Virtually Reality
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| Production company | Allspark Animation | |||||
| Airdate | August 25, 2020 | |||||
| Director | Mickey Lee | |||||
| Animation studio | Counter656 | |||||
 Watch this episode on YouTube
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To show up the Autrobots, the Decepticons film a reality TV show
Synopsis
Megatron grows angry upon seeing how well liked the K-drama the Autobots made is, storming off. Barricade thinks they should do something to strike back, but Starscream thinks he's just kissing up. Soundwave comes up with an idea, turning on Love Is Blind. As all the Decepticons sit and watch, an angry Megatron notices the TV. He comes up with a plan; Make a reality tv show!
Shockwave enters a bedroom, wondering where Lionizer is. The scene cuts to an interview with Shockwave. Labeling him as Mad Scientist / Animal Lover, he declares his affection for his pet Lionizer. Cutting back to the bedroom, Shockwave searches everywhere with no success. In the interview he wonders where he could have gone.
Shockwave goes to see Megatron and is shocked to see him forcing Lionizer to drink water. In an interview, Megatron makes it clear he thinks it's fine to have the pet drink. An angry Shockwave storms out, going back to the bedroom. Putting on his combat armor and returns to confront Megatron. The two face off, ready to attack one another when the smart speaker announces that there's no fighting in the house. Megatron gloats while a Shockwave leave dejected. In an interview Shockwave rages away. Meanwhile Megatron gloats happily
As the Autobots watch the video, Optimus finds it unimpressive. This changes when he sees how many views it has. He gets an idea, calling all the Autobots around to listen.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Others |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"I'm sorry, you can not fight in this house."
- —The 'smart speaker puts and end to Megatron and Shockwave's fight.
😄😆🤣😩
- —Megatron showing how much he loves being a jerk to Shockwave.
Notes
- The short was initially released via the Netflix Japan Anime account on Twitter in August 2020, followed by releases on Counter656's YouTube channel in November and the English Netflix Anime YouTube channel in December.
- Various BotBots appear throughout the video as props. At the Decepticon headquarters Angry Cheese, Burrito Favorito, Carb O'Nate, Duderoni, Fizzkick, two Hawt Diggitys, S'up Dawg, Sippy Slurps, Spud Muffin, The Vengeful Terror-Yaki, and Twerple Burple can all be seen on the table as snacks. Arctic Guzzlerush, Batsby, Dinger, Kidd Klobber, Kikmee, Laceface, and Poo-Shoo are on shelving to the side wall. Greeny Rex and Rootwing can be seen on top of the piano near Megatron's throne. In the video, Cuddle Wuddle pops up on the bed and Ranger Lampton is seen on a shelf when Shockwave enters the living room. At the Autobot headquarters Brotato, Duderoni, Hawt Diggity, Shredder Jack, Sippyberry, The Fizz, and Twerple Burple are on the snack table. Finally Bogus Pocus and Professor Wellread are in the bookshelf next to Optimus while Greeny Rex and Smerg the Sad decorate the side wall.
- bottle Given how the water image covering the bottle was added in after the stop motion was made, it's possible that it originally was intended to be an alcohol instead of water. This is backed up slightly by Megatron being labeled as Decepticon Founder / Energonoholic in his interview.
Animation and technical errors
- When Soundwave comes up with his idea, on the shelf behind him Laceface is next to Kidd Klobber. In the shots following, Kikmee replaces Laceface next to Kidd Klobber.
Transformers references
- The bedroom room has multiple posters for other Transformers properties. Many of them are for the War for Cybertron: Siege animated series, including a large poster of Ultra Magnus. Others posters for animated series are for Rescue Bots, Combiner Wars and Prime. Movie posters include Transformers, Revenge of the Fallen and Bumblebee. Comic covers are Marvel issue 5, Transformers vs. The Terminator issue 1 cover A, Optimus Prime Subscription cover A, Optimus Prime issue 22 cover B, War Within: The Age of Wrath issue 1 incentive cover, Bumblebee Movie Prequel issue 3 cover A, Megatron Origin issue 1 cover A Windblade vol. 2 issue 4 convention cover, Unicron issue 3 cover B. Finally video games include War for Cybertron, and Fall of Cybertron
Real-world references
- Love is Blind was a dating reality series that premiered on October 6, 2021. It was exclusive series, hence it being used in the short.
- Two mini prop bottles of Coca-Cola appear below the television in the Decepticon headquarters.
