Head Formation of Friendship

« Transformers: The Headmasters ep 22 »
"That was 'Prince of Tides'!"
Head Formation of Friendship 友情のヘッドフォーメーション () (Yūjō no Head Formation)
Production company	Takara, Toei
Airdate	18 December 1987
Writer	Yoshihisa Araki
Director	Katsutoshi Sasaki
Animation studio	Toei
Continuity	Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

The Headmasters come to Highbrow's rescue when the Decepticons invade the beautiful world of Paradise.

Synopsis

In case you didn't notice, Galvatron is still a dick.

The Autobots aboard Battleship Maximus are still lagging behind in their pursuit of the Decepticons on their planet-hopping energy raids, and a restless Chromedome and Hardhead occupy their time by venturing out on the ship's hull to repair a fault in its alarm system. They find that they are unable to fix it themselves, but can't call on Highbrow for his usual technical help, since he is still busy trying to decode Tekna's microfilm. An irritated Chromedome takes out his frustration by punching a pipe, but this jars loose a few components, which drift off into space.

"I'll just stand next to this pile of energon cubes. I'm sure I won't get attacked by Decepticons."

Meanwhile, the Decepticons have landed on the harmonious planet of Paradise, and have begun draining the world's abundant natural energy sources. The Autobots subsequently pinpoint their location, but with Battleship Maximus unable to proceed until Chromedome's repairs are done, Fortress gives Highbrow a reprieve from his codebreaking and sends him on an advance scouting mission with Twincast aboard the Trainbots. As they fly over the planet's jungles, they are approached by Papika, a native girl riding a giant bird, who immediately assumes they are Decepticons. Highbrow convinces her that they are the Decepticons' enemies, and learns from her where the villains are currently based. Investigating solo while Twincast and his cassettes patrol and Papika returns to her village, Highbrow is caught in the hypnotic spell of Mindwipe and captured by the Decepticons.

Daniel actually does a lot of growing up in the latter half of the series. Perhaps this is why.

Back at Papika's village, Battleship Maximus has touched down, and the Autobots have met the natives, led by Papika's father, Polonus. Daniel and Wheelie quickly befriend Papika, who teaches them to fish with their bare hands and trumps Wheelie's power to transform with her ability to communicate with animals. Then, just as Twincast reports Highbrow's capture, Sixshot attacks the village, setting the surrounding jungle on fire. Battleship Maximus blocks the flames, safeguarding the natives, but is unable to move, leaving the three Headmasters to set out alone to try and rescue Highbrow.

"This chain is too much for me, a giant robot, to break!"

Highbrow, meanwhile, has been bound in chains beneath a waterfall by the Decepticons, and a recording from Galvatron is delivered to the Headmasters en route by Ratbat, warning them to keep away. Being themselves, of course, the Headmasters plough on through anyway, and fortunately arrive just as Autobot reinforcements in the form of the Monsterbots, Technobots and Trainbots show up. Even under cover of the ensuing battle, however, they are unable to break the chains that hold Highbrow, and the quartet use the Head Formation to boost their energy, giving Highbrow the strength to break his bonds. Flame blasts from the Monsterbots then ignite the Decepticons' energon cube stockpiles, and the defeated villains flee aboard Scorponok. The Autobots say their goodbyes, and head off in pursuit of their enemies once again.

Featured Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Huh, look how smug he is!"

—Chromedome has a case of envy as Highbrow leaves on the Trainbots.

"These people are just murderers!"

—Brainstorm on the Decepticons.

Notes

Continuity notes

• The Monsterbots were last seen in "Rebellion on Planet Beast", where they were left to guard the titular world. They have obviously since been called away from the duty - notably, the Transformers revisited Beast in the manga The Decisive Battle of Planet Beast!, which was not definitively chronologically placed, and could easily have occurred during the current planet-hopping arc. Hence, perhaps the Monsterbots joined up with the Battleship Maximus crew after that story.
• The Headmasters' power up ability, the Head Formation, was introduced fully in the previous episode.

Animation and technical errors

• After Papika asks who Highbrow is while holding her knife up, it switches to a shot from behind her, and her arm is down by her giant bird's neck. When the shot switches back to the front view, she's holding up the knife again.
• When the Autobots meet the natives at Papika's village, Computron and Raiden are drawn the same size as Fortress and the Monsterbots.
• After Wheelie demonstrates his ability to transform and Papika takes off on her giant bird, Wheelie's cockpit is missing.
• While the top of Arcee's head is usually about level with the Headmasters' necks, in a few scenes in this episode she's drawn as half their size. This is especially noticeable in the closing scene as she's standing in front of Fortress and barely reaches his waist.

Trivia

Impromptu faction change?

• This episode originally aired in Japan as part of a triple bill alongside "Battle for Defense of the False Planet" and "Find MegaZarak's Weak Spot!!" on December 18.
• English text appearing on Highbrow's screen as he tries to decode the microfilm includes "Tetsuo, who was leading the group, suddenly put on his brakes", "A white figure suddenly appeared on A street where there had been nothing a moment ago." and "The figure, glowing in the light, came closer and closer. It had 26 numbers written on his palm, a...", which appear to be references to Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira.
• When Wheelie shakes Papika's hand, he appears to blush through his eyes.

Foreign localization

English

• Title: "The Friendship of the Four Headmasters" (Omni Productions dub)
• Original airdate: December 13, 1992

• Title: "Head Formation of Friendship" (Shout! Factory sub)

• "Spark" is again used in place of "life".

Mandarin

• Title: "Yǒuyì de Tóulǐng Zhènliè " (友谊的头领阵列, "Head Formation of Friendship")

Italian

• Title: "Leaderbot! L'unione fa la forza!" ("Headmasters! United we stand!")

Home video releases

Laserdisc

1996 — Transformers: The Headmasters Set (Takara) — Japanese audio only.

DVD

2002 — Transformers: The Headmasters — DVD Box (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2005 — The Takara Collection Vol 1 — Transformers: Headmasters (Metrodome)
2007 — Transformers — The Complete Takara Collection (Metrodome)
2007 — The Transformers: Headmasters (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — The Transformers: Japan Generation 1 — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2011 — Transformers Japanese Collection: Headmasters (Shout! Factory) — Japanese audio with optional English subtitles only.
2012 — Transformers: The Japanese Collection (Shout! Factory) — Japanese audio with optional English subtitles only.