Frenzy (Movie)
| The name or term "Frenzy" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Frenzy (disambiguation). |
- Frenzy is a Decepticon from the 2007 movie franchise in the live-action film continuity family.
Frenzy is small, sneaky, skittering and single-minded. His hyper-active twitching and lightning-speed jibbering in his own tongue bely incredible espionage and sabotage skills, but it is in causing chaos and carnage that Frenzy truly excels. This creepy little abomination is the best there is at what he does, and approaches his tasks with a level of sinister glee that make it hard to deter him from a course of action once he has settled upon it.
Frenzy is exceptionally hard to kill, due to the fact that he possesses a de-centralized, modular nervous system. In essence it means that even if he suffers critical injuries—such as getting his head severed, which seems to be a not-infrequent problem for him—he can continue to function. In addition to this, he is equipped with a hyper-reactive trans-scanning and reformatting system that allows him to totally reconfigure his alternate mode with ridiculous speed, meaning that he can be something one minute, and something completely different the next. Although this is something which he does regularly anyway, it also works regardless of what state of disrepair he may be in, making it quite the challenge to keep track of him.[1]
- Chinese name (Taiwan): Jí Fēng (疾瘋, literally "Illness and Madness", "Frenzy")
Fiction
IDW Transformers movie comics
Many years ago, an ancient relic from Cybertron's past was uncovered near the temple of Simfur. Within this relic inhabited a malevolent being who convinced Protector Megatron to turn the formerly defense-oriented Cybertronian military into an army of conquest and filled his mind with dreams of power. Defiance issue 1 The only thing that stood in the way of the being's plans was Optimus, the leader of Cybertron's science divisions, whose curiosity lead him to break into Megatron's personal quarters. For this, Megatron charged the scientist with treason, ordering Prowl to arrest him.
While Optimus and his team were being led away, Frenzy spied upon and relayed their coordinates to Starscream, who intended to ambush the group and kill all bar Optimus, as Lord Megatron intended to deal with the traitor personally. Defiance issue 3
Ghosts of Yesterday prequel comic
Frenzy was the smallest member of the Nemesis' crew. He liked to sneak-attack Autobots from behind while they concentrated on his larger teammates. He didn't fare well in this particular battle but is presumably repaired at some future point. Ghosts of Yesterday
Transformers (2007) film
- Voice actor: Reno Wilson (English)
A skittering little spaz, Frenzy smuggled himself aboard Air Force One disguised as a CD player boom-box. He made his way to the lower decks, carried by an unsuspecting flight attendant who was on a vital mission to the storage area to "wrangle up some Ding-Dongs" for the President. Once left alone, he got into the server area and began to work his magic, simultaneously hacking the national database and uploading a virus, re-attempting the hack that Blackout had tried at the SOCCENT Base in Qatar earlier. This attempt was discovered by government agent Maggie Madsen, and the defense network was shut down in order to halt the hack. Frenzy was so pissed he slammed his head into the screen, but he'd managed to finish uploading the virus, which would later shut down global communications, and got a little bit of info on what he was looking for.
He was discovered by Secret Service agents, whom he quickly dispatched with his machine guns and disc-blade launcher before hiding away in boom-box form again. When Air Force One landed, he escaped through the landing gear, slipping into the awaiting Decepticon Barricade. (Real good job keeping an eye out, Secret Service.) After flipping the military the bird and bitching about how the "stupid insects" shot at him, he informed Barricade of his new discovery: the Witwicky man who had suspiciously displayed knowledge of Cybertronian writing. After a quick web search using Barricade's on-board police department laptop, Frenzy determined their next target...a human called "LadiesMan217" who was in possession of the Witwicky man's glasses, which in turn could lead them to the Precious All Spark.
When Barricade was forced to go to robot mode in order to handle Bumblebee, he released Frenzy to chase the humans the Autobot was guarding. Frenzy tackled his primary target and even managed to get his pants off (Kinky!), but the female human attacked him with a reciprocating saw she'd found and cut off his head. To add insult to injury, LadiesMan217 punted the Decepticon's head away. It was actually to Frenzy's benefit, however, as he landed not too far from the female's purse, which had spilled when Bumblebee had dumped them out earlier. Still alive and ambulatory despite losing most of his body mass, he speared and scanned the female's cell phone, changed his form to match it, and hid out in her purse.
"STARSCREAM! SEND REINFORCEMENTS! I'M UNDER ATTACK BY AQUATIC LIFEFO—"
*Starscream terminates the link*
Frenzy stayed hidden, watching the activities of the humans, including their meeting with Optimus Prime and the Autobots. Taken to LadiesMan217's house, Frenzy poked his head out to better observe, but was frightened by some aquatic lifeforms LadiesMan217 had. Frenzy poked one of his optics out when the glasses were discovered, but remained hidden during the subsequent encounter with Sector Seven. Arriving at Hoover Dam, Frenzy slipped away...and fell off the side of the dam, landing painfully at the bottom. This allowed him to sneak into the secret Sector Seven operations hangar deep within the dam, where both the All Spark and Megatron had been kept for nearly a hundred years. Tapping into the All Spark's power, he restored his body, then sent a message to Starscream, telling him that their prizes were here. As Starscream mobilized all the Decepticons on Earth, Frenzy set about the task of releasing his master. He went and killed a few technicians, letting him screw with the cryo-stasis machines that kept Megatron entombed, while Starscream destroyed the power lines outside, allowing the Decepticon leader to escape.
As Megatron and Starscream went to assist the rest of the Decepticons in securing the All Spark, Frenzy remained at the dam to tie up any loose ends. When Agent Simmons, Secretary Keller, Maggie and Glen Whitmann ran to an ancient storage room to try and get a Morse Code message to the Air Force via shortwave radio, Frenzy followed. While Glen jury-rigged outdated machinery to send the messages, Simmons and Keller tried to shoot the diminutive Decepticon. Frenzy made it into the room via the air ducts and sent a series of flying blades at the humans. One, however, ricocheted madly across the room, and took out most of Frenzy's head. With a muttered "oh shit," Frenzy collapsed. Transformers (2007)
The Hardcover Movie Guide written by Simon Furman seems to confirm this somewhat—the little skittering bugger has a secondary neural processor on his body and with a non centralized logic net, parts of him can function independently, even if they're separated from the main torso strut.
Titan Magazines Transformers movie comics
Frenzy's head injuries failed to kill him in at least one timeline - where Megatron won at Mission City - and he remains on guard at the former Sector 7 base. He also has learnt English, seemingly only so he can threaten you with a messy death.
When Mikaela Banes & Bumblebee tried to free Optimus from the former Sector Seven base, Frenzy began stalking the human. Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 2 His attempt to shoot her in the back failed, and she declared she'd take him out for good this time. Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 3 She wasn't able to land a blow on him but she had the mental advantage, tricking him into shattering a liquid nitrogen tank and freezing himself to death. Whoops! Twilight's Last Gleaming, Part: 4
IDW Transformers movie comics
After Megatron was killed and the All Spark destroyed, Starscream returned to the freeway to seek out Barricade, the perhaps only other surviving Decepticon on Earth. When informed that Frenzy had stolen all of Sector Seven's files on their race and most importantly, the All Spark, Starscream realised that he must secure Frenzy's remains if he were to save all Cybertron. The Reign of Starscream Issue Number One
During Starscream's second attack on Hoover Dam, Sector Seven scientists were moving Frenzy's remains from the alien archives room in which he had been deactivated. Suddenly, Starscream smashed him way in, demanding the humans turn over his compatriot to him, which they complied. Later, after Starscream returned to Mars, he ordered Thundercracker hook Frenzy up to their ship's computer. The retrieved data revealed the source of a lot of Sector Seven's knowledge regarding transformers as coming from the resurrected Wreckage. The Reign of Starscream Issue Number Two With the knowledge contained within Frenzy, Starscream was able to build a new All Spark, though it didn't pan out exactly as he had planned.
A month later, when Starscream returned to get his revenge, Wreckage tore at the Decepticon, and Frenzy's body fell out. Alliance issue 2 Reggie Simmons secretly took the head for himself. Alliance issue 3
Games
Transformers The Game
On Cybertron, Frenzy was seen digging through the mangled and twitching chassis of a dead Autobot. It's unlikely he was digging through it to find the All Spark. Megatron nearly crushed him under his foot. It is entirely possible that he was annoyed with Frenzy.
Frenzy arrived in Tranquility to meet up with Barricade possessing information that Starscream said was vital. When Barricade attempted to link up with him, he discovered that Frenzy had been captured by some armed humans. Frenzy was held captive in a small SUV (which seemed virtually indestructible) but Barricade eventually rescued him. Barricade later relayed to Starscream that Frenzy had discovered a lead on the All Spark and Megatron...an artifact in the possession of a human named Sam.
Later, he served as Starscream's intelligence liaison when the Decepticon's Acting-Commander was searching for Brawl and Bonecrusher, jabbering away in his own language. (A translation is NOT subtitled directly, with Frenzy being the only character to NOT speak English in the game. He just wants to be different...or annoying.) Transformers The Game (console)
Transformers: Autobots/Decepticons
Frenzy was seen digging through the remains of another Transformer. Megatron nearly stepped on him, but he scurried away. Transformers Autobots/Decepticons
Transformers (Playstation Portable)
In Frenzy's first mission on Earth, he and Scorponok searched for the glasses. They attacked the Autobots, but got a massive whupping by Ratchet. Then,he assaulted Sam Witwicky, Mikaela Banes and Bumblebee. Later he participated in Starscream's attack on the Hoover Dam. . Finally, he and Brawl took on Jazz but were defeated. Whether Jazz killed him as he did Brawl remains unknown. Transformers The Game (PSP)
Toys
Transformers (2007)
Deluxe Class Barricade companions
- Barricade (Deluxe Class, 2007)
- Japanese ID number: MD-02
- Included with the larger Deluxe Barricade is a very out-of-scale Frenzy (putting him somewhere around 7 feet tall) that folds up to become the larger 'Con's grill in both vehicle and robot mode. It is barely poseable and falls over as easily as Generation 1 Ravage.
- Bumblebee vs. Barricade: First Encounter (Wal*Mart exclusive two-pack, 2007)
- This Wal*Mart exclusive deluxe package comes with an unaltered Bumblebee, Barricade and, by extension, Frenzy.
- Recon Barricade (Deluxe Class, 2007)
- Barricade Deluxe Class "Target exclusive AllSpark Power", 2008)
- This Frenzy is... red!
- Barricade (Deluxe Class "Premium Series", 2008)
- Frenzy is back to being silver with red eyes, and his feet/stand/grill has been painted black to blend in with Barricade's car mode.
Fast Action Battlers
- Disc Blast Decepticon Frenzy (Fast Action Battler, 2007)
- Like most of the Fast Action Battler toys, this one is fairly inaccurate to the CGI model due to actually having to turn into something (which the CGI model was not designed to do). It does, however, feature a launching disk that ejects from its chest as a pressure-launched projectile. This version of Frenzy transforms into a two-speaker stereo CD/cassette/radio. It is completely off-model to the movie radio, which is probably due to the figure having been designed before the character's final alt mode was determined.
Robot Replicas
- Decepticon Frenzy (Robot Replicas, 2007)
- The Robot Replicas non-Transforming action figure of Frenzy is considerably closer to the movie's CGI model, even having blue optics rather than the red of most of his other toys. His left forearm can be replaced with an alternate forearm in its machinegun configuration.
- Frenzy is unique among the Robot Replicas in a couple of ways. First, he is the only one that does not use the Revoltech-style joints, owing likely to the thinness of his limbs. Secondly, he is the only one with an "action feature" gimmick of sorts; he comes with a CD-blade accessory that stores in his chest, and pushing a button on his back pops it out. The disc does not shoot very far though, unless you really give the button a firm, swift whack, and even then, you're not gonna get much airtime on it.
Non-transforming Screen Battles figures
- First Encounter (Screen Battles, 2007)
- This Screen Battles pack features a largely unchanged Deluxe class Barricade figure The only real difference is the Frenzy mini-figure, which is now cast entirely in black plastic, sports no paint applications and is supposed to be stuck permanently inside Barricade's chest thanks to a new, additional piece of plastic (as a matter of fact, the Frenzy figure is also neither advertised on the packaging nor depicted in the instructions). The only way to free him is to remove all four screws from Barricade's undercarriage, then pry the halves of the car apart and slip Frenzy (and his plastic blockade) out quickly.
- The pack also comes with unposeable figurines of Sam Witwicky in a running pose, a semi-in-scale Frenzy, and Mikaela holding the reciprocating saw she uses to attack him. The set is packaged in a special window box with a diorama depicting the battle between Barricade and Bumblebee. So even though this pack technically contains two Frenzy figures, Hasbro put a lot of effort into neutering one of them as good as they could.
- This only applies to the Hasbro version. However, TakaraTomy's Japanese release of the pack features a Barricade that is identical to the single pack version, including an easily removable Frenzy figurine cast in grey plastic with painted red eyes.
Fast food kids meal toys
- Frenzy (Red Rooster, 2007)
- Accessories: 2 discs
- Frenzy transforms from a stereo to a stereo with legs! He comes with two discs, which he can launch. He can launch them mightilly! No, seriously. That little bugger sure can shoot. Which is good, because it's basically all he does.
- (Yeah, there's the transformation... but... well... just look at the picture.)
- (Yup, it's too awesome for words, I know. But it's still pretty simplistic.)
Merchandise
Transformers (2007)
Transformers Movie Screen Cleaners
- Decepticon Frenzy (2008)
- Released by Tomy Yujin on January 2008[2], this dangler is a faction logo-shaped screen cleaner for your cell phone, with a stock image of Frenzy printed on the other side.
Robot Heroes
- Autobot Jazz vs. Decepticon Frenzy (2007)
- Released with Robot Heroes Jazz, this version of Frenzy is the most adorably goofy razor blade death robot you ever saw. For some reason he is colored a dark tan, perhaps to offer some color contrast to his pack-in partner. Like the other first wave movie Decepticons, his design was tweaked to be much more human and less monsterous. He only has two (red) eyes, and he has a wide toothy grin in the middle of his mandibles. His articulation is limited to the shoulders, however his head DOES have limited wiggle room on its own joint.
Trivia
- An early version of the script featured Barricade and Frenzy as one and the same character, named "Soundwave". He would have infiltrated the CIA headquarters (rather than Air Force One) in the form of a "portable stereo" and then transformed (and size-shifted) into a Humvee for his escape.[3]
- Frenzy had three working names; Boombot was first, Soundwave was second, and Soundbyte was third.
- Frenzy is the only Decepticon with blue optic lighting, though most of his released toys have them painted red. It's possible this was a late-ish change, as even the mobile game has him sporting red optics. Thanks for continuing the debate, Michael Bay!
- Frenzy is the only Decepticon in the movie whose whole robot mode was created as a real physical puppet for filming, used in certain shots aboard Air Force One. (They did make the lower half of frozen Megatron as a set piece, plus Scorponok's head and tail, but that's not quite the same thing.) He and Bumblebee are the only Transformers in the film to have full-body robot mode props.
- Extra pieces of the Frenzy puppet, specifically some fingers, were used to make the charred prop of the "dead" Nokia robot.
- Frenzy (or at very least, a robot who looked just like him) was most certainly not in a cage in the back of the Sector Seven Mobile Command Unit. You were seeing things! It was swamp gas! No, wait—a weather balloon! But definitely not a robot alien from outer space!
- Frenzy's robot mode was designed without an exact alternate mode in mind. It was known he was going to be a boom-box, but the designers had to produce a robot mode before the make/model was finalized.
- Frenzy transforms into a real on-the-market GPX portable stereo... in the movie, at least. You know you want one. (His Fast Action Battler toy, and various storybooks, depict him as made-up stereo models.)
- Despite the "no size changing" rule for the movie, Frenzy arguably changes size when he takes the form of the Nokia 8800 Sirocco cellphone. The movie's writers have explained this away as a simple shifting and folding up of parts.
- Frenzy's dialog includes some actual English: "Witwicky", "ladiesman217", "Go, go, go!", "Surprise!", "Where is it?!", "Yes(X5), Megatron(X3)!", "Oh! Megatron melting." and the ever-famous "Oh shit." The rest is all Cybertronian, which according to Michael Bay is primarily rapidly-spoken Tutankhamen.
- Frenzy's blades, before unfolding, are disguised as CDs. Granted, most CDs don't have hinge points near their center.
- According to his profile card, Frenzy weighs 110 kilograms (242.5 pounds). How much of that mass would be discernible to a human lifting his stereo mode remains unclear. However, a human did indeed carry his stereo mode without much effort in the movie.
- A picture of Frenzy appears on the screen of Photon T-34. Judging from his pose and the readouts on the screen, Photon did something to slag him off.
- Frenzy is the first movie Transformer shown to be able to exist as just a head, adding another wrinkle to his status as living or deceased. This poses opportunities.
Foonotes
- ↑ Frenzy's profile in Transformers Comic issue 7, which was re-worked from his entry in Transformers: The Movie Guide. Unsurprisingly, it dropped that book's bizarre claim that Frenzy was "quiet" and "not very talkative".
- ↑ Tomy Yujin Transformers page
- ↑ Details from an early script draft summed up here, confirmed as authentic by Roberto Orci here.
