« The Transformers ep 64 » « Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers ep 61 » « The Transformers: Generation 2 ep 21 »
Strangely, nobody suggested a race to determine who the real Stunticons were.
"Masquerade"
Production code	700-63
Season	2
No. in season	48
Production company	Sunbow Productions
Airdate	December 16, 1985
Written by	Donald F. Glut
Animation studio	Toei
Continuity	Generation 1 cartoon continuity
Watch this episode on YouTube

After defeating the Stunticons, five of the Autobots pose as the crazed combiners to learn of Megatron's newest plan.

Synopsis

Shortly after this, Menasor threw up.

Megatron sends the Stunticons on a mission to find components for an unrevealed purpose, including the world's largest, most perfect ruby. While searching for their components, the actions of the Stunticons catch the attention of the Autobots, who track their movements and their crimes. Breakdown and Wildrider get the first component: laser lenses from a scientist. Dead End and Drag Strip get the second component: an experimental generator from the Army. Motormaster gets the last one: a perfect ruby from a museum.

The Autobots split into teams and manage to be extremely effective at capturing the Stunticons in the middle of their capers. Grapple, Hoist, and Inferno take on Breakdown and Wildrider. Warpath and Tracks take on Dead End and Drag Strip. Finally, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Blaster, and Spike Witwicky go for Motormaster, who challenges the Autobot leader to a game of “chicken” and ends up in a head-on collision. Spike, Bumblebee, and Blaster peer through the dust to see who survived, and it turns out that Optimus is the clear victor with merely a minor headache, while Motormaster lies in a wreck.

No Motormaster disguise is complete without a hunk of Big League Chew.

Although all five Stunticons have been captured, the Autobots still don't know what their plans were for the components they stole for Megatron. Wheeljack guesses that the parts are going to be made into a weapon. (Nooo, really?) Optimus hatches a scheme to disguise Autobots using camouflage paint and penetrate the Decepticon camp disguised as Stunticons: Optimus Prime as Motormaster, Jazz as Dead End, Sideswipe as Breakdown, Mirage as Drag Strip, and Windcharger as Wildrider.

Sideswipe? I, Breakdown, have never heard of such a being!

The disguised Autobots infiltrate the Decepticons, although their arrival causes some raised eyebrows because they are driving too "safely". They deliver the stolen components to Megatron without being detected.

Back at Autobot Headquarters, the Stunticons manage to shimmy and shake their way out of their cells, merge into Menasor and overcome their Autobot captors. They then head back to the Decepticon base.

We've been here before.

The Constructicons complete Megatron's new weapon, and he reveals its power, but just then Menasor arrives and declares the Autobots as infiltrators. Using Windcharger's magnetic field ability and Mirage's illusion power, the Autobots merge into their own Menasor. The two giants battle it out, and the Autobots are overcome. Megatron trains the new weapon on the Autobots, but the device blows up in his face after a few scattered shots.

Autobot reinforcements arrive, and the Decepticons flee without their usual promises for revenge. It is revealed that Ironhide had made adjustments to the ruby back at Autobot HQ, which caused the device to explode. The Autobots head for home, victorious.

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"A near miss deserves a couple o' near-missiles!"

—Inferno

"I'll probably hate myself in the morning, but..."

—Inferno before he douses the flames on the Stunticon Breakdown

"Well, look who's here! The old King of the Road! When I'm finished with ya, you'll be King of the Junkyard!"

—Motormaster taunting Optimus Prime into a game of chicken

[The Autobots are towing the defeated Stunticons to Autobot Headquarters]
Wheeljack: Here they come.
Ratchet: I won't bother asking who won.
Breakdown: (taking note of the Autobots looking at them) They're gawking at us! How mortifrying!
Dead End: The word, Breakdown, is mortiFYing. And my sentiment exactly.
Motormaster: I'm in no mood for your big words, Dead End.
Ironhide: For you, motormouth, this IS a dead end.

—Motormaster complains about Dead End's SAT-level vocabulary

"Man, Optimus. You're a dead ringer for Motormaster."
"Did you have to say dead ringer, Spike?"

—Spike Witwicky's vocabulary causes Optimus Prime to wince.

"Everybody out on bad behavior!"

—Breakdown after freeing himself and taking out Inferno, Grapple, and Hoist.

"Imagine my turning that ray on the Autobots' headquarters. Perhaps when it's gone, someone will put up a memorial parking lot. Mwahaha!"

—Megatron

"Machine appears unstable. Suggest abandoning it."
"Suggestion noted—and ignored!"

—Soundwave warns Megatron, for all the good it does.

Notes

Continuity notes

Huh? Tape-bot cannot fly!

• It's never explained just how the Autobots disguise themselves. Sideswipe says something about camouflage paint and the Autobots are transformed, details and all, into the Stunticons. It's apparently some high-tech stuff, because it even lets Optimus totally change his transformation scheme. And it just turns right off once Optimus decides the jig is up.
• Gadgets and powers:
  • Wildrider shows his...well...amazing maneuverability by doing a sharp turn to avoid Inferno, Grapple & Hoist and dodging a blast from Inferno. Well, he is a lunatic after all.
  • Breakdown uses his unique engine to cause vibratory pulses to disrupt his bars and break free. He later uses his concussion rifle with similar technique to help other Stunticons get out.
  • Soundwave informs us that Menasor has "special powers"... which seem to consist of a couple of under-arm mounted guns.
  • Sideswipe and Mirage both fire their shoulder missiles, which the writers and animators usually seem to forget about.
  • Soundwave can fly in his tape deck mode! When the Decepticons retreat, he transforms and then flies off behind Starscream. It is tempting to assume that the animators took a script direction like "the Decepticons transform and fly off in retreat" a bit too literally.
  • Mirage can project a hologram of Menasor's face. This runs contrary to his usual schtick, which is invisibility. His original bio described him as being able to create "the illusion of a different appearance" for up to six minutes, but this is the only time it pops up in the cartoon (presumably because holograms were Hound's gimmick... though per the bio, Hound's great power is to create maps, and simple images on rare occasions.)
• Breakdown's leaky pump has been addressed as his weakness (along with his paranoia). This is also mentioned in his toy bio, his Universe and More than Meets the Eye profiles.
• Megatron explains his weapon-du-jour thusly: "The most destructive weapon known to Decepticon science...Utilizing that ruby's light, focused through those perfect lenses, it will fire the most destructive ray of all. More powerful than any laser, it will create a chain reaction in whatever it touches... producing instantaneous destruction." Based on the animation, this appears to be a long-winded way of saying "It blows up rocks."
• Hasn't Megatron learned his lesson about building giant superlasers that can't be moved? Apparently not!
• Megatron's line "Suggestion noted...AND IGNORED!" when Soundwave warns him would be revisited during the Beast Wars episode "Nemesis Part 2" when his namesake utters those exact sentiments to Dinobot II on board the Nemesis.
• Two scenes deleted from this episode feature the individual Stunticons talking with each other while combined as Menasor, only for Menasor himself to then silence all of his components, because their chatter is confusing him! Even without this dialogue, the finished episode portrays Menasor as almost adorably dumb and easily bamboozled - utterly baffled, for example, when Prime accuses him of being an imposter.
• This episode marks the final appearances of Inferno, Tracks, Trailbreaker, and Sideswipe in the American version of the original Transformers cartoon.

Real-life references

• Star Wars sound effects:
  • Millennium Falcon engine roar as Laserbeak flies over the faux Stunticons.
  • A lengthy sequence of borrowed effects follows as Laserbeak flies onwards - sounds include the Falcon engine burst, a TIE Fighter's targeting computer, Death Star superlaser, and Falcon engine whine. As he returns to Soundwave, he gets another Falcon engine burst.
  • Falcon engine and X-Wing diving whine as Menasor flies away from Autobot Headquarters.
  • X-Wing and TIE Fighter roar as the Constructicons fly off... and again as Menasor flies off... and again as Starscream and Soundwave fly off.
  • A variety of lightsaber noises as Megatron fires his super not-a-laser weapon.

Animation and technical errors

• Coloring errors:
  • As Motormaster hands out assignments, Drag Strip has a random rectangle drawn in the middle of his visor, and Dead End's face is miscolored - his mouthplate is light gray instead of yellow, and his visor is red instead of purple.
  • As Optimus gets his idea after watching the broadcast, the triangles on his waist are gray instead of yellow.
  • As Laserbeak returns to Soundwave, Soundwave is missing his Decepticon insignia, as well as the gold stripes around his cassette door (which is drawn too small as well). He also doesn't move his mouthplate when he speaks.
  • As "Motormaster" (Optimus) drives up to Megatron, his door is colored purple like his windows (and his window rims are colored purple too.) A shot later, it's back to black, but the next shot (Starscream asking about his voice) shows his grille as black instead of gray. The same thing happens as the real Motormaster busts out of the Autobot cell.
  • Just after dismissing the Constructicons, Megatron's face is white.
  • "And the Autobots are totally unaware of its existence" - "Breakdown" is colored as Sideswipe. (Of course, he IS Sideswipe, but should be... oh, you get the point.)
  • As "Motormaster" (Optimus) asks about the weapon, Megatron's forehead colors are reversed (black forehead with gray triangles).
  • As "Motormaster" (Optimus) says, "Too many head-on collisions!", his headlights are black instead of white.
  • "Motormaster"'s black grille returns again as Megatron explains the weapon, recurring in numerous shots.
  • Soundwave's cheekguards and eject button are both blue instead of white as Starscream mocks Megatron.
  • Soundwave's missing the gold rim around his tape door as he and Starscream move toward the impostor Stunticons.
  • "No, he's the imposter!" - "Drag Strip" is missing his Decepticon symbol (and possibly some striping, depending on which color model you trust.)
  • "There's one absolute test, 'Stunticons'" - Dead End's tires are white; Soundwave's cheekguards are blue instead of white again. The same error repeats when Starscream calls out for Menasor to destroy the Autobots.
    

    
  • When Megatron first grabs the laser, he's colored in reverse (light gray body with a dark gray face).
  • Drag Strip is white instead of yellow as Menasor swings his sword. When Menasor hits the fake with the sword, Drag Strip is attached backwards, with his wheels pointing outward.
  • When "Motormaster" reverts to Optimus Prime, his headlights aren't colored white and he's missing the horizontal lines on the crest of his helmet.
  • "No need for the disguises anymore" - Prime's face is a darker gray than his mouthplate in most of this shot; they should be the same tone. For a second, the faceplate darkens then lightens again.
  • When the Autobots begin firing on Menasor, his face is entirely black.
  • Just before Megatron fires the laser, Windcharger is miscoloured in green and gray (with yellow stripes on his arms, like Hound).
  • As he stares at the destroyed weapon, Sideswipe's fist is white instead of black.
• When Motormaster says "Breakdown and Wildrider", he points to each robot as he says the other's name.
• The Stunticons land on a beach and each of them kicks up sand when they land. A few moments later, they transform and drive off, and no sand is disturbed by their tires.
• The Stunticons clearly never had detailed transformation models worked out:
  • Every time the four cars transform to vehicle mode, they more or less just morph into their Earth forms. When they transform back to robot mode, all the robot bits just slide out from under their car modes, which disappear into their backs.
  • Motormaster's transformation is similarly wonky; his arms are just kind of absorbed lengthwise into his torso, which then morphs into his trailer - rather than the arms becoming the trailer's roof, as they should. Every time he transforms, his trailer/torso rather blatantly changes color from light to dark gray (or vice versa.)
• Ventriloquist bots:
  • Ratchet's voice actor in this episode is Wally Burr, not the usual Don Messick, and it shows. Burr uses the same generic deep voice he used for Thundercracker in "War Dawn" and Jazz in "Kremzeek!".
  • "Yeah, but I don't have to like it" - Ironhide's mouth doesn't move for the first part of this line.
  • Menasor's mouth doesn't move as he says his own name.
  • As he flies off to "Destroy fake Stunticons", Menasor's mouth - again - doesn't move.
  • As Bumblebee says, "Great Cybertron," Spike is mouthing the words.
  • The Autobot Menasor gets knocked to the ground, but one who delivers "The generator..." line in Optimus' voice is the one standing up (with the sky behind him).
• Wildrider is missing his transformation sound effect as he approaches the optics shop; Breakdown does get one a second later.
• The experimental generator is inordinately tiny when it's sitting on the flatbed truck.
• Motormaster somehow transforms into (a tiny) truck mode while still inside the museum. Also, a moment later as he drives away, he has a dark gray stripe on his trailer that shouldn't be there.
• After Inferno extinguishes Breakdown's burning fuel pump, the Stunticon's rear spoiler is missing. It returns in the next shot.
• While firing on Drag Strip, Warpath is shown driving forward while his treads are stationary.
• As Tracks goes into flight mode, the sandy beach suddenly has squares on it for one shot (as if it were pavement).
• As Motormaster comes into view before the crash with Prime, his bumper extends to the sides of his trailer rather than the sides of his cab.
• When rushing to inspect the aftermath of Optimus and Motormaster's game of chicken, Spike exclaims "I can't see anythi-". Before he can spit out "ng," Blaster cuts him off saying "I'm not getting any radio response."
• After the crash, just before Optimus transforms into robot mode, his cab's grille is missing the vertical line in the middle. His subsequent transformation looks very crude, especially around his legs.
• Blaster contacts the other Autobots and his chest lights up, but during Warpath's report it's no longer flashing.

• As often happens, the animators mistake Motormaster's panel lines for the start of a second trailer. It's particularly visible in the last shot of his wrecked form after his collision with Prime.
• Optimus strokes his faceplate during the discussion of the Stunticons' plans, and his finger disappears for a moment.
• The broadcast of the doctor's announcement shows a building with the word "OPTCS" behind him. Earlier it was correctly shown as "REPUBLIC OPTICS COMPANY".
• The doctor's bow tie has grown to twice the size when he appears on TV.
• Jazz's waist is huge as he stands outside the paint chamber.
• When approaching the crater, Jazz appears to be driving above and not under rocks, and as Windcharger breaks formation to test their disguises, he clips into the cliff edge above them. In the same shot, "Wildrider"'s windows are the same gray as his body, rather than red.

Introducing Ultra class Ironhide and Scout class Ratchet.

• As a result of animation cels being stacked incorrectly, Ratchet appears teeny-tiny in the front of a crowd shot, making Ironhide look colossal by comparison. The tiny Ratchet should, of course, be (barely visible) at the back of the crowd.

"Model make no sense! Menasor confused."

• Menasor's limbs:
  • When the Stunticons combine at Autobot Headquarters, Motormaster transforms to robot mode... and then the other Stunticons just clip onto him, rather than forming additional new limbs. Of course, it kinda sorta fits with the screwed-up way Menasor is often drawn, but this version has Motormaster's feet.
  • During his escape, Menasor constantly changes back and forth between having Dead End and Drag Strip attached to his arms, and having them as his arms. (It should be the latter.)
  • As Menasor lands at the crater, two successive shots show him from exactly the same angle. In the first, his Drag Strip arm is drawn as the "clip-onto-Motormaster" model... and in the very next shot, it's drawn as the "Drag Strip forms the whole arm" model.
• When Menasor takes off to warn Megatron, he has a purple Autobot insignia.
• Menasor's under-arm lasers only appear when the plot calls for them - when he fires them in Autobot Headquarters, and again when he fires them on the fake Menasor. The first time, they're dark gray; the second time, they're white.
• Mirage's Autobot symbol is missing as he transforms.
• The weapon's beam comes from beside the barrel, rather than coming out of it.

Continuity errors

Bad day for Dead End...as usual

It seems someone got his driver's license revocated...again

• During their construction in "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 1", Megatron notes that he has outfitted the Stunticons with "automatic force fields that make their hulls impenetrable", which accounts for how well they did in battle. Yet in this episode they are easily taken down by second string Autobots, including non-fighters such as Grapple and Hoist. Warpath even manages to simply punch right through Dead End! Optimus Prime only suffers a slight headache after colliding with Motormaster, who is wrecked! Clearly they have been skimping on their scheduled maintenance.
• Motormaster's transformation scheme greatly differs from that of Optimus Prime - yet after donning his Motormaster disguise, Optimus transforms exactly like Motormaster does. (However bizarre this seems, it was clearly scripted - so we also count it as a possible technology, under Continuity Notes above.)
• The Stunticons are all badly beaten up after their capture. But when they escape, they're suddenly in perfect shape - able to drive, transform, combine and fight with no problems.
• "The weapon [is] but minutes from completion. And then..." "And then... what?" A fine question, indeed! Megatron's crazy laser thing is stuck down in the bottom of a crater, with no obvious way to move about or blow up anything that doesn't come popping down into the crater.
• On the subject of having "special powers," why doesn't Soundwave just use his mind-reading abilities - you know, the ones mentioned on his tech specs and demonstrated in Roll for It and War of the Dinobots - to establish which Menasor is the real one?
• The Autobots account for their ability to merge (Windcharger's magnetic field) and for the fake Menasor's face (Mirage's hologram) but where do they get working hands for their fake Menasor?

Sci-Fi Channel edits

• In the mid-1990s, many G1 episodes were aired on the SciFi Channel. To allow expanded advertising time, they were edited down, cutting "unnecessary" dialog and scenes out. Some of the "unnecessary" dialog cut from this episode included parts of Grapple and Inferno's lines, resulting in them collectively uttering "Time to add firobably hate myself in the morning, but..."

Trivia

"Dead End and Drag Strip, your job is to upsell."

• In full sell-my-toy mode, Motormaster gives a quick introdump at the episode's start, naming off his troops, and then again a moment later as he hands out assignments.
• In case you missed it, the Autobots chosen to impersonate the Stunticons are based specifically on alternate modes. Given this attention to detail, it's not infeasible to think that the plot of this episode may have originally called for the Autobots to simply have their alternate modes painted, since they consistently refrain from transforming once in the Decepticon camp:
  • Although the specific models don't line up, Prime and Motormaster both transform into semi trucks
  • Jazz and Dead End are both Porsches
  • Sideswipe and Breakdown are both Lamborghinis
  • Mirage and Drag Strip are both Formula 1 race cars (albeit very different-looking ones)
  • And.... weeeeell, Windcharger's a Pontiac Firebird and Wildrider's a Ferrari, but the plot demanded Windcharger for his magnetic abilities. This would also explain why a different device, a projector of some sort, is used to disguise him rather than the camouflage paint.
• Whether by inspiration or by parallel reasoning, several toy redecos have followed the pattern of this episode:
  • Classics Menasor is a redeco from Legends of Cybertron Optimus Prime, GDO Motorbreath is a retool of Reveal the Shield Optimus Prime and Animated Motor Master is a retool of Animated Optimus Prime. Combiner Wars Voyager class Optimus Prime also got a Motormaster retool.
  • Universe Drag Strip is made from Classics Mirage. Combiner Wars Mirage is also a Dragstrip retool.
  • At one point there was intended to be a Binaltech Wildrider created from Alternators Windcharger (or rather, his Binaltech counterpart), but that never eventuated.
  • Don Figueroa used Universe Sideswipe as a basis for the 2005 IDW continuity version of Breakdown, and the toy's mold was used for both the Timelines BotCon 2010 Generation 2-esque Breakdown toy and the Timelines TFCC: TFSS Generation 1-esque Breakdown toys! Furthermore, Animated Breakdown uses the same mold as Animated Sideswipe (the Rodimus Minor mold).
  • Titanium Series live-action movie Dead End reuses live-action movie Jazz's mold, while the Timelines toy of an Animated-esque Dead End is a redeco of Animated Jazz.
  • By 2017, Optimus Prime, Mirage and Jazz had all received Combiner Wars style toy releases.
• Optimus's "And then... what?" is apparently a rare instance of hearing a character's thoughts, since he says it in his own voice while sitting right next to Megatron, still in his Motormaster disguise.
• If any one episode served to cement Megatron's poor reputation among certain (more snarky) elements of the fandom, this is surely it. He comes up with a madcap scheme to build a useless weapon, doesn't listen to any of his troops' rather intelligent suggestions, insults his underlings for no reason, misses the obvious, toys with his enemies, pouts when he loses, and flies off with nothing in the end.
• Man, Starscream saw through the whole charade in about two seconds, didn't he?

Foreign localization

French

• Title: "Mascarade" ("Masquerade")
• Original airdate: ?

• All the logo transitions were cut. It is unknown if it was that way for the original broadcast or if the episode was chopped for the DVD release.
• A new, slight voice deformation is added, only on Megatron's voice. It will stay for next episode.
• When Spike sees Optimus Prime disguised, he says "Man, Optimus. If I hadn't see you transform, I would be scared", and Optimus Prime answers "Anyway, you're scared just looking at yourself in the mirror". Excuse me, what ??
• The Autobots disguised as Stunticons keep the voice actors of the Autobots. Among them, Francis Lax talks in his joined hands to create a "filter" and disguise his voice to be Motormaster.
• Like in Starscream's Brigade, Francis Lax makes a reference to his own creations. When Optimus Prime is disguised as Motormaster, he calls Megatron "chef vénéré" ("revered boss"). In the French dubbing of Starsky & Hutch, Lax dubbed Hutch, and that nickname was always used by the two protagonists for Captain Dobey.
• For some reason, Megatron's line "There's one absolute test, Stunticons. Merge and become Menasor!" is replaced by "There's one thing the Decepticons can't stand, and that's when someone dares to mess with them. And you will understand it!". Consequently, it makes the scene look like the Autobots form Menasor as a last chance rather than to obey Megatron.
• As a consequence, Starscream's line "Well, we are waiting" is dubbed by "Are we really going to get angry for so little?", and what's more with François Leccia's voice just for that line.
• Optimus Prime's final line "Let's roll out!" is replaced by "And now...", but the phrase is not finished.
• Name-dodging:

• Motormaster does not say the names of the Stunticons, they just salute in silence.
• When making the groups, Motormaster still does not name them. Instead, he says "That's where we part ways as planned. I hope that everyone remembers their mission. Each of you has to seize a component".
• Motormaster is simply called "the Stunticon" several times.
• Optimus Prime's line "Blaster, contact the others" becomes "Now, contact the others". During that report, the Autobots don't say their names or those of the Stunticons they got.
• Ratchet does not explain who is who after disguising the Autobots. Instead, he tells Optimus "Admit that one might have doubts seeing such perfection. I hope you guys can hold on until the end", and Mirage adds "Never forget that Mirage exists".

• Missing lines:

• The soldier's line "Careful men, we don't even want to scratch that experimental generator!" is missing.
• The first museum guard does not say anything. Only the second one talks when he hears the truck.
• Breakdown and Wildrider do not talk when driving to the Autobots. However, Wildrider's line "I think we are going to have a little fun" is present.
• Wildrider's line "Don't worry Breakdown, help is on the way!" is absent.
• Dead End and Drag Strip stay silent while driving on the beach. However, Dead End says "Well, that seems interesting!" but Drag Strip does not answer and starts shooting.
• Warpath does not say anything during the battle.
• Wildrider's line "Guess it's all up to me now" is missing.
• Optimus Prime's does not say anything while waiting for Motormaster. The latter also stays silent while arriving, but finally says "The king of the road will soon be good for scrap, you'll see!". Then the two battle in silence.
• When the Autobots tow the Stunticons to their base, most of the dialogue is absent. The only line is Breakdown saying "This kind of situation is so annoying!".
• The Autobots do not say anything during one minute and twenty seconds, while driving to the Decepticon base, being escorted by Laserbeak and observing the Constructicons.
• Soundwave's line "Laserbeak, return!" is missing. Predictable, since most of the time, Laserbeak's name is one of the most dodged in the dub.
• The conversation between the disguised Autobots at the top of the pit is missing, as well as the ones during the descent.
• While escaping, the Stunticons all say their respective lines, except Breakdown for some reason.
• The conversation between the Autobots trying to be a good Menasor is replaced by Francis Lax, who dubs the fake Menasor, making weird effort noises.
• Optimus Prime's line "Move!" is missing.

German

• Title (Generation 2 dub): "Perfekte Tarnung" ("Perfect Disguise")
• Original airdate: September 17, 1994

Italian

• Title (dub 1): "I falsi Stunticons" ("The Fake Stunticons")
• Original airdate: ?

• Some lines are badly translated, making little sense in the context:

• Ratchet's «I don't bother asking who won?» becomes: «I don't want to be boring but I don't know who won».
• Sideswipe's «I hope this camouflage paint comes off, Jazz» becomes: «I hope this disguise works, Jazz», and then Jazz's «Aww, quit griping, you're still the same Sideswipe inside, right?» becomes: «That's extraordinary! You're still the same Sideswipe, right?».
• Spike's «But it looks like you didn't need our help!» becomes: «You mean you didn't need our help?».

• Title (dub 2): "Sotto copertura" ("Undercover")
• Original airdate: ?

Japanese

• Title: "Masquerade" (マスカレード)
• Original airdate: September 19, 1986

Mandarin

• Title: "Shēn Rù Hǔ Xué " (深入虎穴, "Deep in the Decepticon's Lair")
• Original airdate: ?

Brazilian Portuguese

• Title: "A Super Missão" ("The Super Mission")
• Original airdate: ?

Russian

• Title: "Maskarad" (Маскарад, "Masquerade")
• Original airdate: ?

Toys inspired by this episode

• Combiner Wars Voyager Class Optimus Prime (Hasbro, 2015)
• Combiner Wars Deluxe Class Mirage (Hasbro, 2015)

Both Combiner Wars Optimus Prime and Mirage are the only Autobots that are based on their pre-Stunticon disguises as they share the same transformation schemes with their retool/pretools Motormaster and Drag Strip.

Home video releases

VHS

1990 — Transformers — Cosmic Rust / Masquerade (Tempo Video)

LaserDisc

1995 — Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers — Megatron Set (Takara) — Japanese audio only.
1999 — The Transformers — Decepticon Edition (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.

DVD

2001 — The Transformers — DVD Box 2 (Pioneer LDC) — Japanese audio only.
2003 — The Original Transformers — Season 2 Part 2 (Rhino Entertainment)
2003 — The Original Transformers — Season 2 Part 2: Vol. 8 (Rhino Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers — Season 2 Part 2 (Metrodome)
2004 — Transformers — Collection 3: Series 2.2 (Madman Entertainment)
2004 — Transformers — Volume 14 (Déclic Images) — European French audio only.
2006 — Transformers — The Complete Generation One Collection (Metrodome)
2007 — The Transformers — Complete Collection (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — Transformers — Volume 06: Stagione Due Parte Quarta (Medianetwork Communication) — English and Italian audio.
2009 — Transformers — Season Two: Part Two (Metrodome)
2009 — The Transformers — Complete Collection: Decepticon Edition (Madman Entertainment)
2009 — The Transformers — The Complete Series: 25th Anniversary "Matrix of Leadership" Collection (Shout! Factory)
2009 — The Transformers — Season Two, Volume Two: 25th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)
2011 — The Transformers — The Complete Original Series (Shout! Factory)
2014 — The Transformers — Season Two, Volume Two: 30th Anniversary Edition (Shout! Factory)
2014 — Transformers — The Classic Animated Series (Metrodome)

External links

• Episode dialogue script with deleted lines
• Episode model sheets