Transformers Armada - reloaded.

[griffin]

For those yet to see Armada, or all of it, there are spoilers in here.

I got the entire Unicron trilogy (Armada, Energon, Cybertron) in the mail last week, and have started watching them from start to finish. I don't think I missed any Armada episodes first time around, but I do know I missed a few Energon episodes, because it was so boring.
That said, the next few weeks will be condensing about 4 years worth of Transformers for me, and I wanted to share, and get your comments and opinions too. And if anyone else has the series on DVD, have a re-watch and add your own comments as well.

Armada was another tangent for Transformers, like Beast Wars and Robots in Disguise before it. I remember seeing the first episode at BotCon 2002, as an advance sneak peek (they had only finished recording the voices the day before, and hadn't yet done the opening and closing credits). They also gave out a free deluxe toy and a free Minicon pack for each at the screening dinner. That advance release of the toys made those Armada figures more special for me, and drew me into Armada more than most other series did.

That special bond aside, the cartoon itself was a bit of a let down.

Most longtime (older) fans were a bit put off by the whole kiddie 'pokemon' theme to it - having to race around, hunting for Minicons. In some ways, Armada had a younger theme than Animated does, and which attracted the same responce by a lot of longtime (older) fans.

But it was a new series, and new concept, that led to a huge resurgence in Transformers as a whole, even though the cartoon itself appears to have been rushed. Or at least, the English dub of the cartoon, as it is riddled with errors. Mostly from different writers translating the episodes and not coordinating with the other writers.

The cartoon also utilises a LOT of stock footage, to reduce the workload on the animators.

I'm actually finding it more fun watching it 6 years later, probably because there isn't the big gap between each episode of a weekly screening. This way, the not-too-exciting cartoon isn't as drawn out, and I get to see more plot in a much shorter period of time.

Okay, I won't be doing reviews or anything too lengthy. Just some notes on each episode, that I have jotted down while having the episodes playing as I'm on the computer. Actually, with very little happening in each episode, the brief descriptions I give cover the main plot anyway.

Armada was just one season of 52 episodes, but was released in 2 parts with 26 episodes to each part, on four discs. It was still labelled 'season one' though, despite being the only season.

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Season 1, Part 1, Disc 1, Episodes 1-7.

1 - First Encounter
Basic Introduction of human characters and story premise.
Intro - Rad, Carlos, Alexis, Fred, Billy, Highwire, Megatron, Optimus Prime/Super Optimus.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-The narration of the openning back-story doesn't match the animation. The story has the war ending and the Minicons leaving, but the animation shows the war raging right until they leave.
-Difficult to believe that the Decepticons would have agreed to banishing the Minicons and their power.
-Just how much Cybertronian 'junk' has managed to crash on Earth, this one small planet in the universe, throughout all the history of Transformers?

Minicon count:
Autobots (1) - Highwire.
Decepticons (0) - (none).

2 - Metamorphosis
Introduction of main primary TFs characters.
Intro - Hotshot, Red Alert, Starscream, Cyclonus, Demolishor, Leader-1, Sureshot, Grindor.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Of all the hundreds of Minicons, Megatron just happens to find the one he was once paired with.
-Why would Decepticons, or Autobots even, have been partnered to one Minicon, if they are tools to be used and swapped at will?
-It was a mistake having the Minicons only communicating by beeps. It created inconsistency with how the kids understood them, and made it more confusing for the younger (and older) viewers.

Minicon count:
Autobots (3) - Highwire, Sureshot, Grindor.
Decepticons (1) - Leader-1.

3 - Base
Introductions amongst the cast, Laserbeak given to the kids.
Intro - Jolt, Longarm, Crumplezone (animation error?), Blackout, Laserbeak.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-I think the Minicon panel Cyclonus found, contained Blackout, and it was an animation error to have Crumplezone sitting on his shoulder while Blackout is being released. Because only one Minicon panel was recovered, and in the next episode, Cyclonus comments that he doesn't yet have one.
-If all Minicons are powerful, why doesn't anyone use Highwire, Sureshock and Grindor, or try to capture them? The cartoon strictly follows the toys pairings, as if each TF is only genetically compatable to a particular Minicon. And as such, certain TFs seem to be conveniently finding their old Minicons from thousands of years ago.
-The Autobot base is the remnants of the crashed Minicon Ship, but is in really good condition. The Decepticons are using the Minicon wreck on the Moon as their base, which is really trashed.
-The kids are given uniforms... what for?
-Optimus isn't very convincing in differenciating between the way Autobots and Decepticons would 'use' the Minicons for their war.

Minicon count:
Autobots (5) - Highwire, Sureshot, Grindor, Jolt, Longarm.
Decepticons (3) - Leader-1, Crumplezone, Blackout.

4 - Comrade
Hunt and release of Sparkplug in a giant canyon.
Intro - Sparkplug, Perceptor.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Jolt and Longarm were introduced last episode, but don't even appear to exist yet in this episode.
-Cyclonus says he doesn't yet have a Minicon, but had Crumplezone sitting on his shoulder in the last episode.
-Sparkplug is called Leader-1 by Optimus and Rad.
-Optimus also 'miraculously' manages to find the one minicon that he used to be partnered with. What are the odds of that happening, yet again?
-Hotshot is called Hotrod.
-Hotshot is trapped in car mode between boulders, but could have transformed to get out.
-Megatron 'introduces' his Minicon (again), as if it was not revealed or used before.
-Hotshot uses his front grabber claws without a Minicon, but it's the gimmick that requires a Minicon to activate.

Minicon count:
Autobots (6) - Highwire, Sureshot, Grindor, Jolt, Longarm, Sparkplug.
Decepticons (3) - Leader-1, Crumplezone, Blackout.

5 - Soldier
Hunt and retrieval of Jetstorm in Antarctica.
Intro - Prime's trailer command base, Jetstorm (not yet able to be released from its panel)
Errors/confusion/notes:
-The much colder deep space doesn't affect these guys, but the cold of the antarctic freezes up Optimus Prime's systems.
-Starscream should have transformed and grabbed the Minicon when he saw it, if he was that desperate for one, but flies off and fights Hotshot.
-Starscream can fly in robot mode, but has to hold onto the cliff-face, and falls into the crevas when knocked off.

Minicon count:
Autobots (7) - Highwire, Sureshot, Grindor, Jolt, Longarm, Sparkplug, (Jetstorm).
Decepticons (3) - Leader-1, Crumplezone, Blackout.

6 - Jungle
Hunt and release of Swindle in a forest. Starscream's treachery is more open now that he has a Minicon.
Intro - Swindle.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Sparkplug is called Leader-1 by Red Alert.
-Starscream is again mentioned as being the only Decepticon without a Minicon, so maybe Cyclonus does already have Crumplezone, and the discovery of Blackout's panel was not shown.
-Starscream names his Minicon, as if it isn't even sentient and has a name of its own.
-Episode has a big green/environmental message, with emphasis on protecting the forests and protecting the earth.
-Each Minicon is 'awakening' one at a time, but should all be coming online at the same time. Very convenient for the 'one per episode' structure.

Minicon count:
Autobots (7) - Highwire, Sureshot, Grindor, Jolt, Longarm, Sparkplug, (Jetstorm).
Decepticons (4) - Leader-1, Crumplezone, Blackout, Swindle.

7 - Carnival
Minicons at a carnival attract unwanted attention.
Intro - none.
Errors/confusion/notes:
-Swindle is called Grid by Starscream, which is the Japanese name.
-No actual conflict between TFs, but focusses on the human kids for the kiddy viewers.

Minicon count:
Autobots (7) - Highwire, Sureshot, Grindor, Jolt, Longarm, Sparkplug, (Jetstorm).
Decepticons (4) - Leader-1, Crumplezone, Blackout, Swindle.