Jungle
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 Gaze in awe at the majesty of the tropical jungle. *snrk* | ||||||
| "Jungle" (Hogo [Mamori]) "Safeguard (Protection)" | ||||||
| Production code | TF: A-06 | |||||
| Production company | TV Tokyo, NAS | |||||
| Airdate | October 4, 2002 (English) 14 February 2003 (Japanese) | |||||
| Writer | Isao Shizuya | |||||
| Director | Shin'ichirō Aoki | |||||
| Animation studio | Actas Inc. | |||||
| Continuity | Unicron Trilogy | |||||
Another Mini-Con is located in a forest, where the battle causes a fire to threaten the local flora and fauna.
- Polish title: "Dżungla"
Synopsis
Starscream, Demolishor and Cyclonus exchange fire with the Autobots in a rocky area, while discussing which tactics they should use. While the other two move around to the sides, Starscream takes to the air and attacks, but is promptly shot down by Optimus Prime and crashes into Demolishor. Dismissing it as a lucky shot, Starscream looks up to see Optimus towering over him. The Autobot prepares to make the final shot, right to his forehead... when Megatron halts the training simulator, haranguing his men, particularly his "right-hand man". The Decepticons begin blaming each other. Starscream promises Megatron to fight more effectively if the latter gives him a Mini-Con. The conversation is interrupted by the detection of a new Mini-Con; all the Decepticons leave for Earth.
Meanwhile, on a suburban street, Alexis and Carlos are waiting patiently for Rad to arrive. He turns up carrying three backpacks stuffed with camping supplies, and the trio continue on to the Autobot base, where the Autobots are still trying to activate the Mini-Con panel they found in Antarctica. As Hot Shot notes with amusement the amount of equipment the kids have brought, the alarm goes off to notify them that another Mini-Con has been detected. The kids accompany the Autobots to a forest. Hot Shot sends Jolt up to take a look around, and the Mini-Con soon spots a glint of light in the distance. Optimus orders that they move out, and Hot Shot transforms to vehicle mode, but, as Red Alert points out, they're going to have to walk. Optimus leaves his trailer behind with Sparkplug in charge.
Soon the Autobots are trudging through the forest with Hot Shot complaining loudly. He breaks out a buzzsaw to cut his way through, which earns a scolding from his companions. Carlos alerts them to a path ahead and, sure enough, there's a wide path where the trees have been cleared. As they drive along, Rad tells the others that the path has been cut by illegal loggers and delivers a lecture on the importance of plants to Earth's biosphere.
Elsewhere the Decepticons are also heading towards the Mini-Con, and, of course, bickering. Starscream is determined to get the Mini-Con himself, having missed out on the one in Antarctica.
The Autobots abruptly halt as a tree falls across their path and they find themselves face-to-face with the Decepticons. Although the Decepticons open fire, Optimus is concerned for the welfare of the trees and orders his men not to fire back unless they have a clear shot. Starscream and Cyclonus transform for an aerial attack and end up getting in each other's way. Cyclonus's missile then touches down amongst the trees, where it starts a fire. The alarmed kids begin shooing forest animals away from the blaze and are only saved from a falling tree by Optimus. At Rad's urging, Optimus orders the Autobots to fall back to contain the fire. The surprised Decepticons resume their search for the Mini-Con.
The Autobots fight the fire, but the kids observe that it's a losing battle and they really need water to put it out. Rad sends Laserbeak out, and the tiny Autobot soon locates a nearby lake. Red Alert says they can use Prime's trailer, so Optimus contacts Sparkplug and gets the Mini-Con to bring the trailer to them.
Meanwhile the Decepticons have located the Mini-Con panel in a huge old tree. Although Starscream asks for it, Megatron denies his request and claims it himself. Starscream doesn't dare to argue further, but he has a plan of his own...
Having hooked up the pipes, the Mini-Cons begin putting out the fire, and Rad lets Optimus know the Autobots can go on and stop the Decepticons. The three Autobots interrupt their foe attempting to cut down the tree the Mini-Con is perched in, and both sides clash. Starscream winds up with no enemy to fight, and seizes his chance. While the other three Decepticons are occupied, Starscream slices the tree with his sword and snatches the Mini-Con panel. Hurrah! He has a partner at last! Megatron only grits his teeth as Starscream gloats over his acquisition, revealing the Mini-Con Swindle.
After zipping among the trees, Swindle merges with Starscream, unlocking two Null laser cannons on his shoulders. Starscream decides to demonstrate his new extraordinary power immediately. The single blast from the cannons sends both the Autobots and Decepticons flying and creates a huge crater. Promising Starscream will pay, a none-too-pleased Megatron orders a retreat. Before following his chief to warp gate, Starscream warns the 'Bots that they must not to take their eyes off him from now on. Optimus Prime figures he's right.
While the Autobots are standing around shell-shocked, the kids run up with the news that they've put the fire out. Although Rad suggests perhaps they should have left the fire and helped the Autobots obtain the Mini-Con, Optimus assured him that they did the right thing.
Back on the Moon, the Decepticons try their training simulation again, and Starscream uses his new laser cannons to obliterate the Autobot forces completely. He begins to wonder if he's stronger than Megatron himself. Megatron has a rather different opinion on the matter.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Mini-Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Megatron, please! I promise to do better if you let me have the next Mini-con!"
"I think he's gonna start to cry! Hahahaha!"
- —Starscream and Cyclonus bickering like schoolchildren.
"You know, I really wish people would understand that the future of the human race depends on what we do to protect the environment today."
- —Rad auditions for a new series of Captain Planet.
"Nothing, I was just talking to myself."
"Keep talkin', cause no one else is listening to you any more."
- —Starscream and Demolisher bickering like schoolchildren.
"We came for the Mini-Con."
"Not if you're going to use it for evil purposes!"
- —Demolisher and Optimus, raising the question, "What if the Decepticons promised to use it strictly for good purposes?"
"I'll show them how it's done!"
"Outta my way!"
"Cyclonus!"
"You're out of your league! Stand back and let a pro show you how to do some real destruction!"
"You're blocking my target!"
- —Starscream and Cyclonus still bickering.
"Oh my, it's so easy! I must be the most powerful Decepticon in the universe! Even more powerful than Megatron! Hahahahaha!"
"Oh, we'll just see about that, Starscream."
- —Starscream, with delusions of grandeur, and Megatron.
Notes
Differences with Micron Legend
Animation and/or technical glitches
- Optimus calls his Mini-con "Leader-1" again, but finally gets it right when he contacts Sparkplug to bring the trailer to them (and then Red Alert promptly refers to him as Leader-1 again).
Trivia
- This episode totally should be named "Forest".
Home video releases
- DVD
2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 2 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:02 (Universal)
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:02 (Warner Music Video)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Power of the Mini-Cons (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part One (Rhino Entertainment)
2005 — Transformers: Armada — Triple Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Bumper Double DVD Collection (Universal)
2008 — Transformers: Armada — Volume One (New KSM) — English and German audio.
