The New Weapon, Tako Tank

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~(O o O)~
"The New Weapon, Tako Tank" 新兵器タコタンク () (Shin Heiki Tako Tank)
Production company	TV Tokyo, NAS, Ashi Productions
Airdate	7 October 1998
Writer	Yukiyoshi Ōhashi
Director	Tomio Yamauchi
Animation studio	Ashi Productions
Continuity	Japanese Generation 1 cartoon continuity

While Gigastorm has a go at the Maximals, Ikard delivers the Tako Tank.

Contents 1 Synopsis 1.1 Artemis & Moon II Report 2 Featured characters 3 Notes 3.1 Transformers references 3.2 Real world references 3.3 Trivia 3.4 Errors 4 Home video releases

Synopsis

Nemesis continues its approach, nearing the eighth planet of the system. As always, it causes the Angolmois Energy on Gaia to become violent.

At the Galvaburg II, Gigastorm seemingly begs for his older brother to get better from his wounds, but all Galvatron can do is mutter about Angolmois Energy. Outside the ward, Gigastorm proclaims that Galvatron's era is over, and his own reign as the Predacon Emperor of Destruction is beginning. He personally thanks Starscream for bringing about his new power, to the Combatron's secret consternation. Outside the Galvaburg II, Starscream whines about this obstacle to his ambitions and flies off to figure out what to do.

At the Yukikaze, the Maximals discuss their new allies and the new threat of Gigastorm. Lio Convoy has a plan. Lio Junior, Santon, and Skywarp are sent to Gigastorm's location and the three go to work at provoking and luring him somewhere. Gigastorm calls on the Combatrons for support, but, while he acknowledges his request, Starscream refuses. But as they talk, they detect a spaceship entering Gaia's atmosphere and set out to investigate, thinking it's a message from Nemesis, after scaring Dirge and Thrust away.

Gigastorm continues his chase of the trio into a crevasse, where the Maximals await on higher ground. Their weapons are ineffective on Gigastorm's own body, but that is not their aim, for they concentrate their fire on the crevasse's walls, buring Gigastorm under boulders! The crevasse is also on top of a natural gas deposit, as Tasmania Kid explains. Once enough gas has accumulated, the Maximals will spark it, creating an explosion! At the Moon, Artemis and Moon commend the Maximals on their ingenious plan. The buried Gigastorm's pleas for assistance go ignored by all four Combatrons and Starscream and BB instead spend their time seeing the mysterious spaceship "land" by crashing into a mountain and rolling down. The two Predacons land and await for the spaceship's occupant, who finally reveals himself to be a courier bringing Scuba a delivery. Starscream and BB, incensed at the spaceship not being what they expected, open fire on the Maximal, and the courier retreats to the ship and flies off.

At the crevasse, the Maximals decide enough gas has gathered and Lio Convoy sets off the explosion, but it turns out to have absolutely no effect on Gigastorm. Dirge and Thrust finally show up and, through Maximal gunfire, try to pull Gigastorm out of the rubble. Their strength isn't anywhere close to necessary for the task, so they summon the Galvaburg II, which manages to free Gigastorm. The vengeful dinosaur attacks the Maximals, separating Lio Junior from the others, and is about to chew the hapless Maximal when the delivery ship arrives and bumps into Gigastorm's head; the collision frees Lio Junior and knocks Gigastorm over. While the Predacons—Starscream and BB—are busy righting Gigastorm, the courier walks out of his ship and requires a stamp to complete his delivery. Scuba finally arrives on the scene and introduces the courier as his cousin, Ikard. His delivery turns out to be the mighty mobile base, Tako Tank! Finally upright, Gigastorm commands the other Predacons to attack, but Scuba jumps into the Tako Tank and uses it multiple features to outsmart the gigantic Predacon, to the adoration of the observing Artemis. While Gigastorm is distracted by the Tako Tank, Lio Junior, Santon, and Skywarp combine into Magnaboss and fell the Predacon with his Magna Blade attack. Recognizing defeat, the Combatrons have the Galvaburg II drag Gigastorm away and retreat.

At the Yukikaze, the Lio Convoy acknowledges Gigastorm's immense strength and, while the Tako Tank is of great help, they will need to conceive more countermeasures to the ever-increasing Predacon threat. Outside, Ikard explains that the Tako Tank is a present from Scuba's family—him delivering it was his own personal touch. Finding Scuba took forever, though, thanks to the inefficiency of Maximal Headquarters. He can't stay long, though, as his job at the Cool Courier Service requires his attention. Out in space, he feels a rumble and manages to warp away to safety before seeing the cause of the gravitational quake—Nemesis.

Artemis & Moon II Report

Moon explains the details of the Tako Tank ("Octopus Tank"), to the pleasure of the knowledge-hungry Artemis. Its mobility is done via octopus legs, which have suction cups that allow it to scale walls and steep surfaces (although Moon isn't sure whether to call them arms or legs). The Tank can also squirt ink that obscures the enemy's vision, and the orifice also fires a laser. The highlight of the mobile base, however, is the "Dome Open", which reveals the Sumiikar ("Cuttlecar") that changes between a hovering vehicle or a bike. Artemis complains that the names are too literal.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Notes

Transformers references

Real world references

Trivia

• This episode sees in the introduction of a new opening theme song and a new title sequence, reflecting the recent and upcoming changes in the cast.
• Ikard features in this episode's ad bumpers. It is simply a recolouring of Scuba's transformation sequence ad bumpers.
• Ikard appears in a Cybertronian robot mode and seems to scan Scuba to copy his beast mode, which he uses for the rest of the episode. Given the ad bumper and his action figure, it's reasonable to assume that his robot mode, post-scanning, is also a copy of Scuba's.

Errors

• While heckling Gigastorm, Tasmania Kid's mouth opens down beneath his chin, as though the animators forgot it was part of his face.
• When Gigastorm tried to Stomp on Lio Junior, Lio Junior's eyes are orange instead of red

Home video releases

VHS

1999 — Beast Wars II: Super Lifeform Transformers — ACT. 10 (Pioneer LDC)