Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2001 franchise)
When Megatron and his Predacons arrive on Earth, they meet an unexpected resistance: Optimus Prime, who leads a special team of Autobot defenders who have remained hidden for years! But Megatron is after more than just energy... on Earth lies an ancient power that could make the Predacons the rulers of the universe!
The Robots in Disguise / Car Robots series brought modern-Earth vehicular Transoformers back into the limelight, and began the "reboot" tactic that would be employed by later lines.
In the year 2000, Takara released their new Transformers line called Car Robots in Japan. Up until that point, Takara had been expanding upon what America was doing with their Transformers toys; utilizing the "Beast" angle. This was the 15th anniversary of Transformers in Japan though, so to keep with that spirit they launched a completely new series based on vehicles. At the same time, they started the "Re-issue" phase, which repackaged original 1980's Transformers as collection editions. All of this was a much welcome change by fans both in the US and Japan, who were hungering for a return to the more classic rendition of Transformers. The toyline featured a mixture of everything that, up to that point, was Transformers. All new exciting molds for the core Autobot characters, using real life vehicle models, with updated transformation techniques, most developed during the Beast era.
To fill the line in, they took toys previously released in older lines, repainted them, and released them as new along side of these "all new" molds. The Bruticus/Combaticon combiner toys from the original G1 series were introduced, the Laser Optimus Prime toy from Generation 2 was released (and recoloured to serve as a villain), basic and mega sized Beast Wars figures not featured in the American show were used as primary characters, plus the Spychangers (a name now used in America as well) were released. These were Matchbox sized cars originally released under the name "Go-Bots" in the Generation 2 line from the 90s. Takara also did the unthinkable: repainting and re-releasing the biggest Transformer ever made, Fortress Maximus (this time named Brave Maximus). Couple that with an all new 10-changer, Beast oriented, Gigatron and you had the making of the first new millenium Transformers series, one that combined the best from everything before it into one.
Car Robots Vs. Beast Machines
Meanwhile, in the Western world, Beast Wars had just ended and Hasbro wanted to produce a continuation of the very successful toyline and series; thus, Beast Machines came to be. Unfortunately, for reasons not belonging here, the Beast Machines line fell through. This line destroyed the momentum Hasbro had going for them at the end of Beast Wars. In the mind and pocket book of collectors, Beast Machines was going head to head with Car Robots: One from America, one from Japan. And America lost.
Many fans were paying hand over foot for imports of the Japanese line, all the while complaining about the poor quality of the Beast Machines line and show. Ultimately, Beast Machines ended its run just under a year before its anticapted end. At that point what we know as "Robots In Disguise" was born, unveiled at the 2001 Toyfair event in NYC. US Fans rejoiced.
Hasbro specifically stated that Robots In Disguise (or RID) was going to be a filler line, one to tide Hasbro over until they can get their next major Transformers toyline organised. They originally wanted to go from Beast Machines right into what is now known as "Armada", but due to Beast Machines failing, they brought over Car Robots and turned it into RID, allowing more time needed to completely shift gears from previous series and begin the process of working together on a level they had not previously for the next line, and re-thinking their design aims for the toys as well.
Hasbro released all of the toys from the Car Robots line and gave them new names more suited to the Western world. They also one-upped Japan on the repaint angle, including even more previously released toys into the line. American fans saw the G2 laser-cycles released as Sidways and Axer. They saw even more "Go-Bot" G2 Spychangers released, along with the first new toys in that size in over 5 years. A 3 pack of basic Beast Machines toys were introduced, along with the elusive (at first) Stormjet figure. Left-over never-released Beast Machines toys were also included in the lineup; seeing a large super-sized version of Optimus Primal originally slated for the end of Beast Machines and a Megatron-Megabolt toy, which was based off of the floating Megatron head seen in the second season of the Beast Machines show. The completely contained mini-universe that was Car-Robots was now expanded even further in America as Robots In Disguise. This turned out to be a boon; Robots in Disguise did remarkably well for Hasbro, and the following line did even better.
Characters
Autobots (Cybertrons)
Optimus Prime (Fire Convoy)
The Robots in Disguise version of Optimus Prime transforms into a modern fire truck. The fire truck divides into two halves, of which the front half transforms into Optimus Prime's robot mode, and the rear half transforms into a battle station with facilities for field repairs or combine with Prime as additional armour and weapons (Super Mode).
X-Brawn (Wildride)
The eldest of the three Autobot Brothers. X-Brawn loves extremes and can handle any type of environment, from desert to blizzard, and can traverse some of the toughest terrain. He lives for the thrill, and can often be found climbing the tallest towers in the city in car mode, using his winch to pull himself up the buildings. He is a martial arts master, and has enormous strength in his left arm, which he uses to execute lariats (a pro-wrestling maneuver) on his Predacon opposition. X-Brawn is a bot of few words, but is very reliable.
Prowl (Mach Alert)
The middle sibling of the three Autobot Brothers. Competent and loyal, Prowl is Optimus Prime's trusted right-hand man. He possesses a sharp, tactical mind which makes him very quick to assess situations. Prowl is equipped with jet boosters in car mode, which allows him to give chase with remarkable speed; the boosters can also be used as weapons when in robot mode. Prowl takes his role as an enforced of the law seriously, and is very conscientious about rules and regulations -- something that his fellow Autobots often experience. He's constantly on Side Burn's back for his habit of stalking red sports cars, and he thinks that the veteran X-Brawn should try to set a better example for their younger teammate.
Side Burn (Speedbreaker)
The youngest and fastest of the Autobot Brothers, Side Burn rockets down highways in his Dodge Viper mode for fun, in pursuit of an enemy - or chasing after his latest flame. Because that's Side Burn's greatest weakness: the ladies. Every time he sees a little red sports car, he's falls in love all over again, but can't seem to comprehend that Earth cars aren't alive. Despite his flaws, he is a courageous and sympathetic Autobot, always ready to defend those whom he cares about. He also displays a sense of humour, something he thinks his older siblings lack.
Team Bullet Train (Team Shinkasen)
Railspike (J-5)
Railspike is the grizzled leader of the Team Bullet Train. He is courageous and polite, and his intelligence makes him akin to any battlefield situation. He tends to act as a peacekeeper when tempers get out of hand. Despite his apparent age, Railspike is still able to take on his enemies with incredible efficiency and skill. Railspike transforms to a Shinkansen Series 500 Nozomi bullet train engine. He is equipped with rocket launchers in his shoulders, and is capable of generating ultrasonic waves, powerful enough to take down his targets in one hit. He forms the upper body, arms and head of Rail Racer.
Rapid Run (J-7)
Rapid Run is eager, enthusiastic, and proud. He is a remarkable warrior, often taking on multiple foes with unrelenting courage (though this could be attributed to his hot-headed attitude). He is very competitive and likes to think of Team Bullet Train as the Autobot's elite force, and of himself as the fastest of all the Autobots. Rapid Run can change to a Shinkansen Series 700 Rail Star bullet train engine. He is armed with a grenade launcher, and can fire large, powerful missiles from his shield. He forms the lower body and back of Rail Racer.
Midnight Express (J-9)
Midnight Express is the youngest of the three members in the bullet train team. He is cheerful and friendly in the company of his friends, but harsh in the presence of enemies. Midnight Express transforms to an Shinkansen Series E-4 bullet train engine. He is equipped with high temperature missiles, and his shoulders can generate shearing blades of solid light, capable of slicing giant icebergs in two. He has high strength and endurance in cold weather, but is less efficient in warmer environments. He transforms into the legs of Rail Racer.
Railracer (JRX)
Railracer is the powerful gestalt formed of Team Bullet Train. As a super-robot, his mind is a union of the thoughts of the three Autobots who comprise him (oddly, he refers to himself as "we" as opposed to first-person). Railracer is not at all as unwieldy and lumbering as the super robots of the original Transformers series - he's equipped with built-in accelerators that greatly improve his speed and mobility. He wields a giant gun which is a combination of Railspike's beam gun and Midnight Express' rifle.
Spychangers
A team of six Autobot espionage specialists. The team can drive over any surface, even water, in defiance of gravity, and have optical camouflage powers that render them invisible at will.
Hot Shot (Artfire)
Hot Shot is the leader of the Spychangers. He comes across as gruff, almost rude, in his role as commander, but this is really a result of his strong concern for his subordinates. He is a personal friend of Optimus Prime, whom he has served under for millions of years.Hot Shot is armed with an adjustable fire blaster gun, which can be focused to a narrow beam or spray fire in a wide angle. An interesting point of trivia; in Car Robots, Artfire is referred to as a relative of Fire Convoy.
R.E.V (Eagle Killer)
R.E.V. is the Spychanger's tactical officer, and Hot Shot's right-hand man. Given his voice, he is the oldest of the Spychangers, but this does not seem to impede his performance in any way. R.E.V. has excellent jumping prowess, and can spring from building to building in urbanized areas. He's armed with a shotgun. (R.E.V. stands for Race Exertion Vehicle, he is often simply called "Rev")
Crosswise (X-Car)
Crosswise is the Autobots' science officer. His specialty is space engineering, but he also has a hand in developing new machinery, and often helps out with the maintenance of his teammates. Crosswise is armed with an anti-gravity gun, which causes the targets it hits to rise in the air.
W.A.R.S. (Wars)
W.A.R.S. is one of the few pro-war Autobots, a bold and daring warrior whose violent actions frighten and appal friend and enemy alike. He is equipped with heavy armor and a machine gun, which he's firing all but constantly. (W.A.R.S. stands for Wicked Attack Recon Sportscar)
Ironhide (Ox)
Ironhide is one of the younger members of the Spychangers, yet is a battlefield veteran with incredible strength. He's normally very peaceful, but can be incredibly irascible at times, he often takes out his frustration on Predacons or Decepticons. He doesn't like to be told what to do. Ironhide is a transports expert and wields a shockwave rifle.
Mirage (Counter Arrow)
Mirage is one of the most unenthusiastic Autobots - he's unsure of the Autobot cause, and can't be fully trusted. But despite his doubts, Mirage is a very valuable soldier - he carries out various functions, from bodyguard duty to espionage, all of them with excellent results. Mirage is the fastest of the Spychangers, and an excellent marksman. He is armed with a laser sniper rifle.
Skid-Z (Indy Heat)
When this eager soldier arrived from Cybertron, he selected the race car of the late Augie Cahnay to be his vehicle mode, but also wound up absorbing Cahnay's psychotropic energy, which had saturated the vehicle, leaving him compelled to enter any race he could find.
Tow-Line (Wrecker Hook)
Working undercover as a tow truck, Tow-Line has learned the rules of the road, and now lives by them, punishing any infraction, large or small, and even if a fellow Autobot responsible is responsible. He is well known for the phrase "No parking means no parking!" He's responsible for traffic riot control, and can use his powerful hook to lift and carry anything from a car to a bullet train.
Build Team (Build Masters)
As the engineers who built the Global Spacebridge tunnel system that transports the Autobots around Earth, the Build Team always wanted to see action on the front lines, and thanks to Optimus Prime, they got their chance. The team is capable of combining into Landfill (Build King) in various configurations.
Wedge (Build Boy)
Wedge is the young leader of the Build Team. Unrefined and reckless, he sometimes makes mistakes owing to his youth, but with the help of his friends and the acquisition of plenty of experience, he is maturing into a capable leader. Wedge appears to have an almost limitless energy reserve. He wields a double-barrelled beam gun.
Heavy Load (Build Typhoon)
Heavyload has the greatest strength and the thickest armor of the Build Team. Being well versed in all sorts of fighting techniques, he is also Wedge's martial arts instructor. He acts as Wedge's personal aide, and is prepared to lay down his life to follow his leader's orders.
Hightower (Build Cyclone)
An expert marksman, Hightower is second to none when it comes to using firearms. He acts as Wedge's personal bodyguard. Wedge's recklessness can leave him at a loss, but he dispenses frank advice even while staunchly supporting his leader. Hightower has deep trust from his teammates.
Grimlock (Build Hurricane)
Grimlock, the Build Team's second-in-command, has a really sunny disposition. Calmly and coolly, he judges the progress of a battle, then provides appropriate advice to Wedge and his other teammates. Grimlock is often deep in thoughts, pondering how best to pass on to Wedge his experience on numerous battlefields.
Ultra Magnus (God Magnus)
When his brother, Optimus Prime, was chosen to carry the Matrix, Magnus felt passed over, and was left carrying a grudge against his brother that eventually exploded into violence when he arrived on Earth with the intention of taking what he believed was rightfully his, by force, if necessary. Severely injuring Prime, who refused to fight back, Magnus tracked him to a desert island, where he pretended to offer him the hand of friendship, only to attempt to absorb the Matrix for himself, forcing the brothers into the combined form of Omega Prime (God Fire Convoy). Through this link, Magnus was also able to channel the power of the Matrix, which he used to supercharge the Autobot Brothers into newly-coloured forms. Although Magnus remained a free agent, refusing to take orders from his brother, his animosity dwindled and he helped the Autobots by combining with Prime to battle the Predacons and Decepticons.
Fortress Maximus (Brave Maximus)
Hidden on Earth in order to protect the planet, the colossal Transformer city of Fortress Maximus slumbered beneath the planet's surface, with the assorted keys to his re-awakening scattered across the globe. A group of six Autobots were sent to Earth to reactivate him, but when their ship crashed, they joined Maximus in stasis, until the emergence of Megatron and Optimus Prime's forces. While the Autobots had acquired some of the O-Parts, which would lead to the main power key of Maximus, Megatron co-opted the six Autobots into Decepticons under his servitude. With the O-Parts then assembled, the Autobots were led to the Orb of Sigma, which in turn revealed the location of Cerebros (Plasma), who was captured by the Decepticons and used to activated Maximus. Cerebros combines with the city's master computer, the Emissary (Brave), who in turn transforms into the head of Fortress Maximus, activating the giant. Maximus responds to commands from human beings, meaning that Koji was able to stop his rampage, leading to a series of chases as Maximus disappeared and re-emerged in different parts of the world. Eventually, Galvatron absorbed his energy, but when he was re-powered by kids across the world, he rerouted the energy to Omega Prime, who used it, in the form of the Matrix Blade, to defeat Galvatron.
Predacons & Decepticons (Destrongers) The Predacons are an elite group of cyber-animal Transformers of unknown origins who are in search for the ultimate power. To bolster their forces, they converted six Autobot Protoforms into Decepticons to help them in their goal.
Megatron (Gigatron), the Predacon leader.
Megatron/Galvatron (Gigatron/Devil Gigatron) Having wrought destruction across most of the universe, Megatron has now turned his attention to Earth and the energy it is rich in, as well as having a hidden agenda - to obtain the power of Fortress Maximus. To this end, he kidnaps energy expert Doctor Kenneth Onishi, who had previously uncovered many of the keys to unlocking Maximus's power. Megatron's own great power is evidenced by his six-mode transformation - robot, bat (Gigabat), twin-headed dragon (GigaDragon), jet (GigaJet), car '(GigaFormula) and claw (GigaHand). Whispered rumours say that Megatron and his Predacons may have come from another place... another time... but whatever his origins, Megatron's goal is clear - ultimate power will be his.
He got that very power when trapped in the ruins of a collapsed pyramid following a failed attempt to seize the Orb of Sigma (the map which would lead to Cerebros, power key of Fortress Maximus), Megatron underwent his most incredible transformation of all, as the mysterious energies of the pyramid resurrected him as the vampiric Galvatron. Now considering himself reborn as a Decepticon, Galvatron possessed the ability to drain energy from other beings - Slapper, Darkscream and Gas Skunk were his first victims, but Fortress Maximus, Earth's children and Omega Prime would soon feel this deadly power too. In addition to retaining his original six transformations (now redubbed DevilBat, DevilDragon, DevilJet, DevilFormula and DevilHand), Galvatron can now assume four new modes - a pteranodon (Devilnodon), a gryphon (DevilSaurer), a mammoth (DevilMammoth) and a hydrofoil (DevilCruiser).
Sky-Byte (Gelshark).Sky-Byte (Gelshark)
Although heralded as one of the mightiest Predacon warriors, Sky-Byte has summarily failed to live up to his hype during Megatron's campaign on Earth. A perennial lose, the hapless Sky-Byte is forever doomed to failure in Megatron's eyes, despite his best efforts. This shark has a sensetive side - he loves poetry and writes his own haikus, which he sometimes uses to lull his enemies into a false sense of security. He transforms into a transmetal great white shark. The toy in a repaint of transmetal 2 Cybershark from Beast Wars.
Predacon Trio The three members of the Predacon ground force are specialised for combat in water, air and on land, and they can't cut it in any of them. They try their best, but their most admirable quality is that they're good for a laugh. Slapper (Gusher) transforms into a cybernetic frog, with a whip-like tongue and extendable grabbing claw. Darkscream (Glido) would like to think of himself as a samurai, but he's got a long way to go, even if he is skilled with the sword hidden in the tail of his cybernetic flying squirrel mode. He is something like Starscream. Gas Skunk is the team's demolition expert who can vomit streams of laughing gas and transforms into a cybernetic skunk with a razor-sharp tail. Each member of the team fires the Right, Centre and Left Lasers (respectively) to combine into one mighty attack. The toys are repaints of Beast Wars Spittor, Nightglider and Stink Bomb.
Scourge (Black Convoy), leader of the DecepticonsScourge (Black Convoy)
Scourge was the leader of a team of six Autobots sent to Earth to reactivate Fortress Maximus. However, when their ship crashed on Earth, they joined the giant in slumber, only to eventually be reactivated in the early 21st Century when their craft was uncovered by the Autobots and Predacons. Megatron captured the six Autobot, in protoform stasis mode, and took them to a nearby military base, where they scanned vehicle modes and were infused with a portion of Megatron's Spark energy to turn them to evil, renaming them "Decepticons." The final Decepticon was Scourge, who scanned both a tanker truck, and, accidentally, Optimus Prime himself, resulting in the creation of a twisted parody of Prime himself with a Decepticon mentality. Scourge subsequently became the leader of the Commandos and swore fealty to Megatron, but exposure to the energies of Fortress Maximus and the O-Parts (which he possessed the special ability to sense) awoke the memories of his original mission to reactivate Maximus. However, his new, twisted mind added a specifically Decepticon bent to his goal - using the human part of his bio-signature, obtained from the human driver of the truck he had scanned, he was able to seize control of Fortress Maximus. When Koji over-rode his scheme, he then captured Koji's friend Carl, who he believed he could manipulate into doing his bidding, and when he revealed his treachery by instructing Carl to have Maximus crush Galvatron, he and all the Decepticons paid the price when Galvatron wiped their minds, turning them back into his loyal soldiers, who continued to follow him even after he subsequently attempted to kill them. Both he and his Commandos were escorted to Cybertron with the Predacons for sentencing.
Scourge's toy is a redeco of the 1995 Generation 2 Laser Optimus Prime figure.
Commandos (Combatrons) This team of five robots comprised the rest of the mission sent to reactivate Fortress Maximus - Mega Octane (Dual Railer), Rollbar (Greejeeper), Movor (Shuttler), Ro-Tor (Hepter) and Armorhide (Dangar). Like Scourge, they were revived by Megatron and converted into Deceptions. Together, they possess the ability to combine into one mighty robot, Ruination (Valdigus).
The Commados are a redeco of the original 1986 Combaticons figures.
[edit] Others
Koji (Yuki) and T-AI (Ai).Koji Onishi (Yuki Onishi) Son of Doctor Kenneth Onishi (Daichi Onishi), Koji allied himself with the Autobots after his father was kidnapped by Megatron, offering them advice and knowledge about Earth. A bright child, Koji has learned a lot about archaeology from his father, though he possesses no special powers, beyond a startling knack for being right where he needs to be, in the middle of coincidental Predacon attacks. When Dr. Onishi was freed from Megatron's clutches, it seemed Koji's role in the Transformer war was over, until he found himself able to control Fortress Maximus.
T-Ai (Ai) T-Ai - her name being an abbreviated form of "Tactical Artificial Intelligence" - is the sentient computer program which runs the day-to-day operations of the Autobots' base, manning and directing the Global Spacebridge and activating Battle Protocols, selecting suitable members for the mission at hand. To interact with other beings, T-Ai manifests herself as a hologram resembling a young human girl, which seems have caught the eye of Koji (who, in the Japanese version, is the only character to affectionately refer to her as "Ai-Chan").
Kelly (Junko) This hapless young woman doesn't get involved in the Transformers' battles on purpose - she just always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. In addition to owning the disguised X-Brawn, she's also had her nerves frayed through Side Burn's constant pursuit of her red sports cars, and frequently goes off on vacations in an attempt to relax, only to have the Transformers wreck those, as well. Kelly was in the tanker truck that was scanned by Scourge to form his alternate mode, and consequently, her human bio-signature was incorporated into Scourge's own. He was later able to use this bio-signature to control Fortress Maximus.
Carl (Kenta) Koji's best friend, briefly captured by the Decepticons in a case of mistaken identity, who tried to use him to control Fortress Maximus.
Jenny (Miki) Another of Koji's friends.
Dorie Dutton (Reporter) A female news reporter who frequently covers the Transformers' battles.
Toyline
Car Robots
After the last several Beast Era lines were received poorly in Japan, Takara decided to make a fresh start in 2000 with Car Robots, a combination of "traditional" Earth vehicles and beasts, as well as a near-even mix of newly-created molds and those originally developed for other lines, presumably to keep development costs down. The line had a heavy bias towards the Cybertrons (Autobots); of the ??? toys in the line, only 11 were Destrongers (Predacons/Decepticons)
To this day, many people still refer to the Car Robots line as Transformers 2000. However, the series was never officially named as such; it's possible this was a working title at one point, but proof has yet to be found of this.
Robots in Disguise
Hasbro also added a significant number of toys to Robots In Disguise that had not been part of Car Robots, although they also left out the toy incarnation of Brave Maximus (due to failure to pass safety testing), who in the dubbed cartoon was named Fortress Maximus.
Fictions
A cartoon series accompanied the Car Robots toyline,
Unlike previous toylines, there was no Car Robots manga. The only Hasbro-endorsed comic for Robots in Disguise came in the form of a short story in the "Dreamwave Summer Special" comic released in 2004. Dreamwave held a vote in 2004 to see which series fans wanted to be the focus of a mini-series, Beast Wars or Robots in Disguise; Beast Wars was the winner by a wide margin. (Though Dreamwave filed for bankruptcy and closed its door before the Beast Wars comic was made.)
