Origin
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 "This church was built in the middle of the city, so everyone could be equally close to God. I like that, the symmetry, the geometry of belief." | ||||||
| "Origin" (Kessen) "End: Decisive Battle" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-51 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | October 2, 2003 (English, United Kingdom) December 11, 2003 (English, United States) December 19, 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Ryō Motohira | |||||
| English adaptation | Terry Klassen | |||||
| Director | Shigenori Awai | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
After the kids discover that the Mini-Cons were cast in the name of Unicron, the Transformers learn the big origin of Unicron. Meanwhile, Sideways attempts to negotiate Unicron's absorption of Optimus, questioning if Optimus is not guilty of enjoying the millennia of conflict.
Synopsis
Red Alert survives the cave-in that trapped him while he was dropping off the kids at the underground portal to Unicron. Above the ruined landscape, he can see Unicron battle against the combined forces of Autobots, Decepticons, and the giant Mini-Con duplicate of Unicron.
Inside of Unicron, the kids explore, searching for Optimus Prime and Galvatron.
The two leaders stand in the same chamber of Unicron's core, where the three Mini-Con weapons are plugged into the behemoth. From the core of the monstrosity, Sideways emerges to welcome the two. Through Sideways, Unicron explains how he increased his power by leeching energy from the war between the Autobots and Decepticons that had lasted for so long.
When Galvatron complains that Unicron has become long-winded, Unicron suspends the two leaders in black tentacles, absorbing Galvatron's very essence. Unicron continues to question Optimus's own motives, suspecting that Optimus Prime enjoys the thrill of the conflict.
Outside, Side Swipe blasts open a hole in Unicron's throat, letting a team of fliers inside. The small group of jets fly through the tunnels of Unicron's interior, trying to avoid being destroyed by the shifting terrain, but their efforts to combat Unicron actually feed their enemy the kind of energy that powers him. As soon as his attackers escape out his mouth, he astonishes them by healing all the damage they have inflicted against him.
In Unicron's core, High Wire objects to Unicron's deconstruction of Optimus. The Street Action Team approaches the Sideways figure, while outside, the green Unicron leaks its component Mini-Cons into Unicron. Unicron laughs and reboots the personalities of the Mini-Cons, returning them to their loyal, drone-like state. With the Mini-Cons out of the way, Unicron captures the kids and continues trying to convince Optimus Prime to merge his essence willingly into Unicron.
Rad awakens in his bed, apparently on Earth. After a second, the location blurs into the desert where the Autobots and the Decepticons first battled, where he meets up with Alexis and the other kids. The background shifts again to the part of Unicron that is Galvatron's fantasy of dominance. Alexis uses her own mind to move the kids to a more pleasant delusion, but the kids are still aware of Unicron's devouring of Cybertron. Rad sets out to locate High Wire, but Unicron takes control of the mindscape. Rad's cries for help reawaken High Wire's true, friendly personality.
All the Mini-Cons move against their evil creator, freeing the three Mini-Con weapons. With Unicron disabled, Sideways tries to lash out at High-Wire, but Optimus defeats the shell with the Requiem Blaster. With Unicron no longer a threat, Galvatron challenges Optimus.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"How foolish to battle in the name of peace...how absurd. You were programmed for war, Optimus. Without it, you would be just another Autobot. You are exactly the same as Galvatron, only you claim your objective is for peace. How does engaging in war translate as peace?"
- —Unicron/Sideways
"As long as hatred exists, I shall remain impervious to attack."
- —Unicron/Sideways does his best Sith impression
Galvatron: "What happened?"
Optimus Prime: "The children awoke the Mini-Cons who were under Unicron's spell."
Alexis: "EXACTLY. Now don't you think a simple 'Thanks' would be kind of nice, huh, Galvatron?"
Galvatron: "...ah, thank you."
- —Galvatron learns a few manners from Alexis, *cough* likely because he indirectly caused Starscream's death *cough*.
"...I'll have my revenge."
- —Sideways
Notes
Differences with Legends of the Microns
- Anytime Sideways talks in this episode in Legends of the Microns sounds disembodied compared to the Armada version. Additionally in his 2nd line, Unicron's voice slowly fades in before fully taking over Sideways', whereas it automatically appears in the English dub.
Animation changes between Armada (left) and Legends of the Microns screencaps (right). - Optimus assumes Sideways has been working with Unicron before the latter corrects him that they are one of the same in Armada. Legends of the Microns has Optimus figure out that Sideways is Unicron, to which the latter confirms.
- Legends of the Microns has Sideways claim that Optimus would be as warhungry as Galvatron without the burden of carrying the Matrix of Leadership in his chest, where as Armada has him just talking about Optimus being programmed for war.
- During Unicron's speech on how he can survive as long as there is hatred, several shots noticeably get upgraded or changed a bit in Legends of the Microns, a big example is Unicron featuring more detail and lips.
- After they have been freed from Unicron's grasp, Armada has Alexis aggressively ask Galvatron to thank the humans for their help, which he does. Legends of the Microns instead has Alexis asking if Galvatron would’ve been happier if he stayed with Unicron, causing confusion.
- Instead of claiming this wouldn't have happened if Optimus listened to Unicron, Sideways asks why not stop the current fighting, smoothly transitioning to Galvatron challenging Optimus to a fight.
- Optimus says to Galvatron he can't be serious about wanting to fight, then Galvatron replies that he's never been more serious in Armada, whereas these last few seconds are silent in Legends of the Microns.
Animation and technical errors
- Alexis refers to Sureshock as "Grindor" yet again. Likewise, Carlos (presumably, as we don't see which one he is talking to) calls Grindor "Sureshock".
- As Unicron tightens his tentacle grip on Galvatron, Optimus Prime briefly appears prematurely in his Powerlinx colors, as evidenced by his red eyes. Moments later, he is once again in his normal coloring. This error was fixed in Legends of the Microns.
Continuity notes
- Sideways/Unicron's explanation that the two are actually different incarnations of the same evil entity doesn't perfectly line up with "Chase", when Sideways expressed fear of Unicron.
- Also, Sideways speaks in his original voice after Unicron is disabled. After Sideways is destroyed, he says "This wouldn't have happened if you had just listened to Unicron." Once again, referring to Unicron as a separate individual.
- Unicron also says he and the Mini-Cons are "one and the same", despite their clear capacity for independence, so it's possible Sideways can be both "a part" of Unicron and still separate enough to feel fear for him.
- In the following episode, High Wire explains that Sideways was eliminated and that Unicron lies dormant, further distinguishing the two as individuals.
- The Cybertron cartoon and Cybertron comic would later establish that not only did Sideways survive, but he and Soundwave are natives from Planet X and cut a deal with Unicron long ago after their planet was destroyed (by their race's own doing). The pair continued working with him, even after their "master" became a blackhole.
- Although not explicitly stated, the show implies that Unicron released the Mini-Cons for the purpose of exacerbating the Autobot/Decepticon conflict. This is also evident with Sideways's various activities on Earth, heightening the conflict between the two factions, along with his tendencies to start leadership feuds within the Decepticon ranks, making sure the war continues with or without Megatron as the Decepticon leader.
- Optimus finally receives his Powerlinx colors after being freed from Unicron's grip.
- The scene in which Unicron is seen over Cybertron and the scene where Unicron's abdomen opens and causes the planet's surface to crumble are both reused in Energon for flashbacks (albeit in black and white).
- Gadgets and powers:
- Unicron feeds off of the negative energies created from conflict, creating his immense power. His feeding off of hatred is also shown to heal his wounds.
- Unicron uses his ring-kibble to swat incoming fighters like flies.
- Unicron uses multiple surface-based turrets.
- Unicron's Abdomen opens up to devour Cybertron. Similarly, the toy has an opening compartment in its abdomen, big enough for a Mini-Con to store inside.
- In Legends of the Microns, Sideways accusing Optimus of enjoying combat revisits a plotline first established in "Vow", where Fred said fighting is now the only thing Optimus knows.
Continuity errors
- Optimus expresses surprise that Sideways has been working with Unicron all along and asks if that's the case. However, in "Cramp", as Sideways snatches away the Star Saber, he announces flat-out that everything has fallen into place, for Unicron to destroy the universe. Legends of the Microns fixes this by having Optimus shocked that Sideways is Unicron.
Trivia
- The English version of "Origin" first aired in the United Kingdom. It aired in the United States on December 11, 2003.
- When Unicron utters the line "So long as hatred exists, I will remain impervious to attack," his mouth actually moves.
- Within Galvatron's fantasy, Starscream and Thrust were present, but Sideways wasn't.
Foreign localization
German
- Title: "Endlich Frieden?" ("Peace at Last?")
- Original airdate: 15 January 2004
Hungarian
- Title: "A világ ura" ("Ruler of the World")
Portuguese
- Title: "Origem" ("Origin")
Home video releases
- DVD
2004 — Transformers: Legends of the Microns — Volume 13 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2006 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two (Rhino Entertainment)
2007 — Transformers: Armada — The Collector's Edition (Universal)
2009 — Transformers: Armada — Volume Two (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)
