We now see a cel-drawn view of Tokyo. It is two o'clock in the morning. But not everyone in the city is asleep. Sirens are wailing and see a cadre of fire engines racing to save some lives. It's hero time.

Elsewhere, an alarm clock is ringing inside a boy's bedroom. The clock is actually a Beast Wars Neo Heinlad toy!! His hand reaches out to shut it off. The young boy, Ônishi Yûki, sits up and realises that it's time. He tumbles out of his double-bunk bed (which is rather odd because we don't see any siblings). In his living room, he switches on his HDTV and we see a New York street in broad daylight. There is confetti and fanfare everywhere. It is the year 2001 and the world is heralding in the new millenium. Yûki calls his mum to come and watch. A female reporter welcomes the TV audience to a live telecast from New York. She introduces world reknowned archaeologist, Dr. Ônishi. Yûki recognises his father's face on the screen (which explains why he's up at such an unholy hour of the morn') and gets excited. Dr. Ônishi steps up to the podium and welcomes the world to the new millenium.

Suddenly, an ominous rumbling can be heard. People are confused and worried. Then, a giant robotic hand bursts out of the side of a building. As it slowly descends upon the people below, everyone is scattering in fear and trying to avoid the rain of concrete and glass. There is widespread panic on the streets of New York.
The Japanese news crew continues to film.

A food tray, teaspoon and two mugs of hot chocolate fall to the ground. Yuki and Mrs. Ônishi watch their television set, aghast with sheer horror. Back in New York, people continue to flee as the hand descends. Then a voice booms, "Gigatron, Henshin!" and the hand transforms into the evil robot. Dr. Ônishi and the people below are no longer trying to escape..... they are frozen in sheer unadulterated terror. Gigatron introduces himself to the people of Earth, declaring himself as their new Dark God.

Back in Tokyo, the live broadcast is cut. There is only static on the Ônishi's TV. Yuki uses his mobile and tries to call his father, but all communications in New York have been severed. Yûki cries in anguish... he mutters amongst his tears, "Somebody save my father.."
Suddenly a blue and silver robot head appears on the video display on his phone. It speaks, "Understood. I shall rescue your father." He tells Yûki to wait in front of a nearby park where he will pick him up in three minutes. Before Yuki can elicit the stranger's identity, the robot hangs up.

Elsewhere we see residual smoke rising from a building. Firefighters and fire engines surround the building. The fire is dead. Countless human lives have been saved.
A firefighter returns to his Hino Brandbilar fire engine. Speaking into a radio, he reports that the fire has been successfully extinguished. Suddenly a voice from the engine speaks, "Then my work here is done?" A very surprised firefighter replies, "W-Who... what did you say?" as he looks around for someone. The blue and silver robot face appears on a video monitor on the dashboard (the firefighter looks in from outside), the voice speaks, "Since our work here is done, may I please be excused?" The firefighter is lost for words but manages a, "y-y-yeah..."
As the engine says, "I shall return when I'm done! Please excuse me!" and drives off. Another firefighter comes along.
"What's up?"
"My engine spoke!"
"Hey, hey, this is why I've been tellin' ya to take a holiday!"

Yuki stands in front of his house. The fire engine pulls up and the door opens. The robot voice tells him to get in quickly. Once on the passenger seat, four seat belts automatically strap the boy in and the fire engine floors it! The robot face appears on the dash board and speaks, "I am Fire Convoy, a Transformer. I am the Cybertron Supreme Commander."  Yûki asks about Gigatron but Fire Convoy says that explanations will have to wait. They have to get to New York to save Dr. Ônishi! Fire Convoy goes onto a highway, tailgating other motorists. Yûki says that Fire Convoy can't drive to New York because it's overseas. Fire Convoy turns on his siren, the traffic clears way and he accelerates to maximum velocity. He drives into a bypass that's still under construction. But this part of the highway hasn't been built yet! Yûki panics as Fire Convoy drives off the ramp and flies through the air (like the bus from Speed). As he falls to the ground, the mud below breaks and a strip of highway elevates, catching the fire engine which continues to drive faster and faster. More road platforms rise from the ground, leading the engine to the ocean. Fire Convoy explains that this is the Cybertron Net, a vast network of secret highways covering the globe. The ocean parts and a passage appears on the ocean floor - there is more road inside this tunnel. Fire Convoy explains that the Cybertron Network goes right through the Earth's mantle. We Fire Convoy (cel animated) driving on a CGI animated highway tunnel. Outside the transparent tunnel are huge support structures and red hot magma pulsating throughout (all CGI).
The video monitor on the dashboard shows Yûki how this tunnel connects a straight line between Tokyo and New York, rather than following the curvature of the Earth. He explains that this way, they'll be there in a matter of minutes.

Back at New York, Gigatron says that he needs the world's best scientists in order to establish a new Destronger Empire. Dr. Onishi protests. Gigatron transforms into Gigabat (and his personality changes to that of a bully or thug - or your boss from work ;)). Gigabat's Psycho Wave knocks everyone unconscious. In the harbour, the water breaks as a ramp rises. A fire engine shoots out! As Fire Convoy descends to the road below, he recognises Gigatron. He tells Yûki to stay back. The back of Fire Convoy's cab opens as Yûki's seat slides all the way to the back of the trailer (Thunderbirds are go!). Fire Convoy disconnects from his trailer and drives towards Gigabat, building velocity -- Fire Convoy flies into the air and rams Gigabat. Gigabat, thinking that it's a human vehicle, becomes angered.

Fire Convoy yells, "Fire Convoy, TRANSFOOORRRMMM!!" (and you can guess what happens) ;)

Fire Convoy delivers his 'Glory and Honour' speech. Gigatron delivers his counterspeech.
Inside Fire Convoy's battle station (formerly his trailer), Yuki notices that both robots can transform. Fire Convoy's face appears on the screen and explains that they are both Transformers from the planet Sabretron. Yuki thinks that they're both on the same side. Fire Convoy explains about the Cybertrons and Destrongers, but Yuki chucks a Circuit Breaker and doesn't believe him.

Fire Convoy and Gigatron fight.  During the fight, Gigatron transforms into Gigadragon. He summons reinforcements. From the other side of the harbour, Gusshar, Gaskunk and Gildor arise. They all yell, "[name], Henshin!" (and thus transform into robot modes). The three Destrongers fight Fire Convoy as Gigadragon heads towards Dr. Ônishi (still sound as a baby).

Yuki runs out into the open to try to save his father. Fire Convoy turns to him and tells him to get back to the battle station! But this distraction gives the other Destrongers the upper head (Nnn... irritating flesh creature...). Fire Convoy realises that he doesn't have time to fight these guys. He radios Ai for reinforcements.

Back at Cybertron HQ, a small UFO-like object hovers into the main control room. It projects a hologram of a cute girl in a Cybertron operator's uniform. "Leave it to Ai!" she chirps as she activates the computers and begins the "Emergency!" call.

Elsewhere in Japan, a young woman by the name of Junko is driving along happily in her Mercedes Benz ML320. Suddenly, Ai's voice comes on, calling Wild Ride into action. A voice from the car grunts, "Roger!" Junko looks up to see the sun roof open. Then the driver seat ejects!! Shooting her several metres into the air!! A small parachute opens up as she descends back to Earth. Wild Ride makes a brief apology and puts the pedal to the metal.

In another part of the country, we see a red sports car on a highway. A sleek blue Dodge Viper sports car pulls up beside the driver, who happens to be a cute girl, and comes onto her! The lady is a bit surprised that there's noone driving. A white Lamborghini Diablo patrol car is behind them with sirens wailing. It is Mach Alert and he demands Speed Breaker to slow down and stop harrassing other drivers! Ai's voice summons them and they both disappear into the Cybertron Net.
Under ground (back in that CGI tunnel) they meet up with Wild Ride. Speedbreaker complains that he wasn't able to finish chatting that girl up - he thinks his mission on Earth is to find a girlfriend! Mach Alert assures him that it's not.

In New York, Yûki runs towards the podium, but a nearby mountain of rubble breaks open and Gigadragon arises. Suddenly, a patch of road just behindYûki opens up and Wild Ride shoots out, collecting Yuki and driving him out of harm's way! Inside, Yuki see's Wild Ride's robot head. It has replaced Junko's seat.
Wild Ride tells him to seek shelter. Yuki does so. The other Cybertrons arrive.
"[insert names], Transfooorrm!"

Fire Convoy asks Mach Alert, Speedbreaker and Wild Ride to take care of Gusshar, Gaskunk and Gildor. Battle ensues.

Gigadragon transforms into Gigabat and tries to pick up Dr. Ônishi with a tractor beam, but is shot by Fire Convoy. Gigabat unleashes a deadly sonic assault onto Fire Convoy, almost tearing him apart... his body is straining and Fire Convoy's fight with the other Destrongers have left him too exhausted to fight back. Yûki calls out to, "Hang in there! Hang in there, Fire Convoy!" With a new inspiratin, Fire Convoy rises. Although his body is still weakened, his other component is not! He summons his station to launch the Fire Knuckle. A giant fist is launched as a missile and smacks Gigabat. Gigabat uses the last reserves of his energy to transform into Gigajet. Gigajet quickly beams Dr. Ônishi aboard and zooms away. The other Destrongers retreat.

Yûki picks up his father's broken pair of glasses and sobs. Fire Convoy apologises to him and swears that he will save Yûki's father.

Yûki smiles as he tells Fire Convoy that he believes in him.

G1 is back!! It was so good to see the Autobots back again, defending the weak and innocent against the forces of evil. For me, it was just such a feel good episode that sent all kinds of warm, fuzzy, tingly feelings down my spine --- I didn't expect this episode to be so emotional!!

Alright, the story obviously is not as sophisticated as the CG Beast Wars and Beast Machines series. However, I'm glad to see the absolutely childish antics of Beast Wars II (of which some carried into Beast Wars Neo) gone! The level of story telling here is back to the original G1 level - there's no deep underlying philosophies here (well, none that are immediately obvious anyway) -- it is the good old fashioned tale of good versus evil that we all love.

The cel animation quality is great! This is such a nice break after seeing the appalling animation from Beast Wars II and the mediocre animation from Beast Wars Neo. This is because Car Robot is animated by a different studio (Studio Gallop, who also animated the Rurouni Kenshin TV series). The combination of CGI and cel animation is also rather interesting. As mentioned in the synopsis, there are scenes that are totally CG or totally cel drawn and some that are a combination of both (like the Cybertron Net). However, some elements were obviously 3D CGI models with cel pictures drawn over them. This technique is not new. It has been used in movies such as Koukakukidoutai ("Ghost In The Shell"), Mononoke Hime (The Princess Mononoke) and all recent Disney films such as Aladdin, Mulan and Hercules. However, few TV series have employed this technique. A few that have include the Amazing Spiderman series from Fox, and Steven Spielberg's Invasion America.

I really like Fire Convoy. He falls into that Fallen Christ archetype where other characters such as Optimus Prime and Superman fall into. In other words, he stands for everything that is good and just. A shining beacon of hope amongst a sea of darkness. Others look up to him for hope and inspiration. Loved by good. Feared by evil etc etc etc.... However, unlike Optimus Prime, Fire Convoy is devoid of personal guilt, and fully relishes in his role as a super hero. If Fire Convoy was human, you'd just know he'd be parading with a cape and his underwear on the outside. Mind you, this kind of tree-hugging goodie-goodie attitude can get annoying. (-=

I also find it really interesting that the Cybertrons assimilate themselves into human lives when they're not fighting. They're really taking the "Robots In Disguise" notion to something we seldom saw in G1. Also, I find that Ônishi Yûki  is a far more tolerable human than Daniel Witwicky. That doesn't mean he's not irritating... after all, in this episode, Fire Convoy got his butt whipped when Yûki  ran out into the open. But when Wild Ride told him to seek cover, he did that! Even when he encouraged Fire Convoy, he did so at a safe distance (well away from Gigatron). When Yuki saw Fire Convoy being beaten, he gave him moral support without interfering or getting in the way. When Daniel saw Arcee being bitten by Snapdragon, the little turd went and jumped up and down on Snapdragon's head!! There's definitely an intelligence difference here. He's somewhat like Spike Witwicky in the cartoon, but he doesn't get as closely involved -- mainly because the Cybertron's won't let him, especially because he's so young (Spike was a teenager, Yuki's still a child).

I also really like Junko! I felt sorry for her when Wild Ride ejected her!! She appears in every episode where something bad always happens to her! She's jinxed like Waspinator and Kenny from South Park. Though not as badly since she never gets killed... (-=

Questions

1. Who are the Cybertrons/Destrongers? What is Planet Sabretron?
For those of you unfamiliar with Japanese Transformer terminology, here's a basic conversion chart:

3. So how does Car Robot fit into previously established Transformers canon?
As far as I can tell, it doesn't. It's an alternative universe. I've heard rumours that the Destrongers are from the future (post Beast Wars Neo) who have travelled back in time to Earth in the year 2001 and that Fire Convoy and his Cybertrons have come to stop him. Nothing in episode one proves nor disproves this rumour. Keep reading future synopsis for any future developments!

4. Do you think it sucks that the Cybertrons don't have that "tchk tchk tchk tchk tchk" (or "ka-ki-ko-ko-ke" in Japanese) transformation sound?
I do, actually. But remember that that transformation sound was dropped during G1. It was never used after The Headmasters and ever since Masterforce, they've just had generic transformation sounds. So really... it's nothing new. Besides, I think we all got used to not having it around after watching years of Beast Wars!

5. Who, or what is Ai?
She's a sentient hologram, much like the doctor from Star Trek Voyager. She is the Cybertron's main communications operator. Because the Cybertrons are spread out all over Japan and have assimilated themselves into human society, Fire Convoy needs Ai to select and summon the best suited Cybertrons for the job.

6. Will this series be released in English? (subbed or dubbed)
Not officially. However, Lioconvoy2k is fansubbing the series. Download the fansubs here.