Following Armada’s amazing toy sales, Hasbro and Takara apparently decided lackluster animation and even worse translation were just fine, because that seems to have been the attitude behind the Transformers: Energon TV series. With a confusing plot, stilted CG robots, and translations errors on par with Generation 1’s animation errors, Energon quickly established itself as no one’s favorite Transformers cartoon.
We’re still gonna watch an episode, though. In fact, we’re going to watch an episode that in many ways embodies the series, an episode that didn’t even get a spell-check on the title: Imprisoned Inferno!
As Kicker! and Misha explore a new planet that’s teeming with life and Energon, Inferno holds watch over Shockblast on the desolate Iron Planet. But when Megatron sets his sights on corrupting the stoic sniper, will Inferno be able to resist? Why does the animation suddenly get so much better in Act 3? And did Cliffjumper and Downshift really just refer to each other by their own names!? Join us as we answer some of these questions and fail to answer others while watching Improsoned Inferno!
Tag: Special Episode
Stasis Pod Episode 82: Imprisoned Inferno
Stasis Pod Episode 81: Chase
With anime the “cool new thing the kids are into”, 2002 saw the first Transformers toyline and TV show jointly developed by Hasbro and Takara for both markets: Armada. And while the toys were exciting and innovative, the show was… less so.
With the Autobots out screaming dramatically at the Decepticons, Alexis, Rad, and Carlos find the base’s computer being possessed by Sideways! Soon they’re pulled into “cyberspace” with their Mini-Con partners, where they get a glimpse of Cybertron, fight Sideways, and end up chased by an awfully familiar-looking evil planet! Will they ever find their way out? Did anyone working in cartoons in 2002 know anything about computers? And just what were the animators smoking? Join us this week for an episode of Transformers: Armada–Chase!
Stasis Pod Episode 65b: Rebirth Parts 2 and 3
With Galvatron seeking out the Plasma Energy Chamber, Spike and his Autobot buddies continue screwing around with their new green friends on on Nebulos–until Optimus Prime arrives to reveal their mechanical/organic hybrids are exactly what’s needed to save Cybertron! See the birth of Fortress Maximus! Hear the cast pull out every spare voice in their repertoire! And prepare to feel the sting of Scorponok! This week it’s Rebirth parts 2 and 3!
Stasis Pod Episode 65a: Rebirth Part 1
We’re between seasons, so before we learn the fate of Cybertron itself, we’re taking a detour back to 1987 with the only three episodes of Generation 1 season 4, Rebirth! Learn the origin of the Plasma Energy Chamber–more or less! Visit Vector Sigma, the-supercomputer-which-gave-us-all-life! Meet the original characters who became our current Titan Masters! And see just how many new characters David Wise can jam into a single episode of a cartoon! This week we’re taking a trip to Nebulos for Rebirth Part 1!
Stasis Pod Episode 52c: The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Ep. 1
After Generation 1 ended in Japan, Takara continued their tradition of robot anime with a series of shows collectively known as YĆ«sha, or Brave. The last and best of these, released just before Takara started importing Beast Wars in 1997, was The King of Braves GaoGaiGar!
In the middle of a snowstorm, a baby boy is delivered to a childless couple by…a giant robot lion?! Eight years later, while on a school field trip, the boy is caught in the middle of a battle between a robotic kaiju made of garbage and a cyborg piloting the very same lion mecha! But what’s the connection between them? Who is the Gutsy Geoid Guard, and how did they gain control of Galion? Just what was the animation budget for Guy’s hair? And will Jen stop talking about Evangelion? Join us this week as we watch The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Episode 1: King of Braves is Born!
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