# Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2000 TV series)

Transformers: Robots in Disguise, originally known as Transformers: Car Robots (トランスフォーマー カーロボット, Toransufōmā Kā Robotto), is a Japanese anime television series based on the Transformers franchise. The series was produced by Nihon Ad Systems and Studio Gallop, in cooperation with Korean company Dongwoo Animation, aired in Japan in 2000.
Conceived as a reboot to the franchise, with a self-contained continuity separate from any previous incarnation, A localized English adaptation aired as part of the Fox Kids programming block in the United States from September 8, 2001 to March 30, 2002.

## Plot

While attempting to stop the Predacons from stealing Earth's energy, the Autobots ally themselves with Koji Onishi after Predacon leader Megatron captures the boy's father, Dr. Kenneth Onishi. Amidst their battles, the Autobots and Predacons discover the location of a crashed spaceship from their home planet, Cybertron, containing six Autobot protoforms. Megatron reaches it first and reprograms the protoforms into the evil Decepticons. In light of this, Predacon sub-commander Sky-Byte attempts to prove his worth to Megatron by stealing the Autobots' O-Parts. Meanwhile, Ultra Magnus, the bitter brother of Autobot leader Optimus Prime, arrives on Earth to claim the latter's Matrix for his own, only for the brothers to gain the ability to merge into Omega Prime.
The Autobots and Predacons eventually discover Fortress Maximus, a giant Transformer hidden on Earth to protect it. While they race to claim its power, Sky-Byte accidentally frees Dr. Onishi, who joins the Autobots to help them locate all of the O-Parts necessary to find the Orb of Sigma. While Megatron finds it and uses its power to become Galvatron, the Orb leads the Autobots to Cerebros, Fortress Maximus' power key. A final battle soon ensues between Galvatron and Omega Prime, who eventually prevails and brings the Decepticons and most of the Predacons back to Cybertron to face justice while Sky-Byte stealthily escapes into Earth's oceans.

## Episodes

The three clip shows of Robots in Disguise differ between the English and Japanese versions. Both are listed at the appropriate numbers.
| # | Title | Japanese title | Writer | Director | US airdate | Japanese Airdate |
| 1 | ""Battle Protocol!"" | 初出動! ファイヤーコンボイ First Deployment! Fire Convoy | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui, Akira Katō | September 8, 2001 (2001-09-08) | April 5, 2000 |
| Predacons have come! The Autobots must defeat a gigantic hand! |||||||
| 2 | ""An Explosive Situation"" | 高速バトル! ゲルシャーク High-Speed Battle! Gelshark | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui, Akira Katō | September 10, 2001 (2001-09-10) | April 12, 2000 |
| 3 | ""Bullet Train to the Rescue"" | 合体せよ! 新幹線ロボ Combine! Bullet Train Robo | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Steve Kramer (US) | Akira Katō | September 12, 2001 (2001-09-12) | April 19, 2000 |
| 4 | ""Spychangers to the Rescue"" | 忍者ロボ! スパイチェンジャー参上 Ninja Robo! The Spychangers Enter | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 13, 2001 (2001-09-13) | April 26, 2000 |
| 5 | ""The Hunt for Black Pyramid"" | 決死のジャンプ! マッハアラート Resolute Jump! Mach Alert | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Marc Handler (US) | Akira Katō | September 14, 2001 (2001-09-14) | May 3, 2000 |
| 6 | ""The Secret of the Ruins"" | ギガトロンの襲撃! Gigatron's Raid! | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | October 11, 2001 (2001-10-11) | May 10, 2000 |
| 7 | ""Sideburn's Obsession"" | スピードブレイカーの危機! Speedbreaker's Crisis! | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Akira Katō | September 15, 2001 (2001-09-15) | May 17, 2000 |
| 8 | ""Secret Weapon: D-5"" | 謎の兵器! D5 Mysterious Weapon! D5 | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Marc Handler (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 17, 2001 (2001-09-17) | May 24, 2000 |
| 9 | ""Mirage's Betrayal"" | カウンターアローの裏切り!? Counterarrow's Betrayal!? | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Akira Katō | September 18, 2001 (2001-09-18) | May 31, 2000 |
| 10 | ""Skid Z's Choice"" | 爆走! インディーヒート!! Out of Control! Indy Heat!! | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 19, 2001 (2001-09-19) | June 7, 2000 |
| 11 | ""Tow-Line Goes Haywire"" | 駐車違反だ! レッカーフック Parking Violation! Wrecker Hook | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Matthew V. Lewis (US) | Akira Katō | September 20, 2001 (2001-09-20) | June 14, 2000 |
| 12 | ""The Ultimate Robot Warrior"" | 究極! 大仏トランスフォーマー The Ultimate Extreme! The Large Buddha Statue Transformer | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 21, 2001 (2001-09-21) | June 21, 2000 |
| 13 | ""Hope for the Future"" | ギガトロンの野望を暴け! Gigatron's Ambitions Revealed! | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Osamu Sekita | October 26, 2001 (2001-10-26) | June 28, 2000 |
| 14 | ""The Decepticons"" | 敵? 味方!? ブラックコンボイ Friend? Foe!? Black Convoy | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Akira Katō | September 22, 2001 (2001-09-22) | July 5, 2000 |
| 15 | ""Commandos"" | 5体合体! バルディガス 5-Body Combination! Baldigus | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Marc Handler (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 24, 2001 (2001-09-24) | July 12, 2000 |
| 16 | ""Volcano"" | 対決! ふたりのコンボイ! En Garde! Two Convoys! | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Akira Katō | September 25, 2001 (2001-09-25) | July 19, 2000 |
| 17 | ""Attack from Outer Space"" | 宇宙から狙え! シャトラー!! Aiming from Space! Shuttler!! | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Matthew V. Lewis (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | January 12, 2002 (2002-01-12) | July 26, 2000 |
| 18 | ""The Test"" | 正義に目覚めよ! ブラックコンボイ Awaken to Righteousness! Black Convoy | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Akira Katō | September 26, 2001 (2001-09-26) | August 2, 2000 |
| 19 | ""The Fish Test"" | 秘密作戦! ゲルシャーク Secret Strategy! Gelshark | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Marc Handler (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 27, 2001 (2001-09-27) | August 9, 2000 |
| 20 | ""Wedge's Short Fuse"" | 熱血戦士! ビルドマスター Hot-Blooded Warriors! Buildmasters | Junki Takegami (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Akira Katō | September 28, 2001 (2001-09-28) | August 16, 2000 |
| 21 | ""Landfill"" | 四体合体! ビルドキング Four-Body Combination! Build King | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | June 22, 2002 (2002-06-22) | August 23, 2000 |
| 22 | ""Sky-Byte Saves the Day"" | 正義の味方? ゲルシャーク Friend of Righteousness? Gelshark | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Matthew V. Lewis (US) | Akira Katō | June 23, 2002 (2002-06-23) | August 30, 2000 |
| 23 | ""A Test of Metal"" | 狙われたビルドマスター Targeted Buildmasters | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | September 29, 2001 (2001-09-29) | September 6, 2000 |
| 24 | ""Ultra Magnus"" | 登場! ゴッドマグナス Enter! God Magnus | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Akira Katō | October 6, 2001 (2001-10-06) | September 13, 2000 |
| 25 | ""Ultra Magnus: Forced Fusion!"" | 強制合体! ゴッドファイヤーコンボイ Forced Combination! God Fire Convoy | Junki Takegami (JP) Matthew V. Lewis (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | October 13, 2001 (2001-10-13) | September 20, 2000 |
| 26 | ""Lessons of the Past"" | 集結せよ! 新戦士たち Assemble! New Warriors | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Osamu Sekita | December 14, 2001 (2001-12-14) | September 27, 2000 |
| 27 | ""The Two Faces of Ultra Magnus"" | 絶体絶命! カーロボ3兄弟 Stalemate! 3 Car Robo Brothers | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Michael McConnohie (US) | Akira Katō | October 20, 2001 (2001-10-20) | October 4, 2000 |
| 28 | ""Power to Burn!"" | 発動! ダブルマトリクス Invoke! Double Matrix | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | October 19, 2001 (2001-10-19) | October 11, 2000 |
| 29 | ""Fortress Maximus"" | 浮上! サイバトロンシティ Arise! Cybertron City | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Akira Katō | October 27, 2001 (2001-10-27) | October 18, 2000 |
| 30 | ""Koji Gets His Wish"" | JRX 対 バルディガス JRX versus Baldigus | Junki Takegami (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | November 3, 2001 (2001-11-03) | October 25, 2000 |
| With Fortress Maximus discovered, the Autobots move to ensure the Predacons and Decepticons don't acquire it before looking for Cerebros, the Headmaster of the huge Autobot. At the same time, Sky-Byte may just ensure that Koji gets a great gift for Dr. Onishi's birthday without even knowing it. |||||||
| 31 | ""A Friendly Contest"" | ゲルシャークの罠 Gelshark's Trap | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Matthew V. Lewis (US) | Akira Katō | November 10, 2001 (2001-11-10) | November 1, 2000 |
| 32 | ""Peril from the Past"" | 最後の鍵? さよならアイ The Final Key? Farewell, Ai | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Michael McConnohie (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | November 17, 2001 (2001-11-17) | November 8, 2000 |
| With the O-Parts in their possession, the Autobots head to the Sahara Desert to locate the Orb of Sigma, but Megatron decides to personally get involved, and Koji may prove to be of vital aid to the Autobots to ensure they don't lose T-AI to the combined O-Parts/Orb of Sigma, while the Decepticons begin to show signs of treason against Megatron. |||||||
| 33 | ""Maximus Emerges"" | 奪われたプラズマ Stolen Plasma | Kazuhiko Gōdo (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Akira Katō | February 16, 2002 (2002-02-16) | November 15, 2000 |
| Despite the Autobots having acquired the O-Parts and Orb of Sigma to lead them to Cerebros, Scourge and the Decepticons get to the Headmaster of Fortress Maximus first, but it is clear no one understands how Cerebros and Fortress Maximus work once combined and its power is unleashed. |||||||
| 34 | ""The Human Element"" | ブレイブマキシマスの謎 The Mystery of Brave Maximus | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | February 23, 2002 (2002-02-23) | November 22, 2000 |
| Realizing that when he was created, he inherited Kelly's human bio-signatures into his format, Scourge prepares to use Fortress Maximus himself now that he realized that Cerebros functions via human control. |||||||
| 35 | ""The Mystery of Ultra Magnus" (Note: This episode is English-titled in an unresolved error as "Mstery of the Ultra Magnus")" | ゲルシャークの憂鬱 Gelshark's Blues | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Osamu Sekita | March 30, 2002 (2002-03-30) | November 29, 2000 |
| 36 | ""Mistaken Identity"" | ブラックコンボイの野望 Black Convoy's Ambition | Yukiyoshi Ōhashi (JP) Michael McConnohie (US) | Akira Katō | March 2, 2002 (2002-03-02) | December 6, 2000 |
| An attempt by Scourge to finally usurp Galvatron as leader results in Koji's friend Carl becoming the pilot to Fortress Maximus, but while things don't work out as Scourge hoped, it only gets worse when Cerebros finally lands safely in the hands of the Autobots. |||||||
| 37 | ""Surprise Attack!"" | ブレイブマキシマスの起動! Brave Maximus's Rise! | Tadashi Hayakawa (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | March 9, 2002 (2002-03-09) | December 13, 2000 |
| With Cerebros now safely in the Autobots' possession, Galvatron puts the Decepticons firmly back under his control and places them under Sky-Byte's command to hunt down Koji, resulting in them finding and attacking the Autobot HQ, but Optimus is ready and lures the Predacons and Decepticons to where the final battle to determine Earth's fate begins as Galvatron calls in the Megastar to face off with Fortress Maximus when Wedge's courage enables Cerebros to bring the giant Transformer into the fight to protect the planet. |||||||
| 38 | ""Galvatron's Revenge"" | 逆襲! デビルギガトロン! Counterattack! Devil Gigatron! | Junki Takegami (JP) Richard Epcar (US) | Akira Katō | March 16, 2002 (2002-03-16) | December 20, 2000 |
| Despite losing his ship, Galvatron is far from finished as he prepares to use the planet's children as leverage to get the Autobots to back off, and possibly be destroyed, leaving Earth ripe for the picking. |||||||
| 39 | ""The Final Battle"" | 最後の戦い! ファイヤーコンボイ Final Battle! Fire Convoy | Junki Takegami (JP) Tom Wyner (US) | Yoshiaki Tsutsui | March 23, 2002 (2002-03-23) | December 27, 2000 |
| As Galvatron and Omega Prime have their final confrontation in the Earth's core, Koji works to get the children of Earth to provide Fortress Maximus the energy needed to aid Omega Prime in defeating the Predacon/Decepticon leader once and for all. |||||||