Metamorphosis (Armada)
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 Grindor phone home | |||||||||
| Metamorphosis (Gitai [Henshin]) "Mimicry (Transform)" | |||||||||
| Production code | TF: A-02 | ||||||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | ||||||||
| Airdate | August 23, 2002 (English) 17 January 2003 (Japanese) | ||||||||
| Writer | Ryō Motohira | ||||||||
| Director | Takashi Sano | ||||||||
| Animation studio | Actas | ||||||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | ||||||||
Pursued by the Decepticons, Rad, Carlos and Alexis find they have allies in the form of Optimus Prime and his Autobots.
- Polish title: "Przemiana"
Synopsis
"Aw, but I liked "Generations" more..."
Billy and Fred find that a cave-in has trapped them both underground. Above ground, the fight between Optimus Prime and Megatron continues. Rad, Carlos and Alexis attempt to flee with their new Mini-Con friend, only to be cut off by two new robots teleporting in: Starscream and Demolishor. As Demolishor reaches for Rad and Carlos, two more robots appear and the youngsters find themselves surrounded. Alexis begins to lead her friends away, but Starscream spots High Wire and moves to grab the Mini-Con. He's blocked by Hot Shot, however, and the pair grapple.
Alexis has enough time to spy the Autobot sigil on Hot Shot's shoulder before Rad announces they're heading for the caves. Before Demolishor can make a move to stop them, he's tackled by Red Alert and pummeled repeatedly, so that his optical sensor is damaged. Megatron scornfully calls him "a weakling", but a moment later he is knocked down to the ground by Optimus Prime. Optimus demands thathe surrender, but Megatron suddenly disappears, promising that he will return again. The other two Decepticons quickly retreat via teleport, leaving three surprised Autobots. Optimus tells his troops they have to stop Megatron getting hold of the Mini-Cons. Hot Shot points out the Decepticons are using short-warp equipment and must have a base nearby, which leads Red Alert to suspect they're based on the Moon.
The Decepticons are indeed using the crashed Mini-Con spaceship as a base. The three Decepticons arrive there, waking Cyclonus who is taking a nap in a hallway. The latter immediately begins fawning over Megatron and is ignored. His inquiry over whether they found the Mini-Cons is met with glares, and Starscream suggests he could be put in charge of finding them. Megatron agrees but makes clear the price of failure.
Back in the caves, Rad thinks they're safe, but Alexis is sure the giant robots will come after them, or, more specifically, High Wire. None of the kids can understand High Wire's speech but they follow the Mini-Con into another chamber and a door slowly slides closed behind them. Rad and Carlos assure Alexis this is a good thing. The lights come up and the trio realise they're standing on the threshold of a spaceship. Rad is able to access the ship's computer, letting the kids learn about Megatron and Optimus Prime. Alexis recognises the Autobot symbol from earlier.
Up on the Moon, Megatron stands outside the ship musing over how he will find the Mini-Cons and spies a glint of light on the Moon's surface.
High Wire goes nuts, much to the confusion of the three children. He opens a wall panel, revealing two Mini-Con storage panels which Alexis and Carlos activate. The panels reveal an orange she-Mini-Con and a blue Mini-Con, who pair up with Alexis and Carlos respectively.
On the Moon, Megatron has found another storage panel, which he activates to reveal his old Mini-Con Leader-1. Megatron is filled with evil glee.
Fred and Billy finally manage to pull themselves out of the cave, only to panic at the sight of a giant footprint. Underground, Carlos and Alexis let the Mini-Cons scan their skateboard and scooter for alternate modes.
Back on the Moon, Megatron demands to know why Cyclonus was unable to detect a Mini-Con right under his nose. Cyclonus can offer no excuse, and Starscream's chuckle only enrages the Decepticon leader further. Megatron tells them to witness the power of his Mini-Con, prompting Leader-1 to show his fire power. The two Decepticons are frightened and astonished. Demolishor arrives to report with the news that two more Mini-Cons have been activated on Earth. Megatron puts Cyclonus in charge of the recovery team and gives his troops new alt-modes based on Earth vehicles. Starscream transforms into a supersonic jet-fighter, Demolishor can become a self-propelled gun, Cyclonus looks like a military helicopter, and Megatron himself transforms into a tank. They leave for Earth again.
Meanwhile the three kids have a good time with their Mini-friends. They race on the Mini-Cons through a forest, across water and up a cliff. But there they run unexpectedly right into Megatron and his troops. They try to run away but the Decepticons surround them, as does Megatron's triumphant laughter. It seems to Rad that it's all over for them... until Megatron is rammed into a rock wall by a large red-and-blue truck. Cyclonus and Starscream are so astonished that they simply remain poised in mid-air instead of doing anything. The truck pulls up by the three kids and asks them to get in; Alexis recognises the Autobot symbol on its side and jumps right in. Rad and Carlos are more hesitant, until Demolishor looms up behind them. The Decepticon attempts to stop the truck leaving and gets shot repeatedly in the face, then run over. Attempting to pursue, he's promptly rammed by a yellow sports car.
Safely out of danger, the truck lets them out and transforms into robot mode — it's Optimus Prime, naturally. Likewise Hot Shot and Red Alert appear in car mode and transform into robots. The kids observe the oncoming Decepticon forces, and Optimus combines with his trailer into super mode. Rad reflects that the Autobots might need his help while they're on Earth. The Autobots and Decepticons prepare to do battle.
Featured characters
((Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Guests |
Quotes
"What a weakling."
- —Megatron is not impressed at Demolishor being taken down by Red Alert.
Hot Shot: They're using short-warp equipment, so they must have a base set up somewhere near here.
Red Alert: (looking at the moon) They're up there.
- —200,000 miles is "near"?
"You had better not. If you do, I'll have you dismantled for scrap, then I'll launch what's left of you straight into the sun, understand?"
- —Megatron on what will happen if Cyclonus fails.
"So he really is from outer space! I bet he came from some distant galaxy a long time ago, to escape those big robots. Maybe they use small robots like him to increase their power or something. His ship must have crash landed on Earth and now they've tracked him down."
"Wow, you think so?"
"That's the only reason I can think of why those big robots would come after him."
- —Rad comes up with the most far-fetched, unbelievable explanation ever. Alexis is impressed.
"Hey, guess what? He understands me! He does, he really does!"
"Are you sure? This one's not reacting to anything I say. Aw, his batteries must be low. Maybe he needs to be recharged or something."
- —Alexis and Carlos on meeting their Mini-Cons.
"Shut your mouth, you worthless piece of junk!"
- —Megatron on Cyclonus' failure.
"Megatron! Uh... sir? What happened in here?"
- —Demolishor is surprised at Leader-1's redecorating.
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
Animation and/or technical glitches
- The giant "footprint" Fred and Billy panic over looks like a full-body imprint of Megatron. No wonder they panicked.
Real-world references
- Leader-1 is named for Leader-1, leader of the Guardians from the Tonka GoBots cartoon and toyline.
Miscellaneous trivia
- Pre-Earth mode Optimus is standing on a ledge above as a truck passes below. When he's finished scanning, the truck passes by, and we see Optimus again, already in his truck altmode. You will see this again.
Home releases
- Kid Rhino: "Best Battles" compilation DVD (with "Base", "Confrontation", and "Decisive Battle").
