This article is about the Armada cartoon episode. For the Armada comic story, see First Encounter!

Three ordinary children find themselves faced with robotic visitors from another world, and an extraterrestrial war on their own planet.

Synopsis

Cybertronian architecture was greatly influenced by the Inebriation Movement.

Eons ago, the Transformers were sent out as explorers, by a "unique digital entity". One of the first planets they inhabited was Cybertron. But the Transformers warred with one another over tiny robots named Mini-Cons, who were used as tools to boost power. Eventually the Mini-Cons were awakened by an internal protocol and joined forces to resist domination by either Autobots or Decepticons. After a long war, the Autobots and Decepticons called a truce. A craft was constructed for the Mini-Cons and blasted into space to stop them being used in another war. It traveled for millions of years until it collided with a moon; damaged, it crashed to the surface of the moon's parent planet. The Mini-Cons lay dormant for millions of years, as the planet's terrain shifted and changed around them...

In the present day, a boy named Rad narrates, introducing himself and his friend Carlos. They race to school (Rad wins) and meet a schoolmate named Alexis. Rad asks her if she wants to come with them to explore a cave, but she rejects him. They then meet and argue with two boys named Billy and Fred. They then head to class for the day. So far, an ordinary day...

way too bright!" "Darn it, Rad. Your nightlight istoo bright!"

After school Rad and Carlos race up the mountain to the cave. Billy and Fred follow them using a locator stuck to Rad's bike. The boys head into the cave, using a rope, and a trail of rocks to mark their path. Billy and Fred follow them at a distance, and accidentally destroy part of the trail; soon they are lost, having been scared by some bats.

While advancing deep into the cave, Carlos treads on a stone plate by accident. It begins to rapidly slide downwards, with the boys riding on top. At the bottom, the boys find themselves in a strange artificial building of an unknown purpose. There they discover a glowing green stone, in reality a Mini-Con storage panel, and Rad picks it up. This activates a beacon, which causes an earthquake.



"Strafe, those are LASERS."

"Oh." "When you wish upon a staaaaaar... makes no difference who you aaaaaaare...""Strafe, those are LASERS.""Oh."

Alexis notices the earthquake and heads off to investigate the cave. The beacon disables the Space Research Center's computers. Then the beacon is shown firing out of the cave, in three parts, one red, one purple and one green. The green part of it activates the spaceship wreckage on the Moon, causing Mini-Con panels across earth to activate. The other two portions of the beacon alert the Autobots and Decepticons on Cybertron to the location of the Mini-Cons. The best warriors of the opposing sides teleport to Earth to seek the Mini-Cons.

Hey you! The worst of your nightmares is coming!

Back on Earth the earthquake is over. Rad and Carlos exit the cave safe and sound. Suddenly they see a strange purple halo in the sky. Then the warp gate open with an immense robot inside. This is Megatron. In this moment Alexis shows up and tells the boys not to panic, but it is too hard for them... When Megatron moves towards Rad, the boy drops the panel; it activates, and High Wire emerges. High Wire scans Rad's bike and reformats himself so he can transform into a bicycle. The three kids ride High Wire to try and escape Megatron. But Megatron flicks a boulder at them which knocks them off the Mini-Con. Megatron blocks their path, claiming High Wire belongs to him, and demanding they return High Wire to him. But suddenly another giant robot teleports in and the two giants square off to battle.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Hey, we were just wondering if you wanted to come with us after school. We're heading up the mountain to scope out this wicked cave we found..."

"Sorry guys, but I'm gonna have to take a rain check. I've got a math test and I told my mom I'd come straight home. So for the last time, the answer's no!"

—Alexis uses the old "math test" excuse to blow off Rad.



Rad: "Is it just me, or do you get the distinct feeling that Little Miss Stuck-Up dissed us big time?"

Alexis: "I hope you realize I heard that, Rad!"

Carlos: "I tell you man; there's just no winning when it comes to girls, is there?"

—Rad and Carlos learn the eternal truth; women are difficult to comprehend.



"Would you hurry up? They've probably gone home already!"

"Hey! You don't have to yell at me, I got feelings too, ya know! I-I'm trying my hardest, but no, nothing's ever good enough for you!"

"Aw, quit your bellyaching!"

"My therapist says I don't have to take this from you because you're not the boss of me! Besides, I'm getting hungry again."

—Billy and Fred arrive at the cave Rad and Carlos are exploring.



"Ah, it would have had more fun if I'd brought my sister."

—Billy reflects on the company he keeps.



Megatron: "You have something of mine."

Alexis: "We have what?"

Megatron: "Give it back immediately, or you shall suffer the consequences."

Rad: "Oh...great."

Megatron: "I have given you your chance, Earthling."

—Megatron giving chances?! Unthinkable!





"Stand down, Megatron!"

—The line that made a room full of fans cheer at BotCon 2002, as Optimus Prime appears.

Notes

Differences with Micron Legend

The opening scene of Micron Legend lacks the opening narration featured in the Armada version of the episode. Consequently, the episode features no mentions of the Transformers' origins or the "unique digital entity", and there is no talk of a truce between the Autobots and Decepticons. Instead, what plays over the visuals is real-time dialogue taking the form of radio chatter, clarifying that what we are seeing is a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, with the former trying to keep back the latter until the Mini-Cons' ship can warp away to safety (flying directly in the face of Armada 's "truce" idea). Also, the Armada narrator says the Mini-Cons' ship takes millions of years to arrive at Earth, where Micron Legend gives no indication that the journey is anything other than instantaneous.

lacks the opening narration featured in the version of the episode. Consequently, the episode features no mentions of the Transformers' origins or the "unique digital entity", and there is no talk of a truce between the Autobots and Decepticons. Instead, what plays over the visuals is real-time dialogue taking the form of radio chatter, clarifying that what we are seeing is a battle between the Autobots and Decepticons, with the former trying to keep back the latter until the Mini-Cons' ship can warp away to safety (flying directly in the face of 's "truce" idea). Also, the narrator says the Mini-Cons' ship takes millions of years to arrive at Earth, where gives no indication that the journey is anything other than instantaneous. The aerial view of the changing topography of Earth that concludes the opening sequence is cut down and sped up in Armada .

. The scene of Rad and Carlos heading for school is silent in Micron Legend , lacking the narration that will come to characterize Rad. Instead, he introduces himself to the audience in the latter piece of narration about the Cosmoscope Research Center. Further, the idea that the boys were racing to school, and bumping fists over Rad's victory, is also something added for Armada , with them just brofisting for no apparent reason in Japanese.

, lacking the narration that will come to characterize Rad. Instead, he introduces himself to the audience in the latter piece of narration about the Cosmoscope Research Center. Further, the idea that the boys were racing to school, and bumping fists over Rad's victory, is also something added for , with them just brofisting for no apparent reason in Japanese. While Armada just has Rad and Carlos muttering about being dissed and not understanding girls, in Micron Legend , Rad talks about how Alexis was much closer to them when she was younger, and about how she's spending all her time studying to be class president now. Armada has her call back to them sarcastically as she walks away; she says nothing in Micron Legend .

just has Rad and Carlos muttering about being dissed and not understanding girls, in , Rad talks about how Alexis was much closer to them when she was younger, and about how she's spending all her time studying to be class president now. has her call back to them sarcastically as she walks away; she says nothing in . Billy and Fred spout fairly generic "bully" dialogue in Armada , while in Micron Legend , they specifically make teasing inquiries about what and where Rad and Carlos are planning to do and go, recalling the last time they went exploring in the woods. Throughout the episode, Armada makes Billy much more hostile towards Fred, and Fred far more pathetic and food-obsessed; these exaggerated traits will pretty much define the characters for the rest of Armada .

, while in , they specifically make teasing inquiries about what and where Rad and Carlos are planning to do and go, recalling the last time they went exploring in the woods. Throughout the episode, makes Billy much more hostile towards Fred, and Fred far more pathetic and food-obsessed; these exaggerated traits will pretty much define the characters for the rest of . In Armada , Fred's locator was a gift; in Micron Legend , he took it from his dad without asking.

, Fred's locator was a gift; in , he took it from his dad without asking. Armada has Alexis concerned for Rad and Carlos's safety, and when Megatron appears, she rattles off a list of instructions about keeping still so he doesn't spot them. In Micron Legend , she's just come to investigate the earthquake, and is equally as freaked out by Megatron.

has Alexis concerned for Rad and Carlos's safety, and when Megatron appears, she rattles off a list of instructions about keeping still so he doesn't spot them. In , she's just come to investigate the earthquake, and is equally as freaked out by Megatron. Instead of just agreeing to jump on High Wire as he does in Armada , in Micron Legend , Carlos wonders how three people can fit on a bike, with the jump-cut to the three of them being piled on being intended as a moment of comedy.

, in , Carlos wonders three people can fit on a bike, with the jump-cut to the three of them being piled on being intended as a moment of comedy. In Micron Legend , Rad reacts to his Mini-Con's transformation with the decision to name him "Wheelie", which is, of course, the character's name in Japan. As this wouldn't make any sense with the English name, Armada replaces the line with one from Alexis hoping the Mini-Con can outpace Megatron.

, Rad reacts to his Mini-Con's transformation with the decision to name him "Wheelie", which is, of course, the character's name in Japan. As this wouldn't make any sense with the English name, replaces the line with one from Alexis hoping the Mini-Con can outpace Megatron. A great precursor of things to come, Armada just really doesn't know how to deal with the idea of the kids being able to understand their Mini-Cons. In both versions of the show, Rad understands High Wire's request that they jump on; in response to Alexis's desire to go faster, however, Micron Legend has Rad accurately translate High Wire's response (that he's at maximum speed), while Armada has him unable to decipher the beeping. It will be close to the end of the series before the kids' ability to understand the Mini-Cons is explained and will partially require the Linkage comic for context (Mini-Cons' souls were essentially "split off" from humans' in the distant past, and so they operate on the same mental wavelength), but the Armada dub never got wise to this and the kids' ability to understand their partners in the English language version of the show comes and goes constantly.

just really doesn't know how to deal with the idea of the kids being able to understand their Mini-Cons. In both versions of the show, Rad understands High Wire's request that they jump on; in response to Alexis's desire to go faster, however, has Rad accurately translate High Wire's response (that he's at maximum speed), while has him unable to decipher the beeping. It will be close to the end of the series before the kids' ability to understand the Mini-Cons is explained and will partially require the comic for context (Mini-Cons' souls were essentially "split off" from humans' in the distant past, and so they operate on the same mental wavelength), but the dub never got wise to this and the kids' ability to understand their partners in the English language version of the show comes and goes constantly. Megatron dramatically identifies High Wire as a Mini-Con in Micron Legend, and the kids are amazed when he speaks. In Armada, he just demands that "something" be returned, and that's about it.

Animation and technical errors

The narrator at the beginning of this episode uses light-years as a unit of time measurement, when it's actually a unit of distance measurement. This mistake periodically reappeared throughout the Armada series as well as the Energon sequel series.

series as well as the sequel series. In the scene of Optimus grappling with Megatron, Rad is wearing a bike glove even though he's been barehanded since arriving at the cave.

Transformers references

First homage.

As an origin for the Transformers, the narrator describes a "unique digital entity" coming into being and sending out a race of living machines to explore the galaxy. Logically, this must have been intended to be a reference to Primus (who had not appeared in any cartoons at this point), but the typically-warped Armada dialogue makes it sounds as if the robots sent out by the entity find and colonize Cybertron, while—as fans would already know, and as would be revealed in the Energon cartoon—Cybertron was itself the body of Primus from which the robots were birthed. The idea of the Transformers being colonizers in their early days would—through presumable coincidence—be revisited and reaffirmed in the Cybertron cartoon, while the identity of the digital entity was explicitly confirmed as Primus by Ask Vector Prime in Transformers Animated: The AllSpark Almanac .

dialogue makes it sounds as if the robots sent out by the entity find and colonize Cybertron, while—as fans would already know, and as would be revealed in the cartoon—Cybertron was itself the body of Primus from which the robots were birthed. The idea of the Transformers being colonizers in their early days would—through presumable coincidence—be revisited and reaffirmed in the cartoon, while the identity of the digital entity was explicitly confirmed as Primus by Ask Vector Prime in . Many Generation 1 character models are used as generic Autobots and Decepticons during the scenes on Cybertron. This trend would continue throughout the series for all scenes with random Transformers set on Cybertron.

Generation 1 character models are used as generic Autobots and Decepticons during the scenes on Cybertron. This trend would continue throughout the series for all scenes with random Transformers set on Cybertron. This episode marks the first time that a variation of the original Generation 1 theme music was used as the main theme for a Transformers series since the original Transformers cartoon itself.





Trivia

Although the furigana is " deai ", the kanji 遭遇 would normally be pronounced as " souguu ". In the end, the meaning of "encounter" is still the same. " Deai " would be either "出合い" or "出会い".

", the kanji 遭遇 would normally be pronounced as " ". In the end, the meaning of "encounter" is still the same. " " would be either "出合い" or "出会い". Footage from the first few minutes of this episode was compressed down into 30 seconds to create the series' first title sequence.

Billy and Fred appear in this episode as recurring guest characters, but later become part of the regular human cast. According to Micron Densetsu Year Book 2003, the producers of the Armada series kept meaning to write Billy and Fred out of the series, but ultimately never got around to it. Their staying through to the end of the show was thus wholly unintentional.

Foreign localization

German

Title: " Die grüne Armada " ("The Green Armada")

" " ("The Green Armada") Original airdate: 1 December 2003



Hungarian

Title: "Az első találkozás" ("The First Encounter")



Polish

Title: "Pierwsze starcie" ("First Clash")



Portuguese

Title: "Primeiro Encontro" ("First Encounter")



French

Title: "La découverte" ("The discovery")



Russian

Title: "Pervoe znakomstvo" (Первое знакомство, "First Encounter")



Korean

Title: "사이버트론과의 만납" ("Meeting Cybertron")

Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

DVD

2003 — Transformers: Micron Legend — Volume 1 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.

2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:01 (Universal)

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.

2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)