Arcee
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Arcee is the name of several fictional characters in the Transformers universe.
Contents |
[edit] Transformers: Generation 1 (1986)
| Transformers character | |
 Dreamwave Arcee |
|
| Arcee | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot  |
| Sub-Group | Female Autobots, Headmasters, Transmetal 2, Wreckers |
| Function | Valkyrie |
| Partner | Daniel Witwicky |
| Motto | "Looks are always deceiving." |
| Alternate Modes | Futureistic or Cybertronian Convertible Car Transmetal Spider |
| Series | Transformers: Generation 1 Beast Machines |
| English voice actor | Susan Blu |
| Japanese voice actor | Yoko Kawanami |
[edit] Animated series
Although a group of Female Autobots had already been featured in one episode of the original cartoon series, Arcee quickly became the most famous due to her position as a recurring cast member following her introduction in The Transformers: The Movie. In the movie it was implied that Arcee might have had feelings for Hot Rod, but since his transformation to Rodimus Prime she seemed to grow closer to Springer.
in the episode Only Human Ultra Magnus, Springer, Rodimus Prime and Arcee found their minds transferred into human-mimicking "synthoid" bodies by the human crimelord Victor Drath.
In the final three episodes of the US television series, the Decepticons successfully stole the key to the Plasma Energy Chamber and opened the ancient device, a group of Autobots and humans included Arcee and Daniel Witwicky were blasted across the galaxy by the energy release, crash-landing on the planet Nebulos. Quickly siding with a group of rebels engaged in a war against the planet's evil rulers, the Hive, they deduced a process by which they could combine the best of their minds and bodies together, becoming Headmasters.
[edit] Headmasters
In the Japanese television series called Transformers: The Headmasters, the events of the last three episodes of the US series were ignored. Although Headmasters were introduced, they had a vastly different origin. Arcee did not become a Headmaster, but was a regular on this series, appearing in most of the episodes, from episode 1 "Four Warriors Come Out of The Sky" to episode 35 "The Final Showdown On Earth (Part 2)".
[edit] Possible Arcee toys
Like all the new characters in the movie (with the exception of Ultra Magnus), Arcee was designed for animation first, but while the other new characters inspired toys that saw final release, Arcee's design never passed early prototype stages.
When she became a Headmaster, the Japanese dallied with the idea of repainting the Chromedome toy to represent her, but the suggestion was abandoned. A few pictures of prototypes have appeared online.
A non-transforming "Heroes Of Cybertron" Arcee was released eventually. it was later repainted as Heroes of Cybertron Paradron Medic.
[edit] Marvel Comics
Arcee was absent from the U.S. Marvel Comics (barring the adaptation of the movie), because the comics had established that in their continuity, Transformers did not possess sexes, thus Arcee's presence as a clearly female robot would have defied this. She did, however, feature in the U.K. Comics stories based in the future era, which made use of the movie's cast, supplemented with the tale of her creation to validate her existence - she was the result of an attempt by the Autobots to better understand the human concept of gender, and to appease human protesters. She also makes an appearance twice in the American Transformers: Headmasters #1 as a background character in Fortress Maximus's regiment. In order to explain any Autobots introduced during the fourth (then-ongoing) and fifth production years, most of Fortress Maximus's crew on Cybertron and aboard the Steelhaven were unseen, or used generic bodies until readers were "surprised" with them later. (This technique was effectively used when the cast of the Headmasters comic was added to the regular Transformers series.)
[edit] Beast Wars
In the Beast Wars episode "Transmutate", Rattrap (possibly humourously) referred to Arcee as his great aunt (What in the name of my great aunt Arcee is going on!?).
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
During the years when Shockwave united most of Cybertron, Arcee was in a resistance group to his rule along with Kup, Blaster, Hot Rod and Wheelie. Later, after Shockwave's defeat, Arcee joined Ultra Magnus in trying to fortify one of Cybertron's moons - but her affections were the subject of a feud between Hot Rod and Springer.
[edit] Devil's Due Publishing
Arcee appeared in the Devil's Due third series of G.I. Joe vs. The Transformers. Grimlock, Arcee, Bumblebee and Perceptor were sent to Earth to aid G.I. Joe in removing the influence of Cybertronian technology on Earth. When Cobra attacked the base, the Autobots helped repel the Cobra Battle Android Trooper armies. However, Cobra Commander was able to infiltrate the base and awaken the special project the government was working on - SerpentO.R, a cyborg created using DNA from many great warleaders and parts from Megatron. SerpentO.R promptly turned on him and escaped to Cybertron via Spacebridge. The Autobots and a team of G.I Joes led by Hawk pursued him. During this an attraction had been growing between Arcee and Bumblebee. This led to Bumblebee's tragic death at the hands of SerpentO.R and Arcee and the others were captured. Freed by Snake-Eyes, Arcee was part of the assault to rescue Prime and proved instrumental in SerpentO.R's (now controlled by Cobra Commander) defeat, ripping his chestpiece off and allowing Hawk to reach the Matrix, opening it and putting Cobra Commander in a coma. Arcee was seen mourning Bumblebee at the end.
[edit] IDW Publishing/2007 Movie
Although Arcee has yet to appear in the IDW core Transformers universe (disregarding variant cover appearances) and was initially one of the characters planned for the 2007 Transformers film (but was eventually dropped from the script), the IDW Publishing movie prequel comic includes her as part of Bumblebee's squad. She realised that Bumblebee knew more than he was revealing, but likewise said nothing when their squad was captured and tortured by the Decepticons.
[edit] Transformers: Universe Wreckers
In 2001, Arcee finally received a toy in the form of an exclusive for the 2001 BotCon convention. The toy itself was a recolored version of the previous year's transmetal 2 Blackarachnia toy, and some packaging featured a new sound clip recorded by Susan Blu.
Transformers: Universe Wreckers #1 starts with a flashback to late in the original cartoon series, where Daniel Witwicky and Wheelie are killed. This puts Daniel's friend Arcee into a sad state. The main story is set in the later episodes of Beast Machines. Arcee, now a Maximal Valkyrie, joins the Wreckers. Fractyl is almost killed by the Vehicons, and Arcee saves his life by sharing her spark with him, converting him into a new body in the process.
[edit] References
- http://razorgolem.myownsites.com/arcee/gallery/arcee.html - Arcee fan page.
- http://www.tfu.info/2001/Autobot/Arcee/arcee.htm - Beast Wars Arcee reference page.
- http://www.cyberfembot.com/ - Unofficial transforming toy of Arcee called A.R.C.
[edit] Transformers: Armada
The first reuse of the name Arcee was in Japan. In 2003, the name Arcee was given to the Mini-Con known in America as Sureshock (leading to some debate on the Mini-Con's gender - the Dreamwave Comics would later identify Sureshock as female, but the tech specs for Transformers: Cybertron Sureshock would refer to it as male). Sureshock was even repainted in pink and white colors in Japan as X-Dimension Arcee.
[edit] References
- http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=879 - Fan page about Sureshock/Arcee.
- http://www.tfu.info/2003/Micron/XArcee/arcee.htm - Pink repaint of Micron Legend Arcee.
[edit] Transformers: Energon
| Transformers character | |
 |
|
| Arcee (Ariel) | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Autobot |
| Sub-Group | Omnicon |
| Function | Warrior Strategic Member |
| Motto | "I know only two speeds... fast and faster." (Hasbro) " "Hurry men!" (Takara) |
| Alternate Modes | Futuristic or Cybertronian Motorcycle |
| Series | Transformers: Energon Transformers: Universe |
| Voiced by | Sharon Alexander (English) Masumi Asano (Japanese) |
In Transformers: Energon, Arcee had a wide-release original mold made in homage to the original character. In the Energon storyline, the character Arcee was a female Omnicon who transformed into a motorcycle and used an energon crossbow. She was created to be a leader for the Omnicons and, as such, was the only Omnicon to have a unique name and body-type. In Japan the toy and character were named Ariel, a name used by the female transformer who was the "girlfriend" of Orion Pax in the original series' episode "War Dawn". Ariel would later become Elita One.
The Arcee/Aerial toy was repainted as Aerial Paradron Type in Japan, in the colors of Generation 1 Paradron Medic. She was again repainted as Transformers: Timelines Flamewar and her head remolded as Transformers: Timelines Chromia and Flare-Up.
In the original Japanese series Superlink, it is said Aerial took the form of a woman as a symbol of care, who protects all soldiers.
[edit] Dreamwave Productions
Arcee also appeared in the Dreamwave Transformers: Energon comics, as one of the four Omnicons watched over the Mini-Con Over-Run.
Arcee would first appear in issue 19, being introduced to Optimus Prime by Over-Run as the first of the new species - the Omnicons. Subsequently assigned to Earth for training they managed to annoy their commander Hot Shot beyond reason and subsequently apprehended Snow Cat. Arcee would have further adventures battling Mirage, Sharkticon and Slugslinger to protect Kicker, eventually defeating them with Kicker's help.
[edit] Transformers: Universe
In 2005, Energon Arcee was repackaged into the Transformers: Universe toyline, although the character has not appeared in the Universe storyline. This toy was identical to the Energon one, but in Universepackaging.
[edit] 2007 Film
Arcee was initially set to be in the live action Transformers film. Due to fan complaints to the notion, her character was dropped and replaced with Ironhide.
[edit] References
- http://www.seibertron.com/database/character.php?view=&char_id=2817 - Fan made page for Energon Arcee.
- http://www.oafe.net/yo/tfe_rc.php - Review of the Arcee toy
