Call of the Primitives
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 Prim and Proper | |||||||||
| "Call of the Primitives" | |||||||||
| Production code | 700-112 | ||||||||
| Production company | Sunbow Productions | ||||||||
| Airdate | November 18, 1986 | ||||||||
| Written by | Donald F. Glut | ||||||||
| Animation studio | See Notes section | ||||||||
| Continuity | Generation 1 cartoon continuity | ||||||||
All Transformers with animal modes are summoned to battle a being called Tornedron, the little brother of Unicron.
- Japanese title: 原始の呼び声 (Genshi no Yobigoe, "Primeval Call")
- German title: Das geheimnisvolle Orakel ("The Mysterious Oracle")
Synopsis
Somewhere, an energy creature begins feeding off other forms of energy—slowly, at first. Then his creator gives him an energon cube. The creature grows and spreads out into the universe. Soon, it attacks Cybertron. The Autobots attack it, but it simply drains their energy from them. The creature's creator is pleased with him, saying he's done better than his predecessor, Unicron.
On Earth's Moon, Rodimus Prime is leading a group of Autobots against the Decepticons. However, the Dinobots, Predacons, Terrorcons, Sky Lynx, Trypticon, and the animal-form Mini-Cassettes are all summoned by a mysterious voice. They leave the battle, and Galvatron orders a retreat. Suddenly, the energy creature arrives and drains the energy from both the Autobots and Decepticons (including Rodimus Prime and Galvatron), as well as Earth and the Moon and Cybertron.
Most of the departed Transformers are riding Trypticon. Naturally, tempers flare after Headstrong picks a fight with the Dinobots by insulting Grimlock, so Sludge suggests they stomp him. The Preds stick with their teammate and fight the Dinobots, and the Terrorcons decide to fight everyone. At Sky Lynx's suggestion, Trypticon shakes himself and causes his passengers to stop fighting. They arrive on an ancient planet near the center of the galaxy. After touching down, Sky Lynx assumes command of the group, despite the objections of Razorclaw and Hun-Gurrr. Finding a cave, they encounter a strange entity. He explains that he summoned the Primitives, all animal-based Transformers, to come to fight Tornedron, the energy being who was created by Primacron. The entity, who was once Primacron's assistant, explains how Primacron created Unicron but was nearly destroyed by his creation. After Unicron's defeat, Primacron created Tornedron as a replacement. Primacron's assistant hopes that the Primitives' simple instincts will allow them to defeat Primacon's complex plans.
Suddenly, Tornedron arrives and drains Trypticon of his energy. Trypticon crashes, and Grimlock is believed destroyed. Sky Lynx attacks, only to have his energy drained as well. Slag leads the Dinobots in retreat, while the other Primitives split up. Tornedron separates into four parts to track them down. He easily dispatches the Mini-Cassettes, chewing on Ratbat in the process. Headstrong declares that it would be better to fight and die, and the Predacons form Predaking. Their energy is sucked away as well. The Terrorcons try to fight back, but are also drained. The Dinobots ambush Tornedron, but they too are dispatched. Unknown to Tornedron and Primacron, however, Grimlock has survived, and he follows them to the moon containing Primacron's lab.
At his base, Primacron is having trouble controlling Tornedron. Tornedron declares that he intends to feed on Primacron, and that all of Primacron's failsafes have failed. Grimlock breaks into Primacron's lab to find that Primacron is a tiny little monkey-like alien...thing. Grimlock grabs Primacron and orders him to reverse his damage, but Primacron declares that he's tried everything. Grimlock fixes things easily: He throws the reverse switch, which reverses Tornedron's energy polarity, restoring the energy to the drained Transformers and planets. In celebration, Grimlock destroys Primacron's lab, declaring it the smartest thing he's ever done.
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Others |
|---|---|---|
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Quotes
"Now remember, before you do anything, think, 'Is this what Sky Lynx would do in my position?', and you will not go far wrong."
- —Sky Lynx's sensible instructions to the rest of the Primitives.
"I have summoned you here to tell you a tale of long ago."
"Oh, me Grimlock love long ago tale!"
"Then allow me to tell it."
- —The Oracle slaps Grimlock into place.
"Suffer my rage, monster! I will show you no mercy! You will rue the day you crossed Sky—aaahhh!"
- —Sky Lynx's righteous fury at the deaths of Trypticon and Grimlock.
Headstrong: Sky Lynx is destroyed! Who will lead us now?
Slag: I, Slag, lead Dinobots away, till I get better idea.
Hun-Gurrr: Best idea yet! We run too!
- —Strategy is not their strong suit.
Headstrong: I detest fleeing, I would rather die fighting!
Razorclaw: He is right! Predacons, unite!
[The Predacons combine.]
Predaking: Tornedron... face Predaking! To the end!
- —The Predacons decide that it is better to fight and die than live with the knowledge that they ran.
"Only you can save the world now, Grimlock."
"Me Grimlock feel important!"
- —The Oracle rests the fate of... erm, the universe, on Grimlock's shoulders.
Grimlock: [chuckles] "You are creator?"
Primacron: "Unfortunately....yes."
Grimlock: "Grimlock laugh at little wimp who cause big trouble!"
- —Grimlock, about to give Primacron a wedgie.
Primacron: We are finished!! I've amplified the energy parameters, minimized the drivormenter, redirected the ion flow! I've tried EVERYTHING!
Grimlock: Me Grimlock solve problem! Wuh!
[Reaches over and pushes switch]
Primacron: Of course, the reverse switch! Why didn't I think of that?!
- —The universe's greatest genius gets one-upped by....Grimlock. Wait. What?!
Grimlock: Grimlock saved universe! Grimlock hero! [Grimlock stomps in victory, causing the place to begin to collapse]
Primacron: Stop it! You stupid—!
Grimlock: Why you call Grimlock stupid?
Primacron: You've ruined my lab!
Grimlock: Me Grimlock think that is smartest thing I ever done!
- —You know, that probably is the smartest thing he's ever done.
Notes
- The art style in this episode is very different from all others in the Generation 1 series, with stylized "anime-like" character models and proportions. In fact, the character models for this episode are based on the Studio Ox designs rather than the standard animation models used for the other episodes of the series. It is widely believed that this lone episode was animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, though little evidence has been found to confirm this.
- In Japanese continuity, the scene where the Primitives encounter the Oracle is set in the past; apparently, the Primitives arrived there via time travel. This is done to accommodate the idea that the Oracle later evolved into Vector Sigma and later Primus.
Animation or technical glitches
- In the second overhead shot of the Autobots during the opening battle, Rodimus is missing his (freakin' huge) spoiler.
- When Blades, Slingshot and Wheelie open fire on Tornedron, the first shot is fired before they even raise their weapons.
- As Tornedron in the form of a giant bug steps over the bodies of Blades, Slingshot and Wheelie, its glowing aura is on a lower cel than their bodies, making it appear to pass under them, despite the fact they're lying on the ground.
- When the Dinobots are being summoned, Sludge is referred to as Sweep.
- Galvatron's sporting a red Decepticon insignia when he calls in Trypticon.
- In the scene when Ravage and the other animal Mini-Cassettes eject from Soundwave, Cyclonus looks bigger than Galvatron due to wrong cel stacking (Galvatron should be on the background).
- As the Predacons start firing on the Dinobots while inside Trypticon, one of the glowing effects doesn't quite match up with Headstrong's horn as it should (he moves his horn to the right position a moment later).
- Restoring the energy to the Moon also appears to rearrange all the craters.
Continuity errors
- When summoning the Primitives, they forgot all about Laserbeak and Buzzsaw! Instead, Soundwave unleashes two new cassette Decepticons: Slugfest and Overkill...who are then never seen again. Gee. This didn't stop TV Magazine from proudly displaying them as if they were the stars of the episode though.
- Windcharger is seen running around on Cybertron, despite having been killed in The Transformers: The Movie. But hey, that happens all the time.
Transformers references
- This episode marks the last appearance of the Dinobots, Trypticon, Ravage, and Jazz in the western cartoon...bummer.
Trivia
- Unicron's origin is a bit...random.
- When Grimlock uses his flame breath on the Predacons and Terrorcons, they start to cough...cause that's what you do when you're being hit with fire reaching several hundred degrees.
- This is the first and only time in the cartoon Swoop fires his wing blasters.
- This episode seems to resolidify the Dinobots' position as freakishly powerful (which took a beating in Season 3), as Grimlock alone seems to be a match for three Terrorcons and two Predacons, and the only Autobot sent flying is Swoop, who takes a blast to the chest early on. Also, the Dinobots seem to handle Tornedron with the most finesse.
Home video releases
- VHS
1988 — Transformers — Call of the Primitives / The Girl Who Loved Powerglide (Tempo Video)
1989 — Transformers — Fight or Flee / Call of the Primitives (Tempo Video)
1992 — Transformers — Super Video (Tempo Video)
- Laserdisc
1999 — The Transformers: 2010 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
- DVD
2001 — The Transformers: 2010 — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2004 — The Original Transformers — Season 3 Part 2 & Season 4 (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers — Season 3 and Season 4 (Metrodome)
2004 — Transformers — Collection 5: Series 3.2 (Madman Entertainment)
2006 — Transformers — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome)
2006 — The Best of The Transformers (Madman Entertainment)
2007 — Transformers — The Classic Episodes (Metrodome)
2007 — The Transformers — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers — Season's Three & Four [sic] (Metrodome)
2009 — The Transformers — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — The Transformers — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)
2010 — The Transformers — Seasons Three & Four: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)
