This article is about the cartoon episode. For the Legends event, see Only Human (Legends).

When several Autobots interfere with his "business", a powerful crime lord has their minds placed into synthoid bodies, with the help of the strangely familiar "Old Snake".

Synopsis

Doing a crossover... in style!

As buildings explode across the futuristic cityscape of New York City, Springer attempts to save as many people as he can. At the docks, crime lord Victor Drath's men, led by Dutch, attempt to steal a canister of newtronium. Rodimus and Ultra Magnus stop them; however, Dutch shoots the canister which explodes in Rodimus's hands, allowing the criminals to escape in their flying car.

Tired of the Autobots interfering with his operations, Drath contacts the mysterious Old Snake, who apparently ran some kind of terrorist organization in the past. Drath purchases Old Snake's assistance and technology, setting up a laboratory at his home. Lured to the laboratory, Rodimus, Ultra Magnus, Arcee and Springer are trapped and their minds transferred into newly created synthoid human bodies. While the human Autobots are taken away to be disposed at the junk yard, Snake suggests that Drath can make use of the Autobots' former robot bodies.



"What? Huh?"

"Nevermind." "Hey Arcee, biologically we can...you know.""What? Huh?""Nevermind."

The four Autobots manage to escape from the crusher in the junk yard before they're pulverised. They find clothing in a nearby building and swiftly realize what has happened. They split up—Magnus and Arcee decide to attempt to contact Autobot City while Rodimus and Springer go after Drath. Once the pair reaches Drath's house, Rodimus attempts to draw the guards away, but is wounded. He is given refuge by Drath's girlfriend Michelle. Springer spots Drath's men taking the Autobots' robot bodies for a test drive, taking the opportunity to rob a jewellery store. He is offers to help operate his old body, claiming that he has experience with heavy machinery, and gains the thugs' confidence.

Meanwhile Arcee and Ultra Magnus are having no luck contacting the police chief they'd worked with after the earlier bombings. They notice a nearby warehouse is owned by Drath and break in, discovering it's full of weapons. Unfortunately Arcee trips a silent alarm, and they're interrupted by thugs driving their old bodies. Magnus threatens them with a grenade, giving Arcee time to escape on a stolen motorcycle, but he is captured by Dutch a short time later.



- Yeah, caffeine is very bad, honey! - Coffee in bed, sir?- Yeah, caffeine isbad, honey!

Rodimus shares breakfast with Michelle, who confides that she knows who he is, but will help him get into Drath's house. Arcee makes it to Autobot City, but the human security guards don't believe her story and instead place her in detention. Rodimus and Michelle enter Drath's home... only for Drath's men to spring the trap which Michelle has lured him into. Drath tells Rodimus that Snake has come up with a new plan — load the Autobots' robot bodies with explosives and use them to blow up Autobot City. Springer discovers the plan as well, when he drives his robot body to pick up the explosives. He and Ultra Magnus liberate both his old body, though it is damaged in the escape. The three remaining Autobot forms are dispatched for Autobot City.

Rodimus manages to get free of the goons and take down Drath himself. Drath gloats that Autobot City is still doomed. Indeed, Drath's thugs are nearing the city in the three purloined Autobot forms. Springer and Ultra Magnus fly Springer's robot form to catch up with the other three Autobots en route to Metroplex. Knowing that the Autobots in the city won't realize three Trojan horses are coming until it's too late, Ultra Magnus tells Springer to attack the city himself. Their firing on Metroplex alerts the inhabitants, and Blaster has time to activate the city’s defenses and waylay the oncoming Autobots.

Later, after the Autobots have put together the pieces, Perceptor rigs the equipment at Drath's former hideout and transfers Rodimus Prime and the other's minds back to their rightful place. When asked about their adventure, Rodimus gives extra consideration to Michelle as she's led away along with Drath's other men. Meanwhile, safely away, Old Snake muses to himself how they just don't make terrorists like they used to. He also tries to yell out the rallying cry of his former organization but breaks down into coughing, so it's absolutely impossible to tell what group he used to run.



Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"We will deal with the Autobots as we would any other impediment to business."

"Yer gonna ICE them robots?!"

—Victor Drath and Dutch talk business



"Yer 'trash' got up an' took a hike before I could squash 'em!"

—Junkyard goon



Victor Drath: Does that technology still exist, Snake? Is it for sale?

"Old Snake": This is the world, Mr. Drath. Everything is for sale.



—Often from toy companies!



"The Path to True Humanity! Only $4.95, tax deductible!"

[Springer shoves him aside]

"Sorry, pal, I'm a robot at heart. ...Terrific. I already need a shave."

—Street proselytizer and humanized Springer



Springer: Need a hand? I, uh...operate heavy equipment.

Goon #1: Uh...yeah.

Goon #2: But dere's only room for two in here!

[#1 boots #2 out the hatch]

Goon #1: Yeah! Yer right!

—Springer gets a lift from his own body.



"Don't think for a moment that I haven't the nerve to use this—I have!"

—Even humanized, Ultra Magnus is a badass.



"What's this?"

"It's called breakfast, dummy."

"Mph. Smells better than it tastes."

—Humanized Rodimus discovers coffee, courtesy of Michelle



"Snake pointed out to me a problem with eliminating only the four of you...namely, an entire city of Autobots who might be tempted to vengeance. I believe in solutions, not problems. You can watch the destruction of Metroplex before you die."

—Victor Drath rubs Rodimus's nose in it.





"Well, did you enjoy your sojourn, Rodimus?"

"Maybe a little too much, Perceptor."

—Perceptor innocently asks a very loaded question of Rodimus, as the camera pointedly zooms in on Michelle.



"Poor Mr. Drath. Not quite smart enough, were you? They simply don't make terrorists like they used to! COOOOOBRA-ha-*hackcoughcoughcough*"

—"Old Snake" gets away scot-free.

Notes

Continuity notes

Or maybe Old Snake was eating Cheet-os and the animators miscolored his fingers.

Synthoids originally appeared in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero episodes "The Synthoid Conspiracy" and "There's No Place Like Springfield".

episodes "The Synthoid Conspiracy" and "There's No Place Like Springfield". Throughout the episode, Old Snake's fingers, visible through his torn-up gloves, are colored yellow and occasionally detailed with scales. This fits in with the timeline of the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero animated series, as in G.I. Joe: The Movie , Cobra Commander was mutated into a yellow-scaled snake-man and then an actual cobra. He was eventually restored to his yellow-scaled snake-man form in the G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero episode "Operation: Dragonfire, Day 2", though that episode aired three years after this one. Regardless, hey, with this episode taking place in "the future", that means the continuity works out!

animated series, as in , Cobra Commander was mutated into a yellow-scaled snake-man and then an actual cobra. He was eventually restored to his yellow-scaled snake-man form in the episode "Operation: Dragonfire, Day 2", though that episode aired three years this one. Regardless, hey, with this episode taking place in "the future", that means the continuity works out! This episode, along with "Forever Is a Long Time Coming" and "Madman's Paradise", is one of the few episodes to not feature Decepticons. In fact, this episode marks the only time in the G1 cartoon where all of the antagonists are human (or humanoid). Of course, they still get the Decepticon logo during the scene transitions.

Gadgets and powers: Springer can deploy his arms while still in helicopter mode.

More than most, this episode plays up the "futuristic" aspect of the show's 2006 setting, with flying cars, crazy looking non-flying cars with sci-fi engine sounds, humans with laser guns, and New York's crazy huge Jetsons buildings.

It also paints a picture of a close alliance between the humans and the Autobots. The Autobots are working directly with the NYPD, and have a load of humans helping to staff Autobot City (something not seen in any other episode).

This episode might answer a question Bumblebee asked at the end of the Season 2 episode "Autobot Spike" about what would happen if an Autobot's mind were placed in a human's body.

Real world references

Though never called out by name, the episode is set in and around a futuristic New York City. Badly drawn versions of the Empire State Building and the World Trade Center towers can be glimpsed in the opening shot - absolutely dwarfed by the crazy future buildings behind them - and "NYPD" markings on the first police hovercar can also be glimpsed.

by the crazy future buildings behind them - and "NYPD" markings on the first police hovercar can also be glimpsed. This episode uses a number of common cartoon sound effects for helicopter rotors and laser beams that had not been heard on Transformers before... but which were very common on its contemporary competitor, Challenge of the GoBots .

before... but which were very common on its contemporary competitor, . Star Wars sound effects: The C-3PO "NO!" laser effect is used as the Rodimus-mecha blasts Springer, and again for all the shots coming from Autobot City.

sound effects:

Animation and technical errors

This episode is animated by the same unidentified studio who AKOM sub-contracted to produce "Starscream's Ghost." As in that episode, early, outdated character models are used plentifully and consistently: Rodimus, Kup, Arcee, and Springer all appear with their early designs for the duration of the episode

Like in a lot of AKOM episodes, the inside of Ultra Magnus's mouth is often blue.

Throughout their time as piloted mecha, the Autobots' bodies are huge .

. The glow effect from the fire engine's flashing light isn't aligned with the light itself.

During the rescue at the start, Springer, in helicopter mode, somehow catches a falling human on his nose, despite the fact the human would have to pass through his spinning rotors. A few shots later, his arms separate from his helicopter body without the transformation sound effect. He extends his arms to rescue two trapped humans, but folds them away again before the explosion that knocks him down has even started.

As the trapped couple watches Springer crash, they're floating slightly above the ledge they're supposed to be sitting on.

At the docks, Magnus transforms to his full robot mode from just his cab, leaving his trailer sitting behind him! Rodimus does the same thing, though the cartoon was less consistent on whether or not his trailer is a separate component.

As he runs up to the waterfront, Rodimus' spoiler is all-yellow when it should be orange in the middle. This error occurs throughout the episode.

Old Snake wasn't "pacing," as his subordinate said. When Drath finds him, he appears to be sitting on a curb.

Old Snake's yellow fingers are inconsistently detailed; sometimes having a scaly texture and sometimes simply being smooth.

"Still amused, Springer?" - Ultra Magnus's mouth doesn't move. Neither does Rodimus for his subsequent "This way!" line.

Magnus physically shrinks as the mind-transfer helmet thing comes down onto his head. He's also got a lot of miscolored bits - gray cheekguards that should be blue, red torso-top that should be blue, and missile-launcher fronts that are red instead of white.

as the mind-transfer helmet thing comes down onto his head. He's also got a lot of miscolored bits - gray cheekguards that should be blue, red torso-top that should be blue, and missile-launcher fronts that are red instead of white. The commercial bumpers have a couple extra seconds' worth of music.

"As the humanized Autobots plan their first move, Rodimus is drawn mouthing Magnus's lines.

Despite being human, there are occasions when the Autobots' voices are still synthesized to sound robotic.

"And risk our both getting caught?" - Rodimus' mouth isn't moving.

When Old Snake first has the Autobots transform, Hot Rod is drawn in place of Rodimus, transforming into his trailer-less sports car mode. He's still colored like his older self, though.

When human Springer offers to pilot his robot form, the guy saying there's only room for two is on the right, then the shot changes and he's on the left.

When human Springer climbs into his robot form, his crotch clips over a control rod.

Drath throws open a window shade, dazzling Rodimus with the sunlight - but it's shown as though some sort of laser rays are striking him. They even get a sound effect. Haven't the animators ever seen sunlight before?

As Drath views a video of Arcee and Ultra Magnus, in vehicle mode, outside his warehouse, Magnus is missing his missile launchers.

As the vehicle modes of Springer and Rodimus pull up to Drath's warehouse, Rodimus is drawn with Hot Rod's vehicle mode again.

When Springer grabs the map of Autobot City (which isn't much of a map), his glove is brown, but the next shot shows it (correctly) in white.

As Springer and Magnus escape, Springer's body converts from car to helicopter without the transforming sound, or even any visible transformation sequence.

Drath sees a video of Springer escaping and crashing... but doesn't react to anything till the video randomly changes to the other Autobots still sitting outside the warehouse.

After Rodimus kicks Drath and prepares to slug him: Rodimus mouths Drath's "Go ahead" line. The display shows Magnus' cab with blue on top instead of all-white, and Rodimus's vehicle form without his trailer. And in today's episode of Improbable Viewpoints, how does Drath get that traveling head-on view of the three Autobots driving down the road?

When Blaster sees the first three Autobots approaching Autobot City, Springer is shown instead of Arcee.

Blaster's voice is way over synthesized.

Arcee mouths part of Blaster's dialogue in her cell.

Blaster has one big switch instead of three individual ones in a few shots.

Perceptor is shown cheering for the returning Autobots. His chest is red instead of white, and his Autobot logo is framed in black instead of white (throughout the episode). Next to him, Grimlock's chest is white instead of gold. The next shot shows Kup, Perceptor and Grimlock in a much smaller opening than they were in previously.

When Magnus presses the firing button, the button's glow effect is layered in front of his finger.

As Blaster observes Springer opening fire on Autobot City, the laser beams are coming right out of the screen.

Sudden starry night: Springer encounters the street proselytizer by daylight... but once he encounters Drath's goons just a moment later, the rest of the scene happens in the nighttime. Night sky behind a shot of some guns and turrets as Autobot City finishes transforming. And again as Springer draws the Autobots' fire toward the other non-Autobots.

Blaster and another Autobot are shown standing on the transformed city; Blaster was at his control station like two seconds ago. Also, what happened to all those big servos and switches that had to be activated last time? Here, Blaster just pushes one button and the whole city transforms.

Springer is briefly layered in front of Rodimus Prime's vehicle mode as he draws the Autobots' fire.

Springer crashes on a concrete road, then is shown on a dirt path leading to Autobot City.

Magnus is inexplicably in truck mode when the Autobots are about to be restored.

Perceptor vanishes from the scene as the Autobots leave Drath's house, replaced by Magnus and Springer.

As the Autobots leave Drath's house, a doorway (with outer space behind it) is seen behind them. They were in an enclosed room.

Continuity errors

Michelle’s motivation is a little murky. She seems genuinely upset when the Autobots are supposedly killed by Drath, and later she saves Rodimus from his pursuers—yet later, she happily turns him over to Drath. Was she actually attracted to Rodimus and changed her mind, or was she just luring him into a trap all along? If she was working for Drath from the get-go, why didn’t she just let his men capture him when they asked for him earlier? It couldn’t have been because she wanted to snuggle with Rodimus that night, could it? This is a children’s show, you know.

The Autobots adapt to being human REALLY easily. Other than Springer needing a shave, there’s very little attention paid to the new problems with suddenly being biological. Shouldn’t the Autobots have problems understanding such concepts as going to the bathroom or breathing? Then again, that stuff veers into uncomfortable territory. This is a children’s show after all.

In hindsight, just what was Victor Drath’s plan with the Autobots? He obviously has no trouble capturing the Autobots on his own, but purchased the synthoid equipment and went through all the trouble to set it up anyway to transfer the Autobots' minds into human bodies which he would simply dispose of. He also is going to take their former robot bodies and also simply dispose of them. It’s Ol’ Snake that gives him the idea actually to use the robot bodies. Why couldn’t he just capture the Autobots and simply dispose of them intact? Then again, maybe that’s overthinking it. This is a...well, you know.

Where is the Matrix during all this body-switching anyway?

It's a bit of a stretch that Michelle was able to recognize Rodimus "by the look in his eyes" - not only has he gone from being a robot to being a human, she only saw him operational for a few seconds! (Things like him saying "Circuits shorted" and not recognizing coffee might be bigger hints.)

Trivia

Ultra Magnus didn't want to admit he wanted the pink overalls.

Rodimus the Terminator.

I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.

In general, this episode is really rushed, storywise. Scenes are raced through at a pretty breakneck pace, and on the whole, there's a tremendous sense of the episode having to hold back from actually doing anything with the potential-laden concept of the Autobots becoming human. Many of the ideas in the episode only seem half-developed, and what few subtleties do manage to break through the constant hurtle towards the final scene are often blunted by the complete lack of even just a reflective second or two to let them sink in; the final few minutes of the episode in particular are a collection of brief, perfunctory, checklist-ticking scenes surrounded by noisy scene transitions that don't even last 30 seconds each. The episode really cries out to be a two-parter, which is a real shame, since the annotations for the episode included amongst the original documentation featured on Metrodome's DVDs suggest that the production staff were really excited and enthusiastic about it.

rushed, storywise. Scenes are raced through at a pretty breakneck pace, and on the whole, there's a tremendous sense of the episode having to hold back from actually anything with the potential-laden concept of the Autobots becoming human. Many of the ideas in the episode only seem half-developed, and what few subtleties do manage to break through the constant hurtle towards the final scene are often blunted by the complete lack of even just a reflective second or two to let them sink in; the final few minutes of the episode in particular are a collection of brief, perfunctory, checklist-ticking scenes surrounded by noisy scene transitions that don't even last 30 seconds each. The episode really cries out to be a two-parter, which is a real shame, since the annotations for the episode included amongst the original documentation featured on Metrodome's DVDs suggest that the production staff were excited and enthusiastic about it. While not an error, since the reason for it is clear enough, it is a fun coincidence that once human, our four heroes find overalls to wear that perfectly match their former bodies' color schemes. It was also convenient for the new synthoid bodies to form complete with tee shirts and pants. This is a children’s show, you know.

The humanized Autobots' synthoid bodies are much stronger than humans are. For example, during their escape from the junkyard, synthoid Rodimus is able to break through padlocked metal doors, an impossible feat for a human. In another example, humanized Ultra Magnus and Arcee push a container which is taller and heavier than they are and jump on it to penetrate into Drath's warehouse.

For some reason, human Arcee doesn't look like Princess Leia. Even her hair is different.

Human Rodimus and Human Springer look a lot like their respective voice actors, Dick Gautier and Neil Ross. Seriously, go look at the actors' pictures and compare.

Human Arcee rides a motorcycle in this episode. She turns into one in several other continuity families.

one in several other continuity families. After Dutch and company escape, there's no background music for them, or for Magnus and Rodimus as they climb out of the water - one of the very few moments of silence in the show. A second, shorter gap happens as Dutch proposes robbing the jewelry store.

few moments of silence in the show. A second, shorter gap happens as Dutch proposes robbing the jewelry store. Although new background music tracks were introduced to the series beginning with "Nightmare Planet", in a similar situation to "Fight or Flee", this episode uses none of the new music tracks heard in Season 3 and in the two episodes that immediately surround it. Since this episode was one of the few non-AKOM and non-Toei animated episodes of Season 3, the possibility exists of this episode having suffered a production delay and subsequently being assigned a different production number (not unprecedented in television production). As yet, however, no production documentation has surfaced to confirm this.

exists of this episode having suffered a production delay and subsequently being assigned a different production number (not unprecedented in television production). As yet, however, no production documentation has surfaced to confirm this. This episode was lampooned at BotCon 2005's MSTF presentation, as part of a "theme show" where all of the Transformers episodes featured had (sometimes really tenuous) ties to G.I. Joe . Because this was the first year of Fun Publications' take on BotCon, and they run the Joe convention, you see.

episodes featured had (sometimes really tenuous) ties to . Because this was the first year of Fun Publications' take on BotCon, and they run the Joe convention, you see. The Transformers: Animated episode "Human Error" would revisit the idea of Transformers becoming humans, as would approximately eight billion different works of fan fiction.

episode "Human Error" would revisit the idea of Transformers becoming humans, as would approximately eight billion different works of fan fiction. Rodimus totally gets some in this episode. Wow.

Foreign localization

Someone put a hat on that football.

German

Title: " Nur ein Mensch " ( Only Human )

" " ( ) Original airdate: ?



Italian

Title: " Solo umano " (First dub, "Only Human"), " Soltanto un essere umano " (Second dub, "Just a Human Being")

" " (First dub, "Only Human"), " " (Second dub, "Just a Human Being") Original airdate: ?

Mandarin

Title: " Zhǐbuguò shì Fánrén " (只不过是凡人, "Just Human Beings")

" " (只不过是凡人, "Just Human Beings") Original airdate: ?



Japanese

Title: 人間トランスフォーマー ( Ningen Transformer , "Human Transformers")

人間トランスフォーマー ( , "Human Transformers") Original airdate: May 7, 1987 Ryōichi Tanaka, voice of Cobra Commander in the Japanese dub of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero , reprises the role for Old Snake.

, reprises the role for Old Snake. In the Japanese dub of G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero , the Cobra battlecry is "Co-Co-Cobraaa!" rather than just plain ole "Cobraaa!" As such, Old Snake's battlecry in the closing scene is appropriately localized (though he still bursts into a coughing fit).

, the Cobra battlecry is "Co-Co-Cobraaa!" rather than just plain ole "Cobraaa!" As such, Old Snake's battlecry in the closing scene is appropriately localized (though he still bursts into a coughing fit). Cut: The scene where the informant tells Victor Drath that Old Snake is down the street pacing back and forth, then gets punched in the face as payment, was cut for time.

The scene where the informant tells Victor Drath that Old Snake is down the street pacing back and forth, then gets punched in the face as payment, was cut for time. This episode was very heavily promoted in the pages of TV Magazine, featuring two pieces of unique promotional art by Ban Magami across two separate issues (a rarity for episode promos). Oddly, neither promo seemed to accurately describe the contents of the episode. The May 1987 issue boasted a "special news" emblem, indicating its importance over other episodes promoted that issue. The blurb described the episode, then tantalized children with the reveal that Cobra Commander, "the archenemy of Grant and G.I. Joe", would be leading his Cobra army in a fight against the Autobots. The June 1987 issue continued this misinformation campaign, even going so far as to feature a full-page promo of the episode with artwork depicting "Old Snake" ominously leading a number of Cobra Rattlers and F.A.N.G.s. The campaign was either deliberately misinformative, or Magami was working from outdated story summaries (a similar screw-up appeared in his promo artwork for "Starscream's Ghost").

Toys inspired by this episode

Only a toy.

A figure composed mostly of reused and redecoed parts from other G.I. Joe figures (although the hat is new) that represents "Old Snake" as he appears in "Only Human", available exclusively through Fun Publications' Transformers and G.I. Joe Collectors Club online stores, as part of a three-pack with two B.A.T.s (which are unrelated to this episode).

Transformers Collectors' Club Autobot Leader Code Name: Rodimus Prime (Fun Publications, 2016)

A figure composed mostly of reused and redecoed parts from other G.I. Joe figures that represents Rodimus Prime's synthoid human body seen in this episode, available exclusively through Fun Publications' Transformers and G.I. Joe Collectors Club online stores.

Transformers Collectors' Club Autobot Warrior Code Name: Arcee (Fun Publications, 2016)

A figure composed mostly of reused and redecoed parts from other G.I. Joe figures (although the head is new) that represents Arcee's synthoid human body seen in this episode, available exclusively through Fun Publications' Transformers and G.I. Joe Collectors Club online stores.





Home video releases

All releases listed are in English audio unless otherwise noted.

VHS

1992 — Transformers — Only Human (Tempo Kids Club)

1999 — The Transformers: 2010 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.

DVD