agreement with Alexis on High-Wire's name, cheers for the Mini-Con to go faster before shouting that Megatron is after them.
- Megatron dramatically identifies High Wire as a Mini-Con in Legends of the Microns, and the kids are amazed when he speaks. In Armada, he only demands that they return "something" to him, and that's about it.
- Both Megatron and Optimus's lines have an echo effect added to them, making their voices sound disembodied. Just before charging at Optimus, Megatron says, "Why you!"
- In Armada, Rad blames himself for the Transformers coming to Earth in his ending narration. In Legends of the Microns, Rad believes that he, Alexis, and Carlos, are all responsible.
Animation and technical errors
- In the opening, the narrator uses light-years as a time measurement unit when it's a unit of distance measurement. This mistake periodically reappeared throughout both Armada and the sequel Energon series.
- Carlos's eyes having whites in them in some scenes. Sometimes, Rad suffers the opposite problem.
- After Rad makes the arrow out of rocks and he and Carlos go deeper into the cave, their dialogue is the same volume as if they didn't move. It's fixed in Legends of the Microns so that their voices are lower and an echo effect is added.
- After Megatron notices Optimus, Rad is seen holding High-Wire's Mini-Con panel although High-Wire emerged from it two minutes ago.
- In the scene of Optimus grappling with Megatron, Rad is wearing a bike glove though he's been barehanded since arriving at the cave.
Continuity errors
- Rad tells Alexis that he and Carlos found a cave, but later, it sounds as if Rad is showing it to Carlos for the first time. In the Japanese dub, Rad asks if Carlos is ready to go inside instead.
- Rad introduces himself as if that's his legal name when it isn't. In Legends of the Microns, he introduces himself as Brad (short for Bradley) and clarifies that "Rad" is his nickname.
- In Legends of the Microns, Rad's flashlight lacks the lens flare it had when he turned it on, but it returns in a later scene. The lens flare is consistent in Armada.
- When Alexis discovers the earthquake's epicenter is the mountain, she mentions Rad going there but forgets about Carlos. She doesn't mention the boys in the Japanese dub, only that the earthquake's epicenter is beneath the mountain.
- Legends of the Microns reveals the mountain is called Mount Astrogate, and characters often refer to it in the series's Japanese dub. Armada completely neglects this detail, so, in a later episode, when Alexis says "the Astrogate," English-speaking viewers don't know what she means, and it's never explained.
- A great precursor of things to come, Armada really doesn't know how to deal with the idea of the kids being able to understand their Mini-Cons. In both versions of the show, Rad understands High Wire's request that they jump on. In response to Alexis's desire to go faster, however, Legends of the Microns has Rad accurately translate High Wire's response (that he's at maximum speed). In contrast, Armada has him unable to decipher the beeping. It will be near the end of the series before the show explains the kids' ability to understand the Mini-Cons, partially requiring the Linkage comic for context. The comic reveals that Mini-Cons' souls were essentially "split off" from humans in the distant past, so they operate on the same mental wavelength. Armada never got wise to this, so the kids' ability to understand their partners in the English dub comes and goes regularly. In Legends of the Microns, the kids understand the Mini-Cons consistently throughout the show.
Transformers references
- As an origin for the Transformers, the narrator describes a "unique digital entity" coming into being and sending out a race of living machines to explore the galaxy. Logically, this was meant to be a reference to Primus (who still hadn't appeared in any cartoons). The typically-warped Armada dialogue makes it sound as if the robots sent out by Primus find and colonize Cybertron. But—as fans would already know, and as the Energon cartoon would reveal—Cybertron itself was Primus's body, which birthed the robots. The idea of the Transformers being colonizers in their early days would—through a likely coincidence—be revisited and reaffirmed in the Cybertron cartoon. At the same time, the digital entity's identity was explicitly confirmed as Primus by Ask Vector Prime in Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac.
- During Cybertron's scenes, many Generation 1 character models are used as generic Autobots and Decepticons; the series would continue this trend for all scenes with random Transformers set on Cybertron.
- Since the original Transformers cartoon itself, this episode marks the first time a Transformers series used a variation of the original Generation 1 theme music.
Real-world references
- In the Japanese dub, Rad says he and Carlos brought a "Maglite and torch" before leaving school; Carlos mentions losing his Maglite later in the cave's hidden chamber. Maglite is a flashlight brand.
Trivia
- Although the furigana is "deai," the kanji 遭遇 would usually be pronounced as "souguu." In the end, the meaning of "encounter" is still the same. "Deai" would be either "出合い" or "出会い."
- Footage from the first few minutes of this episode was compressed down into 30 seconds to create the series' first title sequence.
- Billy and Fred appear in this episode as recurring guest characters, but later become part of the regular human cast. According to Legends of the Microns Year Book 2003, the Armada series producers kept meaning to write them out of the series but ultimately never got around to it. Hence, their staying through to the show's end was wholly accidental.
- This episode begins several trends for the English dub:
- Using the first commercial bumper featuring Optimus as pointless filler. The Japanese dub uses it as the episode title card.
- The commercial bumpers using the wrong music. This error applies to the scene transitions too, though there are rare exceptions.
- Some scenes using different music than the Japanese version; the most notable example is the Transformers theme tune being reused countless times.
- The Japanese version's opening reveals the Decepticon ship is their flagship called "The Doomsday."
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Die grüne Armada" ("The Green Armada")
- Original airdate: 1 December 2003
Hungarian
- Title: "Az első találkozás" ("The First Encounter")
Polish
- Title: "Pierwsze starcie" ("First Clash")
Portuguese
- Title: "Primeiro Encontro" ("First Encounter")
French
- Title: "La découverte" ("The discovery")
Russian
- Title: "Pervoe znakomstvo" (Первое знакомство, "First Encounter")
Korean
- Title: "사이버트론과의 만납" ("Meeting Cybertron")
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Legends of the Microns — Volume 1 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:01 (Universal)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Volume 1 (TFou Vidéo) — French audio only.
2005 — Transformers: Armada — Triple Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Bumper Double DVD Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
