Bullet Train to the Rescue
| ||||||
 It's pink, so it's a girl, right? | ||||||
| "Bullet Train to the Rescue" (Gattai seyo! Shinkansen Robo) "Unite! Bullet Train Robo" | ||||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS, Studio Gallop | |||||
| Airdate | 19 April 2000 (Japanese) September 12, 2001 (English) | |||||
| Written by | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (Japanese) Steve Kramer (English) | |||||
| Director | Akira Katō | |||||
| Animation studio | Studio Gallop | |||||
Railspike, (the gruff train)
Midnight Express (fancy train)
Rapid Run, (cool train)
Synopsis
Gas Skunk destroys an unmanned freight train and is promptly told by Sky-Byte that he's wasting his time and should be searching for energy. Slapper also takes out an unmanned freight train and is given the same lecture by the shark.
The Autobots watch a news report of the launch of the Linear RFG, an automated train set to make its first run today. Koji is excited to be able to ride on the train, but Prime, aware of the recent railroad incidents, keeps a watchful eye. He brings the three Autobot brothers, planning on following the train in case the Predacons try some shenanigans.
As anticipated, the Predacons are up to their regular hijinx and plant a pulsar bomb to sabotage the train's track where the tracks cross over a bridge. Side Burn and Prowl engage the Predacons, while Prime radios the train's command center in hopes of halting the train before it reaches the scene of the battle. But because of Dark Scream's meddling, communication with the train is shut off. To save the day, the Autobots need to call on the help of Team Bullet Train.
T-AI radios the three members of the team. Each of them abandons his human passengers (Much to Kelly's annoyance, as Rapid Run disrupts her commute to work) and rushes across the space bridge to meet with Optimus and the Linear RFG. Prime leaves the three to their own affairs so he can assist in fighting off the Predacons planting a bomb on the track ahead. Team Bullet Train radios Koji and asks him to request that the driver use the manual override to slow down the train, but the brakes aren't working and the train is speeding up, scaring the passengers. With the easy solution unavailable, Midnight Express has the brilliant idea of coating the track with glue! Railspike has a better solution, however: slow the train down by linking up with it.
Ahead, the bomb explodes, taking out the bridge. The Predacons withdraw from the conflict, standing back to watch the anticipated carnage and leaving the Autobots to deal with the oncoming train. The Linear RFG rolls towards the gap, despite the additional weight of the three Bullet Trains trying to anchor it. So Optimus converts into his super mode and attempts literally to catch the trains to block them from derailing. Prime is successful, and the train comes to a stop before anything goes into the chasm. Sky-Byte tries one last chance to ruin the day, but Side Burn wrecks Sky-Byte's footing and aim.
Finally Megatron arrives and begins battling the Autobots. Team Bullet Train returns, having moved the Linear RFG safely away from the destroyed bridge, and combine into Rail Racer. Overpowered by the force of Rail Racer's attacks, Megatron flees with his troops in tow. The menace defeated, Team Bullet Train gets back to work, and the Linear RFG completes its inaugural run watched over by Optimus.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Predacons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Quotes
"There's nothing going on here that would concern you."
- —Gas Skunk attempts the Jedi mind trick on Prowl.
"How about coating the entire track with glue! That would slow it up."
"Dude, I'm gonna pretend you didn't say that."
- —Midnight Express fails to impress Rapid Run with his problem-solving abilities.
"Don't you even bother to say hello anymore?"
- —Optimus is disappointed at Megatron's lack of social graces.
Side Burn: Wow, how come we can't do that?
Prowl: I don't know, I think they're double-jointed.
Side Burn: Maybe they can teach us how to do that.
X-Brawn: I was never a good student.
Side Burn: Come to think of it, I wouldn't want to fuse with you guys anyway.
- —The Autobot Brothers, after watching Team Bullet Train combine into Rail Racer.
Notes
Animation or technical errors
- Side Burn's "Optical Laser Strike!" was added by FoxKids as a substitute for footage they had removed of Optimus Prime firing missiles. Since their new "attack" was made from stock footage animation of Side Burn transforming, it suggests that every time he transforms to robot mode he lasers whatever is in front of him.
- At one point Sky-Byte's mouth is drawn with a mouth interior behind it rather than the usual all-white.
Continuity errors
- While following alongside the train, Optimus says he'd "better get back to headquarters", but the next time we cut to him, he's still with the train.
Trivia
- The combined form of Team Bullet Train, Rail Racer, refers to himself in the plural.
- The humans seem to be quite familiar with Optimus Prime and who he is.
- It would appear that this episode was originally to be titled "Bullet Train Rescue", as this was the title offered by various sources before the episode aired. The error has not entirely gone away, as this title was used on the R2 DVD menus. That said, it might have been better if this title had been used, since the very next episode has a title that is almost exactly the same. This would not be the last time this would happen in Robots in Disguise.
- Rail Racer's "Super Turbo Punch!" consists of punching his opponent in the face. Awesome!
