Perceptor (Armada)

The name or term "Perceptor" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Perceptor (disambiguation).

Perceptor is a Mini-Con from the Unicron Trilogy continuity family.

Rumblebee.

Perceptor is a Mini-Con combiner made up of Grindor, Sureshock, and High Wire. Perceptor only uses his combined form when needed and seemingly has greater strength than the sum of his parts. Perceptor seems to lead the Mini-Cons in some instances, such as shaking hands with Prime and Megatron to show the Mini-Cons are willing to help fight Unicron.

Japanese Micron Legend name: Bumble

Japanese Superlink name: Cliffjumper

Fiction

Animated continuity

Armada cartoon

The Street Action Team first combined into Perceptor upon hearing Rad's call of concern. He then disabled Megatron and Starscream. Comrade The team again combined to save the kids from a falling boulder. He was later saved and carried out of a sand pit by Hot Shot. Palace

Perceptor sensed a Mini-Con panel while he and his human friends were searching in an old subway. After punching out a ceiling tile hiding the panel, he was unable to reach it due to his body armor getting in the way. Underground In the underwater city, Perceptor was formed again to protect the kids, but was quickly overwhelmed by Leader-1 and Bonecrusher, allowing Megatron gain control of another Mini-Con. Ruin

After the Autobots got a Mini-Con, Perceptor formed together to protect the kids from an angry Sky Blast. Desperate

Perceptor accompanied Optimus Prime to the Decepticon base, where he and Starscream tried to free Mini-Cons. He ran from Demolishor and was about to be blasted, but was saved by Hot Shot and Laserbeak. He then ran into Tidal Wave, but split up before being crushed. Perceptor recombined to continue searching for Mini-Cons and ran into a number of them working on a spaceship. He then attempted to convince them to stop until Megatron showed up. Perceptor ran again but was chased and caught by Megatron. The Mini-Cons began to sing, causing a confused Megatron to set Perceptor down. Hot Shot then appeared and attacked Megatron while Perceptor motioned the Mini-Cons away from the battle. Rescue

When the Autobots said the kids couldn't come with them to Cybertron, Perceptor combined and emitted a noise that caused the other Mini-Cons to scramble and sit at controls of the spaceship. He then demanded the kids come with them. Depart

En route to Cybertron, Perceptor formed on top of the Axalon to signal the accompanying Mini-Cons. Miracle Once on Cybertron, Perceptor attacked Thrust to prevent him from shooting Starscream with the Requiem Blaster. Drift After transporting to Cybertron's moon, Perceptor saved the kids from a series of tentacles but then had to be saved by Hot Shot and Wheeljack. Portent

When the Autobots and Decepticons were formally aligning themselves for the fight against Unicron, Perceptor put his hands upon Optimus Prime's and Galvatron's as they were shaking. Alliance After Unicron's destruction, Perceptor accompanied the kids, Hot Shot and Jetfire back to Earth, where the component Mini-Cons bid farewell to their friends. Mortal Combat

Linkage comic

Perceptor and Sparkplug appeared as holograms to tell Redline and his group that they were leaving Earth for Cybertron with the Autobots. Linkage Part 12

Energon

Perceptor and his individual components were based at Ocean City, where their primary duties were washing cars and serving as transport for Kicker. Clearly, they were better off with the other kids.

Toys

Armada

The only thing that I perceive is that my name doesn't really fit me at all!

• Street Action Team (Basic, 2002/2003)

Japanese ID number: MM-01

The Street Action team could combine with Sureshock becoming the legs, Grindor the arms and torso. And High Wire? He'll form the head.

In this form, Perceptor has several points of articulation, including full shoulder movement , spreadable legs (but not by much), and head articulation limited by aesthetics more than anything else, as his head is on a restricted ball joint, which in turn is connected to a post that extends behind his main body into High Wire. The post itself is on a ball joint. You can articulate his head in all sorts of directions if you don't mind it looking like it's not attached properly to his body.

Perceptor has little fist holes in each hand. By chance or design, these are the perfect size for holding Hot Shot's engine (Jolt's gun). He can hold it either one-handed or double-handed with ease.

• Street Action Micron Anime Color (CD pack-in, 2003)

• Magna Convoy DX Set (Multi-pack, 2003)

Energon

"That's what your Mom said!"

• Perceptor (Basic, 2004)

Energon Perceptor is the combined form of Energon Sureshock (forming the torso and arms), Grindor (forming the legs) and High Wire (forming the head...again). He also has the same articulation, apart from the oddly backwards swiveling elbows. His head also swivels on a hinge not attached to the main torso. He features two Mini-con ports on his arms.

This mold-set was also used to make Heavy Metal and Super Link Windcharger.

Universe

• Perceptor (Basic, 2005)

Energon Perceptor was repackaged on a Universe-themed card and sold through discount chains in the US like Big Lots!.

Cybertron

• Backblast vs Sureshock
• Blastcharge vs High Wire
• Scrap Iron vs Grindor

Perceptor's Cybertron version was not made available as a complete set; he could only be assembled by buying all three of the Street Action Team vs Deep Space Mini-Con Team two-packs. Since this assortment was the final wave of two-packs, they are somewhat harder to find than the other sets. Neither the Deep Space Mini-Con Team nor the Street Action Team were depicted in their combined form on the back of the packaging, only in the manual.

Merchandise

• A PVC figurine of Perceptor was made as part of the ninth "Act" of Takara's Super Collection Figure series. He was available in both full-color and pewter-finish versions.

Trivia

• According to Aaron Archer at OTFCC 2004, he chose to name the Armada Mini-Con combiner robot "Perceptor" to honor the Takara employee who engineered the Street Action Team because that employee was also responsible for engineering the original Generation 1 Perceptor toy. It's likely this was Hideaki Yoke, but Archer did not specify at the time. Noted mecha designer Shinji Aramaki also worked on the original Perceptor, at the very least coming up with the initial concept, but given that he was long gone from Takara and directing the animated movie Appleseed in 2004, Archer probably didn't mean him.

External links

• Perceptor at TFU.info