Runaway

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« Transformers: Armada ep 30 »
And I wonder, I wa wa wa wa wonder....
"Runaway" 逃走 (かくれが) (Kakurega) "Run Away: Refuge"
Production code	TF: A-30
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS
Airdate	March 22, 2003 (English) 1 August 2003 (Japanese)
Writer	Isao Shizuya
Director	Mihiro Yamaguchi
Animation studio	Actas Inc., Studio Guts, Big Bang
Continuity	Unicron Trilogy

The kids try to help the Space Mini-Con Team escape from the Decepticons and the Autobots by running away.

Synopsis

On the Moon, Tidal Wave and Megatron are undergoing repairs and a tune-up following their defeat by the Requiem Blaster. Thrust attempts to allay Megatron's concerns about the Autobots.

Meanwhile, the Autobots have a heated debate about the Space Mini-Con Team. Optimus Prime is hesitant to use them in battle, given their distinct reluctance to fight, while the other Autobots (particularly Jetfire and Hot Shot) argue that it'd be better to use their power to destroy the Decepticons in one fell swoop. However, before Optimus can decide, the Autobots realize the Mini-Cons in question are missing, and so are the kids.

Suspicious Strangers are suspicious.

Rad, Carlos, Alexis, Billy and Fred are conspiring to sneak the Space Mini-Con Team away, where neither the Autobots nor the Decepticons can find them. Bundling the Mini-Cons up in clothes, they buy bus tickets for Central City and make their getaway (narrowly avoiding detection by an alert canine named Sally) as the Autobots scour the city, intent on capturing the runaways.

However, Thrust has been monitoring human surveillance satellites above the Autobot base and is puzzled about why the humans are leading the Mini-Cons away. He becomes even more perplexed when realizing Optimus is tailing the bus at a distance.

Optimus is thrown off the trail when the runaways disembark in a cornfield and trek to a dilapidated farmhouse. The kids help the Mini-Cons set up a series of alarms, early warnings, and traps in case the Decepticons come looking for them—as well as engaging in an FCC-mandated level of tomfoolery.

These preparations prove surprisingly useful as Thrust appears on the farm, declaring his intention to seize the Mini-Cons for his own. He is blinded, bruised, roped, tripped, and rolled over in short order until he's steaming mad. While the booby traps are insufficient to stop the Decepticon, they do buy enough time for Optimus to arrive and drive Thrust off.

As the other Autobots make a belated appearance, Rad delivers an impassioned speech urging the Autobots to see the Mini-Cons as individuals, not tools to be used in their battle with the Decepticons. Optimus agrees, reminding his troops that the Autobots are no better than the Decepticons if they use these Mini-Cons against their will.

Hot Shot concludes that this means that they will fight with the Mini-Cons as a team, yeah! (Hot Shot is kind of an idiot.)

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Look! Your guardian star is very bright tonight, sir. I believe it might actually swallow up every other star around it! This must surely be a sign you'll crush the Autobots, conquer the universe and lead the Decepticons back to planet Cybertron!"

—Thrust, astrologer

"Huh, so humans are good for something after all. That's news to me!"

—Demolishor

"Dear Mom, I just wanna thank you for all the great foods you've made me over the years. I especially enjoyed your spaghetti and meatballs; the sauce was a haunting blend of herbs and spices—and the things you can do with a pot roast are truly inspirational. Yours truly, your son, Fred."

—Fred's letter home

"Come on, with a little TLC, this place will be good as new!"

—Alexis auditions to become a real estate agent.

Notes

Differences with Legends of the Microns

• Megatron doesn't speak until the shot of the Mini-Cons repairing him, where he calls it an enjoyable pleasure. He begins speaking directly after the episode title card in Armada. Megatron gripes about Optimus having the Requiem Blaster but swears he's not done yet, and orders the Mini-Cons fixing him to make him invincible.
• Demolishor, Cyclonus, and Starscream's dialogue in Armada is about Megatron overworking the Mini-Cons for a tune-up and to prove he's still in charge. Legends of the Microns makes them confused about why Megatron is acting weird and laughing though they suffered another loss; they wonder if losing to Optimus again made him go crazy.
• Thrust and Megatron's conversation in the Japanese dub differs slightly from Armada. Thrust congratulates Megatron, who asks if Thrust understands, to which he confirms as the Requiem Blaster has revealed itself. Thrust's fortune to Megatron is that defeating the Autobots and his victory celebration after conquering Cybertron are guaranteed. Instead of promising to reward Thrust if he acquires the Requiem Blaster, Megatron orders him to do whatever it takes to get the weapon.
• Legends of the Microns removes the transformation noise that Armada adds.
• Armada's opening narration has Alexis saying that the Requiem Blaster caused arguments among the Autobots ever since Optimus brought it to the base. The Japanese version is identical, but it clarifies that the Autobots are divided over how to use the weapon after getting it.
• The Autobots' first discussion about the Requiem Blaster is like the Armada version but has minor changes. Jetfire's line about using it to wipe out the Decepticons in one shot comes sooner, Red Alert addresses Optimus instead of agreeing with Jetfire, and Scavenger asks Prime what he will do.
• In the Japanese dub, Carlos calls out to the others only once, and Alexis asks Rad if nobody found them sneaking out, which Rad confirms.
• In Armada, Thrust tries hacking into a satellite to find the Requiem Blaster Mini-Cons; he uses the satellite to track the Autobots and find the Mini-Cons in Legends of the Microns. Demolishor muses on humans being useful after all in Armada but tells Thrust that he doesn't need to try so hard since they'll grab the weapon during a fight. Then Thrust says he might consider it if they're willing to dive in front of the Requiem Blaster, Demolishor makes a sound in apprehension, and Cyclonus says, "Fine with me!"
• The Japanese dub changes the characters' positions in the shot of the Mini-Cons with Billy and Fred at the station. Payload is now off-center, so the woman in the foreground isn't blocking him anymore; the man is in front of Astroscope instead of Sky Blast, and the girl is between Sky Blast and Billy. Fred doesn't appear in the shot. The announcer's voice is an Armada addition.
• Fred's note in Armada mainly focuses on his mom's spaghetti and pot roast (as quoted above). Legends of the Microns makes it more detailed as it mentions not only Fred's mom's spaghetti but also her hamburgers, gratin, slightly salty sandwiches, and steak.
• Sally's attendant asks the Mini-Cons if they're from out of town and calls Payload's voice cute in Armada, but she asks where they're going and tells Payload that she can't understand him in Legends of the Microns.
• In Armada, a frustrated Jetfire assumes the kids and Mini-Cons are playing hide-and-seek, and Smokescreen says they wouldn't do that without telling them first. In Legends of the Microns, Jetfire says they're not playing, and Smokescreen says that leaves one possibility, to which Scavenger says the kids and Mini-Cons went outside.
• When telling the Autobots they need to search outside, Optimus doesn't address Hot Shot and Blurr until he turns his head, removing the bit of awkward silence from Armada. Legends of the Microns also extends Optimus's first line.
• In Armada, Scavenger tells Jetfire that Earth's people can't learn the Autobots' identities yet, so he should learn to blend in like him, and Jetfire complains that Scavenger sticks out like a sore thumb more than him. Legends of the Microns has Scavenger tell Jetfire that he and the rest of the Autobots understand Earth better than he does, and they need him to do more than run around and scan stuff, to which Jetfire says that Scavenger is one to talk.
• The shot of the blip on the monitor now has faint horizontal bars over it instead of static, so it now appears clearly. The static crosses into the next shot before vanishing in Armada. The bars don't disappear in the Japanese dub.
• Instead of wondering what Optimus is up to, Thrust asks why Prime insists on keeping the Transformers' existence a secret from Earth's people.
• Carlos asks Payload if he'd like to play baseball. Then Rad says it sounds like Payload does and asks Sky Blast if he also wants to play.
• In Armada, Red Alert asks why the kids snuck out the Mini-Cons, Smokescreen asks if it's to teach the Autobots a lesson, and Optimus tells them to worry about it later. In Legends of the Microns, Red Alert says they have no choice, and Smokescreen quickly says they need to lock them up, so Optimus declares they will discuss it later. Also, Blurr says the kids snuck out the Mini-Cons in Armada but says the Mini-Cons went with them in the Japanese dub.
• Thrust says the Autobots seem to be following the bus rather than only Optimus.
• Rather than Optimus telling the others that he has the Mini-Cons in his sight, Smokescreen says Optimus is now on the highway. Hot Shot's line about the train cars now crosses over into the close-up shot of his seats.
• After exiting the cornfield, Carlos asks Alexis how much further they have to go in Armada. Billy speaks in his place in Legends of the Microns, expressing relief for finally getting out of the corn before Carlos, instead of Alexis, says they're almost at their destination. Fred whines about being hungry in Armada, but he's tired of walking in the Japanese dub.
• Legends of the Microns completely changes the kids' first lines of dialogue in the farmhouse. Now, Fred thinks the place is impressive before Alexis says it's so off the beaten path that the Autobots don't know about it. Billy is surprised that Alexis knew about it, and Rad tells him how they discovered the spot. Billy later tells Fred to shut up about his waffles in Armada but tells him to eat his hot sandwiches fresh in Legends of the Microns.
• When Billy and Fred set up the rope in the barn, Billy talks directly to Sky Blast, but Fred thinks Billy is speaking to him.
• Demolishor says Thrust's body will start rusting if he doesn't begin fighting soon, but Demolishor talks about himself instead in Armada. After discovering Thrust missing, Demolishor moans about being left behind in Armada, but calls for Thrust by his nickname in Legends of the Microns.
• Alexis reflects on the location's peace in Armada but says how the quiet and scenery can never make one think the Transformers war is happening in the Japanese dub. After saying that she came around to Rad's plan, Billy says, "Right?" in agreement, but that moment is silent in Armada.
• Rad sounds more alarmed when he hears the cans ring. Later, the kids speak in whispered tones as Thrust approaches the house, and Carlos talks in Fred's place.
• Instead of Fred complaining about running on an empty stomach, Billy thanks Rad and Alexis for saving him and Fred, and Rad tells everyone to hurry. After throwing the metal sheet at Thrust's head, Fred claims to have known of a use for it but is puzzled when Billy claims to had been the one who figured it out.
• As a fuming Thrust smashes the barn, Fred shouts for Optimus to save them before Carlos says they need to escape alone since Optimus isn't coming.
• During the shot of Optimus blinding him, Thrust says he can't see in Legends of the Microns but nothing in Armada. The reverse happens after Prime enters Super Mode as Thrust has a line in Armada but is silent in the Japanese dub.
• In Armada, the insert Transformers tune plays when Prime arrives and later enters Super Mode. During the scenes in-between after Optimus transforms, the music stops before the track "Charge!" plays until the Super Mode transformation. In Legends of the Microns, "Charge!" plays nonstop from when Optimus appears to after he blinds Thrust, after which the Super Mode theme "Super Convoy" plays for the rest of the scene.
• When the other Autobots arrive, Hot Shot expresses relief for finally making it in Legends of the Microns but moans about missing the action in Armada. Then Smokescreen scolds the kids for playing games instead of telling them that they worried the Autobots.
• Hot Shot concludes the Autobots will defeat the Decepticons with teamwork in Armada but says they will beat the 'Cons without using the Requiem Blaster in Legends of the Microns.
• Armada's ending narration is Alexis saying it didn't really matter that Rad's plan to hide the Mini-Cons failed as the Autobots gained a better understanding of the Mini-Cons' feelings. The experience also taught her Rad has the makings of a great leader. The Legends of the Microns version is the same overall; Alexis says she says Rad's plan gave the kids their desired outcome since it made the Autobots understand the Mini-Cons. She also realized that Rad has both a strong side and a gentle side. Unlike the ending's English version, Alexis and Rad are silent inside Hot Shot.

Animation and technical errors

"Uh, Megatron, sir, we told you that the punch was spiked."

• The animation noticeably often goes back and forth between high and low quality.
• Starscream and Demolishor are noticeably off-model in the first scene at the Decepticon base—their heads are their torsos' size. Also, Starscream's mouth starts moving before he begins speaking. Starscream's dialogue begins as his mouth moves in the Japanese dub.
• When Thrust kneels before Megatron, Megatron's head, chest, and arms are partially miscolored.
• As Thrust tells Megatron his fortune, Megatron's face color matches his helmet, and his eye is badly drawn.
• In the first scene with the Autobots, Longarm appears miscolored as Sparkplug.
• Cyclonus and Demolishor seem to speak in unison when they find Thrust hacking into the satellite. Only Cyclonus says the line in Legends of the Microns.
• For some reason, Billy looks off-screen when demanding Fred to show him what he's "doodling," and Fred also looks off-screen. Legends of the Microns justifies their expressions as Billy misdirects Fred by suggesting something appeared off-screen, and Fred tries to see what Billy's talking about before Billy grabs the letter from him.
• Payload's hand goes through the box of biscuits when Rad pulls his arm away.
• When Rad tells off Billy and Fred at the bus station, the neckline of Payload's shirt looks like it's part of his face. Legends of the Microns fixes the error by rounding out the neckline and showing some of the blue section of Payload's mouth underneath.
• Payload's face is miscolored blue in the next shot.
• The whites of Carlos's eyes appear and disappear multiple times.
• Optimus's trailer is off-model, with the back miscolored light-gray in some shots.
• As the Autobots search the city, Smokescreen's hook seems to have shrunk.
• When he tells Fred off for only thinking about food, Carlos has two mouths for one frame. The Japanese dub doesn't have this mistake.
• After Optimus arrives, Alexis looks confused but sounds surprised instead. Rather than pointing out that he found them in Legends of the Microns, Alexis asks why Optimus is there.
• When Optimus blows the hay to blind Thrust, the audio seems to drop for a second, and the music slightly rewinds before they resume. Legends of the Microns has no audio errors.

Continuity notes

• Members of the Street Speed Mini-Con Team, Land Military Mini-Con Team and Destruction Mini-Con Teams appear back in the Decepticons' possession, despite their defection back in "Vow". In the Japanese dub of "Tactician", Knock Out is present in the storage room that housed Inferno and the Air Military Mini-Con Team. None of the previously mentioned Mini-Cons have appeared with the Autobots since their defection; the Decepticons probably stole them back off-screen. This instance wouldn't be the first time it's happened as Spiral was also captured by the Decepticons off-screen between episodes.
• As he did in "Linkup", Jetfire reminds us he can't understand the Mini-Con language.
• Thrust has to explain artificial satellites to Cyclonus and Demolishor. This concept is seemingly foreign to Transformers in this univer—wait a minute...
• This episode is the second and final time that a Mini-Con dons a human disguise; "Overmatch" did this first.
• In the Japanese dub, Rad tells Billy that he, Alexis, and Carlos stumbled upon the abandoned farmhouse when they used to "play in the mud" at a nearby camp years ago. The last time he said that phrase was in "Base."
• When he discovers Thrust disappeared, Demolishor uses the former's nickname "squid-head" in Legends of the Microns.
• This episode marks the first time Billy, Fred, and Thrust see Optimus enter Super Mode.
• The shot after Optimus enters Super Mode reuses his pose from the end of its debut appearance in "Metamorphosis".
  • In the Japanese dub, the music tracks played before and during the Super Mode transformation are identical in both episodes.
• Legends of the Microns Year Book 2003 states this episode revisits the show's theme of examining the Transformer war's meaning.
• Hot Shot finally gets to fist bump Rad, something he wanted to do all the way back in "Base".
• Gadgets and powers:
  • Optimus can blow air from his forearm cannons/smokestacks.
• Powerlinx forms:
  • Optimus combines with his trailer and enters Super Mode for the fourth time in the series; the last time was in "Trust."

Continuity errors

• Wow, Sparkplug was gone for a whole three seconds before reporting that the Space Mini-Con Team was gone. He must've searched the entire base at hyperspeed.
• Hot Shot says the Mini-Cons are gone when that should've been evident after scouring the base. In Legends of the Microns, he instead asks if the children could have taken them somewhere.
• Why doesn't Red Alert use his siren to get through the traffic?
• How can Hot Shot realize after all this time that the Autobots will defeat the Decepticons by working together with the Mini-Cons? That should've been obvious from the get-go! In Legends of the Microns, he rightly concludes the Autobots should beat the Decepticons without the Requiem Blaster.

Real-world references

• Billy jokingly calls himself "Billy the Kid," after the notorious American outlaw from the Wild West; it's all the more fitting since Billy dresses like a cowboy during that scene.

Trivia

• The kanji 逃走 would be pronounced as tōsō, while kakurega is used for 隠れ家.
• According to Legends of the Microns Year Book 2003, Carlos's voice actor also voiced Sally.
• Why doesn't the bus stop at the railroad crossing? It's United States federal law for buses to stop there!
• The train's locomotive is decidedly European-looking, and the seemingly wooden boxcars would be severely dated.

Foreign localization

German

• Title: "Die Flucht der Mini-Cons" ("The Escape of the Mini-Cons")
• Original airdate: This episode was never shown on TV but was dubbed in 2003. The dub premiered in 2009 with the German DVD release of the show.

Hungarian

• Title: "Menekülés" ("Escape")

Italian

• Title: "La fuga" ("The Escape")

• Billy's line: "Oh no! It's Thrust!" is heard too late, after he already started moving his mouth.
• Rad's line: "Move it!" is voiced not only by Rad's actor, but also by Thrust's actor. The result is having two different voices saying the same thing together.

Korean

• Title: "싸움을 피하는 법" ("How to Avoid the Fight")

Polish

• Title: "Ucieczka" ("Escape")

Portuguese

• Title: "Fugitivos" ("Runaways")

Home video releases

DVD

2003 — Transformers: Legends of the Microns — Volume 8 (Columbia Music Entertainment) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — Transformers: Armada — Vol:10 (Warner Music Video)
2004 — Transformers: Armada — Power of the Mini-Cons (Rhino Entertainment)
2006 — Transformers: Armada — Season One: Part Two (Rhino Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers: Armada — Volume Two (New KSM) — English and German audio.
2014 — Transformers: Armada — The Complete Series (Shout! Factory)