Sneak Attack! Dinoking
| ||||||
 Seems friendly. | ||||||
| "Sneak Attack! Dinoking" (Kishū! Dinoking) | ||||||
| Production company | Takara, Toei | |||||
| Airdate | 28 March 1989 | |||||
| Writer | Toyohiro Ando | |||||
| Director | Jōhei Matsūra | |||||
| Animation studio | Toei | |||||
| Continuity | Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity | |||||
The Dinoforce attack Wingwaver in space and reveal their ultimate power!
- Omni Productions dub name: "The Birth of a Monster"
- Also known as: "Dinoking's Surprise Attack"
Synopsis
Following the Dinoforce's attack on the Lunar Base on Earth's moon, the human staff of the facility have been evacuated to the Autobots' nearby space station, the Galaxy Base. The humans are eager to return to Earth, and as the Autobots cannot predict when the Decepticons will next appear, Star Saber arranges for the Autobots to escort the humans back to Earth themselves. Dashtacker and Machtackle are concerned that this will mean Wingwaver, still on Planet V, will be left behind, but Star Saber contacts the Multiforce leader and requests that he join them.
Meanwhile, out in space, aboard the Decepticon flagship the Thunder Arrow, Deathsaurus lectures Dinoforce commander Gōryū and new arrival Leozack on the energy of Earth. Leozack is put in charge of arranging the next attack, and plans to take on Star Saber himself while Gōryū and the Dinoforce assault the Galaxy Base. Gōryū rouses the sleeping Dinoforce and they quickly head out, but as they pass by the ruining hulk of the Lunar Base's satellite, they spot Wingwaver racing by on his way to join up with the other Autobots. The Dinoforce immediately ambush Wingwaver, and they battle in and around in the wreckage.
Back at the Galaxy Base, Dashtacker, Machtackle and Jean drop in on the Brainmasters, and observe as Laster finishes his latest invention: the "Flasher", a flare device that temporarily blinds opponents. After getting a taste of the Flasher's power, Dashtacker asks Laster if he can keep it, and the Brainmaster agrees. Just then, the panicked Holi enters, informing the group of Wingwaver's predicament. Dashtacker and Machtackle want to aid their captain, but Star Saber instructs them to stay back and guard the Galaxy Base while the Brainmasters deal with the Decepticons. Laster, Blacker and Braver scramble and arrive at the site of the battle just as things are turning bad for Wingwaver. Begrudgingly, Wingwaver follows Blacker's order to return to the Galaxy Base while the Brainmasters battle the Dinoforce. The Autobot trio quickly gets the upper hand in the battle, at which point the Dinoforce reveal their hidden power by merging into the giant robot, Dinoking!
At the same time, Wingwaver returns to the Galaxy Base, and the Autobots there are observing the battle when they come under attack from the Dinoforce's Pretender shells. The Multiforce, Jean and Holi man the defense lasers and fight back while Star Saber monitors the Brainmasters' battle. As Dinoking steadily overpowers the Autobots, Star Saber decides to go to their aid, but just as he departs, the Dinoforce's shells penetrate the walls of the Galaxy Base. The Multiforce fight back, with Dashtacker putting the Flasher to use, but the Galaxy Base soon becomes a lost cause. The base's central component, the Shuttle Base, detaches from the station and makes for Earth with the human evacuees aboard, while the Galaxy Shuttle itself transforms to robot mode and makes short work of the Dinoforce's shells, blasting them off through space with its jets.
Meanwhile, Star Saber has joined the Brainmasters in battle, and attacks Dinoking with his secondary module, the V-Star (with himself, in his small robot form of "Saber," piloting it). With the Decepticon combiner weakened by the V-Star's power, Saber merges with the V-Star to become Star Saber again, and finishes Dinoking off with his Saber Blade. The Dinoforce are blasted back into their individual selves and flee.
Star Saber soon rejoins the other Autobots in space, and they all board the Galaxy Shuttle and head for Earth to rejoin the Shuttle Base. As they head into Earth's atmosphere, Holi marvels at the planet that is home to his young friend Jean. Jean himself is concerned for his home planet, and what will become of it if the Decepticons attack, but the Autobot assure him that they will fight to keep it safe.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Quotes
"Show these Autobot insects the limitless strength of the Dinosaur Force!!"
- —Gōryū plays up the ability of his men.
"This sword cannot forgive evil! If you can survive its wrath, then do so!"
"So you're the captain of the Autobots' defense. What waver did you say you are?"
"Wingwaver!"
- —Gōryū is introduced to Wingwaver.
"I know you were stupid, you fool, but I didn't know you were blind!"
- —Gōryū is unimpressed with Kakuryū.
"The dinosaur troops are all morons. They're no use!"
- —Blacker dismisses any notion of threat that the plot might have built up.
"I'm gonna crush you like a fly!"
- —Gōryū
Notes
Lost in translation
Among the many changes made by the Omni Productions dub:
- The narration makes the extraordinary claim that the entire population of Earth is taking refuge on the Galaxy Base. A short time later, Star Saber says the refugees have relatives on Earth.
- Deathsaurus has his sights set on the Universe rather than just the galaxy.
- After giving Dashtacker the Flasher, Laster says to Jean "As you were my guinea pig, you should have one too." That doesn't make sense in context, as Dashtacker was the one who tested it!
- Blacker's comment about the Multiforce being rookies is replaced by a slam of the Dinoforce's prowess.
Animation or technical errors
- While Star Saber tells the Autobots they'll escort the humans back to Earth, the right-side of his helmet is coloured white like his face instead of blue.
- After the Brainmasters leave Galaxy Base, there's an apparently pointless use of their transformation stock footage — they were already in robot mode.
- The cone kibble on Wingwaver's back is missing when he fires on Gōryū within Galaxy Base.
Continuity errors
- Jean wasn't wearing his space suit when he and Holi man one of the gun emplacements, but is suddenly wearing it when the pair shoot out into space a short time later.
Transformers references
- The Dinoforce's attack on the Lunar Base occurred in the first episode.
Miscellaneous trivia
- From this episode onward, each installment of Victory begins with a 25-second long segment consisting of a quick series of clips from the episode itself, before the title card.
- Star Saber's sword cannot forgive evil.[1]
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Victory — DVD Box 01 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2006 — The Takara Collection Vol 3 — Transformers: Victory (Metrodome)
2007 — Transformers — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome)
2008 — The Transformers: Victory (Madman Entertainment) — Optional Omni dub.
2009 — The Transformers: Japan Generation 1 — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment) — Optional Omni dub.
References
- ↑ Or so Star Saber tells us when he attacks Dinoking — according to the subtitles on either DVD set.
