In the interim, there was another anime
produced called Transformers: Car Robots. It was the final
entry of the Japanese-exclusive Generation
1 cartoon continuity. Set on Earth at the turn of the century, the evil
Gigatron (otherwise known as Megatron, voiced by Yōichi Kobiyama) led his
Destronger faction—an elite unit of Predacons—through
a dimensional fissure to conquer both our planet and Cybertron. Gigatron was
able to further bolster his ranks by taking protoforms (Autobot blank slates, basically the
first stage in their lifecycle), time-displaced from several decades in the
future, and converting them into Combatrons. Following them to foil their
schemes was Fire Convoy (otherwise known as Optimus Prime, voiced by Satoshi
Hashimoto) and his Autobot Dimensional Patrol. The anime debuted on TV Tokyo on April 5, 2000 and ran until that
December. It was the first Transformers anime to be animated by Animation Studio Gallop and Dong Woo Animation; replacing long-time franchise
animators Ashi Productions.
 |
| Transtech concept design for Silverbolt. |
 |
Megatron, aka Gigatron.
|
Transtech was eventually scrapped (although the name was recycled several times in
the franchise) due to the Beast Machines’ toyline’s
poor performance, the financial instability being experienced by the company at
the time, and the introduction of Brian Goldner as CEO, who wanted a “back to
basics” approach to the franchise. It was at this point that Hasbro decided to
work directly with Takara (now Takara
Tomy), the originators of the Transformers toys, to develop the next
entry together for the first time: Transformers: Armada. However, they
needed something to keep the franchise fresh in consumers’ minds while they
worked. It was decided to import one of the exclusive anime programs and its toyline
for the first time; settling on the recently-concluded Car Robots. This
would not only mark a return to the roots of the franchise with the Autobots
fighting the Decepticons
while using realistic modern Earth vehicle forms, but would be the first
cel-animated production after five years of strictly computer animation. It
would also be the first in this period to not feature a Canadian voice cast.
 |
| Optimus Prime. |
The localization, renamed Robots
in Disguise, took a slightly different approach to the story. In order to
stop Megatron (Daniel Riordan) and his Predacons from attacking Earth, Optimus
Prime (Neil Kaplan) and the Autobots hid themselves in secret among the human
population as common vehicles. Megatron’s opening salvo was to kidnap famous
scientist Dr. Kenneth Onishi (first name revealed in episode summaries, Daichi
Ohnishi in the anime, voiced by Shōji Izumi & Kirk Thornton), an
archaeologist and leading expert on energy (as well as train enthusiast), who
held the secret to the locations of ancient Cybertronian O-Parts on Earth. The Autobots would
eventually rescue Onishi with the aid of his son, Koji (Yūki in the anime,
voiced by Akikio Kimura & Jason Spisak), and the race was on to find the
remaining O-Parts and resurrect Fortress Maximus (Brave Maximus in the anime,
voiced by Masayuki Kiyama & Steve Blum)—an immense Autobot guardian hidden
on Earth to protect it from evil—before the Predacons.
 |
| The Autobot Brothers: Side Burn, Prowl and X-Brawn. |
Unlike other iterations of Transformers, the Optimus of Robots
in Disguise changed into firetruck rather than a semi. His team of Autobots
included several subgroups: the Autobot Brothers, Team Bullet Train, the Spychangers and the Build Team. The Autobot
Brothers were Optimus’ three most-trusted allies: X-Brawn (Wild Ride in the
anime, voiced by Masahiro Shibahara & Bob Joles), a rough-and-tumble cowboy
that turned into a Mercedes-Benz
ML320 SUV; Prowl (Mach Alert in the anime, voiced by Takayuki Kondō & Wayne
C. Lewis), a strict by-the-book police bot that took it upon himself to keep
everyone in line and turned into a Lamborghini Diabolo
police highway pursuit vehicle (painted in Japanese police ministry colors); and
Side Burn (Speedbreaker in the anime, voiced by Punch UFO & Wally Wingert),
who loved being lazy almost as much as sexy red sports cars, and turned into a Dodge Viper.
 |
| Team Bullet Train: Railspike, Midnight Express and Rapid Run. |
Team Bullet Train was a trio of
deep-cover operatives that took on the form of Shinkansen bullet trains: leader
Railspike (J-Five in the anime, voiced by Izumi & Mike Reynolds), who
always tried to lead by example and was often frustrated by his younger
teammates, turned into a 500 Series Nozomi; Rapid Run
(J-Seven in the anime, voiced by Eiji Takemoto & Keith Diamond), who was
the strongest of the three, cool-headed and sarcastic, and always ready for
action, turned into a 700 Series Hikari Rail Star;
and Midnight Express (J-Four in the anime, voiced by Naomi Matamura & David
Lodge), who was easily flustered and had a habit of getting lost and separated
from his teammates, transformed into an E4 Series “Max”. All
three could merge together to become the powerful Rail Racer (JRX in the anime,
also Izumi & Lodge).
 |
| The Spychangers (clockwise from top): Ironhide, R.E.V., Crosswise, W.A.R.S., Mirage and Hot Shot. |
The Spychangers were a special team
of stealthy ninjas: Hot Shot (Artfire in the anime, voiced by Takemoto & Michael
McConnohie), the leader with pyrokinetic abilities and a gruff, no-nonsense, duty-driven personality
that changed into a Porsche
959; R.E.V. (Race Exertion Vehicle, Eagle Killer in the anime, voiced by
Kizatomi Nimura & Steve Kramer), the tactical officer with superior leaping
skills that could change into a Lamborghini Diablo; Crosswise (X-Car in the
anime, voiced by Junichi Miura & Dan Woren), the gravity-manipulating
brains of the group that liked to keep busy maintaining and upgrading his
teammates when not researching the potential of Spark Engines (a device that
would be used to give many of the Autobots a super form that enhanced their
particular abilities), and transformed into a rear-engine concept sports car;
W.A.R.S. (Wicked Attack Recon Sportscar, simply Wars in the anime, voiced by
Riki Kitazawa & Blum), a belligerent and violent bot that could turn into Ford Thunderbird
stock car; Ironhide (Ox in the anime, voiced by Ōsuke Yoda &
McConnohie), the super strong and short-tempered transport expert that kept his
team well-supplied and could turn into a Ford F-150 pickup truck; and
Mirage (Counter Arrow in the anime, voiced by Ryō Naitō & Wingert),
Ironhide’s best friend—despite being a loner that preferred to work solo—that
could drive on almost any surface and make himself invisible, and turned into a
Lola T94 Indy Car.
 |
| The Build Team: Grimlock, Wedge, Hightower and Heavy Load. |
The Build Team were engineers and architects keeping Autobot technology
and their base functional. Wedge (Build Boy in the anime, voiced by Yūki Tamaki
& Michael Reisz) was the chief architect and designer of the Global Space Bridge the
Autobots used to teleport around the planet quickly. However, he was a hot-head
with a strong desire to prove himself in battle, often putting himself in
unnecessary harm. He transformed into a bulldozer. Heavy Load (Build Typhoon in
the anime, voiced by Yoshikazu Nagano & Darran Norris) was the most
powerful member of the team with incredibly thick armor and a proficiency in
martial arts. He turned into a dump truck. Hightower (Build Cyclone in the anime,
voiced by Masami Iwasaki & Joe Ochman) was the team’s marksman whose weapon
of choice, oddly, was an imprecise flamethrower, and who had an incredible
admiration for Wedge; acting as both his bodyguard and advisor. He turned into
a crane truck. Grimlock (Build Hurricane in the anime, voiced by Hiroki
Takahashi & Tom Wyner) was the team’s tactician, most seasoned warrior, and
whose rough-looking exterior belied his calm and upbeat demeanor. He turned
into a backhoe. The Build Team could all combine into the powerful Landfill (Build
King in the anime, also Tamaki & Reisz).
 |
| Skid-Z getting a celebratory shower. |
Not affiliated with any subgroup
were Skid-Z (Indy Heat in the anime, voiced by Jin Nishimura & Michael
Lindsay), a Penske PC-18
Indy Car who was extremely fast and extremely competitive with an
intense drive for victory, and Tow-Line (Wrecker Hook in the anime, voiced by
Iwasaki & Lex Lang), a tow truck with an almost compulsive desire to tow any
vehicle away he deemed as not adhering to human traffic laws (including
emergency vehicles on a call and children’s bikes). T-AI, or Tractical
Artifical Intelligence (Ai in the anime, voiced by Chieko Higuchi & Sandy
Fox), was the Autobots’ main computer system in their base that kept tabs on
events around the planet and coordinated the Autobot response to them. She
projected herself in hologram form as a human woman in a maroon Japanese police
uniform.
 |
| Ultra Magnus vs. Optimus Prime. |
They would eventually be joined by
Ultra Magnus (God Magnus in the anime, voiced by Takashi Matsuyama & Kim Strauss),
Optimus’ jealous brother who resented his being given the Matrix of Leadership
over him. He initially came to Earth to try and take it by force, but ended up
reluctantly joining the Autobots in the battle against the Predacons. He and
Optimus could combine into the doubly-powerful Omega Prime (God Fire Convoy in
the anime, voiced by Hashimoto & Riordan). Magnus’ alternate form was a car
carrier that could transport the Autobot Brothers.
 |
| Sky-Byte, Slapper and Dark Scream. |
Like
Optimus, Megatron forewent his usual transformation into a gun to take on
several forms: a giant bat, a two-headed dragon, a jet, a unique-looking racecar,
and a giant hand. Eventually, an accident at an ancient location would see
Megatron evolve into the more powerful Galvatron (Devil Gigatron in the anime).
Megatron’s forces initially consisted of the Predacons, including Slapper (Goosher
in the anime, voiced by Ryō Naitō & Peter Lurie), a stealthy dim-witted
thug with a cruel sense of humor that turned into a techno-organic toad; Gas Skunk (similarly Gaskunk in the anime,
voiced by Norio Imamura & Jerry DeCapua), a skilled inventor with extensive
knowledge of Cybertronian law and computer programming that often managed to
mangle large words when he spoke, was a bully and a coward, and turned into a
techno-organic skunk; Dark Scream (Guildo in the anime, voiced by Takahashi &
Blum), a skilled—but weak—swordsman useful for aerial transport and recon
(despite his poor flight skills) that turned into a techno-organic flying
squirrel; and Sky-Byte (Gelshark in the
anime, voiced by Konta & Peter Spellos), whose constant need for validation
from Megatron often undercut his intelligence and military prowess, and changed
into a techno-organic shark..
 |
| The Decepticons in vehicle mode being led by Scourge. |
Eventually, they were joined by the
Decepticons: Autobot protoforms corrupted by the darkness in Megatron’s spark.
Along with Scourge (Black Convoy in the anime, voiced by Taitem Kusunoki & Barry
Stigler), an evil doppelganger of Optimus (except he turned into a Western Star 4964 EX truck) with
ambitions of overthrowing Megatron, there were the Commandos: Mega-Octane (Dolrailer
in the anime, voiced by Holly Kaneko & Bob Papenbrook), the cool-headed
militaristic leader of the Decepticons that often had to keep hot-headed
Scourge at bay, and turned into a flatbed truck with a cannon; Ro-Tor (Hepter
in the anime, voiced by Masao Harada & Kaplan), arrogant and smarmy with
near-silent flight capabilities and amazing maneuverability in his alternate
form as a Kaman
Aerospace SH-2 Seasprite helicopter; Armorhide (Danger in the anime, voiced
by Kondō & Richard Epcar), an aggressive warrior that liked taking cover
under scorching hot sand and could become a Leopard 1A3 MBT tank;
Rollbar (Greejeeber in the anime, voiced by Riki Kitazawa & Lindsay), a
martial artist with more restraint in combat than his teammates that became a FMC XR311 combat support
vehicle; and Movor (Shuttler in the anime, voiced by Hidenori Konda & Robert
Axelrod), who was able to rain fire down from orbit with devastating results
(however very poor aim), thanks to his ability to become a space shuttle. The
Commandos could combine to form the deadly-efficient fighter Ruination (Baldigus
in the anime, also Kaneto & Papenbrook).
 |
| Koji talking to Optimus. |
Other characters included Dorie
Dutton (unnamed in the anime, voiced by Mariko Nagahama & Tiffanie
Christun, with Fox redubbing 1 episode), who was a reporter that typically
found herself in the midst of some robot activity; Carl (Kenta in the anime,
voiced by Mariko Nagahama & Joshua Seth) was one of Koji’s friends whose
father designed and built industrial machinery; Jenny (Miki in the anime,
voiced by Mami Fukai & Colleen O’Shaughnessey), another of Carl’s friends;
and Kelly (Junko Shiragami in the anime, voiced by Chieko Higuchi & Philece
Sampler), who was a bystander with the running gag of always having the bad
luck of having her day derailed by the Transformers’ battles. Kelly was never
audibly named on screen in the English dub; instead, her name was revealed on a
casting sheet released when the show premiered. However, in the Italian dub of
“Secret Weapon: D-5”, she mentioned her name in a moment of
self-congratulation. There was also Cerebros (Plasma in the anime, voiced by
Masayuki Kiyama & Steve Kramer), a mindless drone that was the key to
controlling Fortress Maximus, and Emissary (Brave in the anime), a robot whose
only function was to transform into Maximus’ head.
 |
| T-AI monitoring the situation. |
Transformers: Robots in Disguise
debuted on FOX on September 8, 2001 as
part of the final line-up of the Fox Kids programming block. Localization
was handled by Saban
Entertainment, who owned and programmed Fox Kids at the time. The English
dialogue was written by Kramer, Epcar, Wyner, McConnohie, Marc Handler and Matthew V. Lewis and largely
stuck to the intent of the original. Car Robots was aimed at a much
younger audience than Hasbro usually shot for and featured many typical anime
light-comedy tropes (exaggerated faces, giant drops of sweat, etc.). Robots
in Disguise kept some semblance that humor in place; however more cultural
humor was side-stepped and dialogue could differ wildly from the Japanese
scripts. Despite being technically a whole-new continuity for the franchise (the
very first reboot in its history), Hasbro employee Andrew Frankel often added
references to past Transformers series when scripts were submitted for
approval; creating some confusion for fans as to where exactly Robots in
Disguise fit into established canon (further confused by Takara clarifying
where Car Robots fit in to the overall Japanese Generation 1 continuity).
New music was composed by Deddy
Tzur, Paul Gordon, Glenn Lacey, David Hilker and John Costello, with the
international music and theme composed by Shuki
Levy and Haim Saban
(as Kussa Mahchi).
 |
| All-new CGI targeting overlay. |
Personalities for some of the
characters were entirely reworked. Dark Scream lost his samurai overtones to
become more of a thug. Megatron gained a theatrical flair and a tendency to
throw tantrums. Rapid Run was changed from a gruff, seasoned warrior into a
young, cool dude. Midnight Express went from being kid-like to an older fusspot
with an aristocratic air, to name a few. CGI enhancements were made to
episodes, including scene transitions based on the original Transformers cartoon
and display overlays from the point of view of a character targeting their
opponent.
 |
| Gaskunk carries away Kelly in her bomb-laden sports car. |
Other edits came about as the result of unfortunate timing. Shortly
after the series premiered, the United States was hit by the September 11
terrorist attacks. The episode “An Explosive Situation”, which dealt with a
terrorist’s bomb, never aired again. “Battle Protocol!”, which featured the
destruction of New York City buildings, had those sequences edited out. References
to a plutonium energy generator exploding if attacked in “Spychangers to the
Rescue” were altered to have the reactor instead threatening to crack open and
release a gas harmful to the robots (they also took advantage of the redub to
fix a line, add a line and remove a scene where a deflected missile destroys a
truck). Additionally, episodes were quickly redubbed to remove any mention of
terrorism or similar phrases. The episodes “Attack from Outer Space”,
“Landfill” and “Sky-Byte Saves the Day” were deemed unsalvageable and never
aired in the United States as a result; first premiering in Canada and the
United Kingdom instead. Three clip shows were cobbled together to fill in the
holes left by the missing episodes (Car Robots also had three clip show
episodes, but Robots in Disguise never used them). As the series was
initially airing six days a week, these new edits meant that the episodes aired
out-of-order. The afflicted episodes were largely the ones that dealt with the
ongoing O-Parts plotline.
 |
| Fortress Maximus. |
A cute version of Optimus and
Megatron were planned for inclusion in the kid-friendly Robot Heroes
toyline in 2009, but were ultimately scrapped. Optimus, Prowl, Side Burn,
Landfill, Ultra Magnus, Ironhide, Omega Prime and Ruination were included in
the Transformers:
Universe comic between 2003-04; one of three produced by 3H Productions as part of the
Official Transformers Collector’s
Club. Based on the
toyline of the same name that was rereleases of prior figures from various
lines, and was released annually during The Official Transformers Collectors
Convention. Two script
readings based on those stories were also conducted, with actors from
various Transformers franchises reprising their respective roles. Optimus
and Prowl made cameo appearances in Dreamwave Productions’
Transformers
Armada #17 in 2003, and Optimus alone had a cameo in Transformers:
Requiem of the Wreckers Annual from IDW Publishing in 2018. Dreamwave’s 20th
Anniversary Transformers Summer Special released in 2004 was an
anthology featuring stories from various incarnations, including Robots
in Disguise. Through it, readers were given a chance to vote for
a Robots in Disguise or Beast Wars mini-series to be published
the following year (Beast Wars won the vote, but Dreamwave’s closing
kept it from ever being published). The Build Team would appear in a crowd shot
of IDW’s Transformers:
Lost Light #2 in 2017. Many of the characters would also appear in
various entries of the Transformers:
Timelines series by Fun Publications and
throughout the 2005 IDW
continuity.
 |
| Megatron vs. Landfill. |
Maximum
Entertainment, in association with Jetix,
released the complete series in the United Kingdom across various volumes.
Initially planning to release the series 2-discs at a time, they abandoned the
plan after Volume
One and released the entire show across two 3-disc sets from 2004-05.
In 2007, tying into the release of the live-action film, they released three
single-disc sets containing two episodes each, later combining them into one mega
pack. The first 2007 release, Battle Protocol, was included in a
3-disc set that included episodes from RoboCop:
The Animated Series and M.A.S.K. The second
release, Evil
Intent, was included in another set with episodes from Ninja
Turtles: The Next Mutation and Action Man (2000). The original
2004-05 releases were rereleased in 2007 with new artwork; the 2-disc set
called Special
Edition and the 3-disc sets called Season
One and Season
Two, respectively. The latter two were combined the following year into
the Ultimate
Collection.
 |
| Galvatron vs. Omega Prime. |
Stormovie handled the home media
releases in Italy, which included all-new opening and ending themes (the
western and Japanese ones were included as special features). The first 16
episodes were released across four volumes in 2005. Episodes 1, 2, 14, 16 and
19 were combined and released as Transformers:
Robots in Disguise II Film in 2007. Later, episodes 29-30, 32-33 and
37-39 were combined into Robots in Disguise II Film: Battaglia Finale. As
for the United States, Robots in Disguise remains the only
American-broadcast Transformers series to not even be partially released
to home video. This was likely due to Disney’s
acquisition
of Fox Family Worldwide from Saban in 2001, which would include their dub
of the series. While Saban would later reclaim some
of their library from Disney in 2010 and 2012, Robots in Disguise likely
wasn’t one of them. It remains the only English-language series not completely
owned by Hasbro. EPISODE GUIDE:
“Battle Protocol! (First Deployment! Fire Convoy)” (4/5/00
JAP, 9/8/01 US) – Koji joins the Autobots in rescuing his father from the
Predacons, who kidnap him for his work with energy.
“An Explosive Situation (High-Speed Battle! Gelshark)”
(4/12/00 JAP, 9/10/01 US) – Sky-Byte approaches the Predacons with a solution
to their power troubles: steal an energy bomb planted in a sports car in the
city.
“Bullet Train to the Rescue (Combine! Bullet Train Robo)”
(4/14/00 JAP, 9/11 & 9/12/01 US*) – The Predacons target various trainlines
with bombs, and Optimus brings in the Autobot Brothers and Team Bullet Train to
help stop them.
*Aired earlier in select markets and widely the following
day.
“Spychangers to the Rescue (Ninja Robo! The Spychangers
Enter)” (4/26/00 JAP, 9/13/01 US) – T-AI calls in the Spychangers to help the
Autobots keep the Predacons from making off with a plutonium energy generator.
“The Hunt for Black Pyramid (Resolute Jump! Mach Alert)”
(5/3/00 JAP, 9/14/01 US) – The Predacons decide to tap into the underwater
Black Pyramid for power just as Koji and Dr. Akase prepare to explore it.
“The Secret of the Ruins (Gigatron’s Raid!)” (5/10/00 JAP,
10/11/01 US) – Megatron launches an attack on the city in order to draw out the
Autobots and keep them from interfering in Sky-Byte’s mission at some ancient
ruins.
“Sideburn’s Obsession (Speedbreaker’s Crisis!)” (5/17/00
JAP, 9/15/01 US) – The Predacons use Side Burn’s taste in cars to lure him into
a trap to serve as bait for a trap for Optimus.
“Secret Weapon: D-5 (Mysterious Weapon! D5)” (5/24/00 JAP,
9/17/01 US) – Stealing a disk from Dr. Onishi leads the Predacons to believe an
old steam locomotive has some kind of significance they can take advantage of.
“Mirage’s Betrayal (Counterarrow’s Betrayal!?)” (5/31/00
JAP, 9/18/01 US) – Mirage turns the tables on the Predacons by taking advantage
of a listening device the plant on him during a heist.
“Skid Z’s Choice (Out of Control! Indy Heat!)” (6/7/00 JAP,
9/19/01 US) – Assuming his alternate form causes newcomer Skid-Z to become
obsessed with racing, necessitating the Autobots to find and fix him.
“Tow-Line Goes Haywire (Parking Violation! Wrecker Hook)”
(6/14/00 JAP, 9/20/01 US) – New Autobot recruit Tow-Line is captured by the
Predacons and reprogrammed to believe his friends are the enemy.
“The Ultimate Robot Warrior (The Ultimate Extreme! The Large
Buddha Statue Transformer)” (6/21/00 JAP, 9/21/01 US) – Believing a movie
Transformer is real, the Predacons set out to capture it and add it to their
ranks.
“Hope for the Future (Gigatron’s Ambitions Revealed!)”
(6/28/00 JAP, 10/26/01 US) – The Autobots review their encounters with the
Predacons thus far to try and predict their next target.
“The Decepticons (Friend? Foe!? Black Convoy)” (7/5/00 JAP,
9/22/01 US) – A downed UFO ends up containing 6 protoforms, which the Predacons
take and program into their new allies: the Decepticons.
“Commandos (5-Body Combination! Baldigus)” (7/12/00 JAP,
9/24/01 US) – The Decepticons plan to destroy Sherman Dam, and to make Scourge
look bad Sky-Byte plans to disguise his team as Autobots to stop him.
“Volcano (En Garde! Two Convoys!)” (7/19/00 JAP, 9/25/01 US)
– Megatron sends his minions to investigate a volcano that could be used to
make Energon cubes, but a fight between Sky-Byte and Scourge ends up causing an
eruption.
“Attack from Outer Space (Aiming from Space! Shuttler!!)”
(7/26/00 JAP, 1/12/02 CAN) – Intent on finding the Autobots’ base, Megatron
sends Movor into space in place of the actual space shuttle.
“The Test (Awaken to Righteousness! Black Convoy)” (8/2/00
JAP, 9/26/01 US) – The Autobots put the Decepticons to the test when they come
around claiming to want to join them.
“The Fish Test (Secret Strategy! Gelshark)” (8/9/00 JAP,
9/27/01 US) – Jealous Scourge scored better in a test than him, Sky-Byte leaks
his plans to the Autobots but ends up humiliated when Scourge strikes elsewhere.
“Wedge’s Short Fuse (Hot-Blooded Warriors! Buildmasters)”
(8/16/00 JAP, 9/28/01 US) – Wedge makes a deal with Optimus to let the Build
Team fight the Predacons, but they all end up falling right into a Predacon trap.
“Landfill (Four-Body Combination! Build King)” (8/23/00 JAP,
6/22/02 UK) – The Decepticons sabotage the Transformer’s Space Bridge so that
it will send the Autobots to the wrong locations.
“Sky-Byte Saves the Day (Friend of Righteousness? Gelshark)”
(8/30/00 JAP, 6/23/02 UK) – Sky-Byte wants to topple a building for notoriety,
but ends up needing to save it when his unintended hostages could land him all
of the O-Parts.
“A Test of Metal (Targeted Buildmasters)” (9/6/00 JAP,
9/29/01 US) – The Build Team sabotages the Space Bridge so that they will be
the only ones able to fight the Decepticons after being challenged.
“Ultra Magnus (Enter! God Magnus)” (9/13/00 JAP, 10/6/01 US)
– Ultra Magnus comes to Earth for Optimus’ Matrix, but ends up saving the
Autobot Brothers from a Decepticon ambush instead.
“Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion! (Forced Combination! God Fire
Convoy)” (9/20/00 JAP, 10/13/01 US) – Magnus pretends to come to Optimus’
rescue from the Decepticons but instead attempts to absorb Optimus into himself
to get the Matrix.
“Lessons of the Past (Assemble! New Warriors)” (9/27/00 JAP,
12/14/01 US) – Optimus, T-AI and Koji review their past encounters with the
Decepticons in order to anticipate their next move.
“The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus (Stalemate! 3 Car Robo
Brothers)” (10/4/00 JAP, 10/20/01 US) – Megatron orders Sky-Byte to recruit Magnus
to their side, and Magnus accepts…as an Autobot spy.
“Power to Burn! (Invoke! Double Matrix)” (10/11/00 JAP,
10/19/01 US) – Optimus has the Autobot Brothers keep tabs on Magnus while
Scourge attempts to recruit him for help in overthrowing Megatron.
“Fortress Maximus (Arise! Cybertron City)” (10/18/00 JAP,
10/27/01 US) – Dr. Onishi discovers a new power source in newly discovered
ancient ruins, and the Cybertronians race to claim it first.
“Koji Gets His Wish (JRX Versus Baldigus)” (10/25/00 JAP,
11/3/01 US) – While Optimus and Magnus are busy with Scourge at the ruins,
Sky-Byte kidnaps Dr. Onishi to reveal the nature of the power within.
“A Friendly Contest (Gelshark’s Trap)” (11/1/00 JAP,
11/10/01 US) – While competing with Side to see who can find the most O-Part
fragments, Wedge is captured and held hostage by Megatron.
“Peril from the Past (The Final Key? Farewell, Ai)” (11/8/00
JAP, 11/17/01 US) – The assembled O-Ring leads the Autobots to the Orb of
Sigma, which Dr. Onishi discovers is used to unlock Fortress Maximus.
“Maximus Emerges (Stolen Plasma)” (11/15/00 JAP, 2/16/02 US)
– Scourge attempts to pose as Optimus to control Fortress Maxmimus, but it ignores
his orders and goes on a rampage through the city.
“The Human Element (The Mystery of Brave Maximus)” (11/22/00
JAP, 2/23/02 US) – Scourge discovers a human component is needed to control
Fortress Maximus and uses Kelly’s DNA to finally take control of it.
“Mystery of the Ultra Magnus (Gelshark’s Blues)” (11/29/00
JAP, 3/30/02 US) – The Decepticons review archival footage to find a way to
defeat Ultra Magnus.
“Mistaken Identity (Black Convoy’s Ambition)” (12/6/00 JAP,
3/2/02 US) – Carl ends up abducted by the Decepticons when they mistake him for
Koji.
“Surprise Attack! (Brave Maximus’s Rise!)” (12/13/00 JAP,
3/9/02 US) – Galvatron leads an attack on the Autobots’ base and possesses a
new weapon that may even be too powerful for Maximus.
“Galvatron’s Revenge (Counterattack! Devil Gigatron!)”
(12/20/00 JAP, 3/16/02 US) – Galvatron absorbs energy from Maximus and sends
duplicates of himself around the world to take children hostage to control future
generations.
“The Final Battle (Final Battle! Fire Convoy)” (12/27/00
JAP, 3/23/02 US) – Omega Prime challenges Galvatron to a battle at the Earth’s
core while Koji attempts to enlist the aid of the planet’s children to beat
him.
