COUNTDOWN: The 70 most WTF errors in Carnage in C-Minor (part 1)

One goal you often hear talked about in modern-day Transformers collecting is “cartoon accuracy”. It started with Masterpiece, but these days even the main Generations line is making every effort to ape the franchise’s animation as closely as possible, and none more so than the original Sunbow series from the 1980s.

What’s hilarious about that is that the show was notoriously full of errors, and not just little ones either. Characters were inconsistent in height, often the wrong colour and sometimes looked entirely different from one episode scene to the next!

Good morning. pic.twitter.com/x8VOf3mMss

— Sixo (@SixoTF) March 17, 2022

In truth, the Generation 1 cartoon varies wildly in terms of quality, yet no single episode enjoys quite as notorious a reputation for animation errors as the bizarre season 3 caper, Carnage in C-Minor. It’s become the go-to example whenever anyone (including me!) needs to find a good giggle at the series’ expense.

If you’ve never sat down to appreciate just how full of mistakes this story is throughout its twenty-three-minute runtime, then have no fear, as today we’re diving in deep and uncovering all the worst examples we can find… it’s not *every single error* in the episode (we’d be here all day!), but there is plenty to get you going. Continue at your peril.

 

#70:

This rather random example from the cartoon’s season 3 opening titles is here to kick us off. Yes, it’s not technically the fault of Carnage in C-Minor specifically, but it is too good not to mention here! After all, if you’ve watched the show, you will have seen this sequence countless times, perhaps never having realised what was right in front of you… ignore Ultra Magnus’ blue face and ask yourself, who exactly is that in the middle of the frame there? Springer? Kup? Answers on a postcard.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#69:

We get into the episode proper with Ultra Magnus and his Autobot troops flying through space to stop a Decepticon plot. All seems fine until you start looking at the background details, and then it’s several layers of bizarre, including Grimlock being drawn with a mouth and Superion just hanging out and being the same size as all the other lads in the shot. Totally normal.

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#68:

The Autobots are flying towards this moon to stop Galvatron. Let’s see; we have Blaster, Perceptor, Magnus, Tiny Superion and… wait, who exactly is this now? Oh, it’s a made-up robot. Cool.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#67:

One thing about this episode that isn’t so much an error as just a universal truth is the hideous composition on offer, with various shots looking nothing shy of dreadful for how they’re put together. Regardless, the real offender here is another example of weirdly-drawn Autobots, especially Blaster, who now has some wings of some sort? Or missiles, maybe? Hard to tell.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#66:

It’s become a well-publicised fact that the G1 cartoon used numerous animation studios. This episode was among those produced by the notorious AKOM, which became well known for its error-ridden output. AKOM episodes typically have bizarre inconsistencies with the appearances of various characters and their colour schemes, and so it is with Galvatron here, including those strange lilac pants he’s wearing.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#65:

The Autobots attack! Grimlock is back to having his regular face, but Superion is now smaller than ever! I’ll be generous here and not count whatever is happening with Ultra Magnus’ neck as an error, but I will add a point for this being the last we see of Grimlock in this entire episode – man just ups and disappears!

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#64:

The Decepticons fight back! Yep, that’s Soundwave and Devastator standing side-by-side. One has to assume the animators were aiming for Action Master scale here, as it’s the only way of explaining this shot. Although I guess it doesn’t help that the Constructicons don’t actually transform into Devastator until a few moments later, right?

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#63:

Alright, I admit this one is a little nitpicky, but there’s Bonecrusher standing on top of a cloud of smoke somehow. Also in this frame is Cyclonus, which isn’t unusual until you realise he’s not supposed to be in this story and therefore doesn’t feature in any other moment of the episode.

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#62:

This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable scenes in the Transformers cartoon, as the Constructicons merge to form Devastator, and out of absolutely nowhere, Broadside’s aircraft carrier mode crashes down on top of them. However, the error is related to the character’s colouring, with Broadside featuring the wrong colours and even a purple Autobot logo to boot.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#61:

Having smashed Devastator into the ground, Broadside transforms and stands triumphant. At least, we assume it’s Broadside! After all, this is not technically how he’s supposed to look! The character notoriously had two animation models used throughout the cartoon, with Carnage in C-Minor opting for the incorrect (and non-toy accurate) version shown here. I guess it’s not *technically* an animation error, considering he at least remains inconsistent in appearance throughout the rest of the episode, but I’m adding a point anyway. You’ll also note Broadside is massive here, the same size as Devastator (assuming Devastator is his regular size and not as small as Soundwave anymore!). This is at least accurate to how some other episodes portray him but it will be a problem for the rest of this one…

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#60:

Woof, ok, where to start here? So this is meant to be a shot of the Autobots taking aim at the Decepticons, except *none* of the three characters represented has any business being in it. Firstly, Bonecrusher is a Decepticon, so he’s suddenly on the wrong side, but perhaps more notably, Brawn and Huffer are both confirmed as being *dead* at this point. Oh, and even if they were alive, they haven’t featured in this storyline so far, so where did they come from? Then there’s whatever is happening with Huffer’s appearance and colour scheme there… yeah, this one hurts.

ERROR COUNT: 5

 

#59:

Another oddly-composed shot of Autobots flying through space. Let’s ignore the weird proportions of all four characters here and point out that Broadside is now regular size, Superion continues to be tiny, and Perceptor’s shoulder cannon is on the wrong side. He also appears to have a visor on his face, and then there’s… whatever is going on with Superion’s arm. Ack.

ERROR COUNT: 5

 

#58:

If you thought the Autobots were the only ones getting in on the action, just look at this Decepticon line-up, right? Soundwave has a mouth, Mixmaster has the wrong-coloured head, and Galvatron is now a gremlin.

ERROR COUNT: 3

 

#57:

Look, I’m trying not to make too big a thing of the weird proportions of the characters here, but just look at this shot and tell me it’s OK. Go on, I dare you.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#56:

I’m going to ask one more time, but how big is Superion supposed to be here, exactly? Oh, and also note this shot is supposed to be of all the various characters involved with this storyline, yet somehow we have only two Constructicons present.

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#55:

Soundwave wakes up to discover he’s forgotten to put his Decepticon badge on. Happens to the best of us. Not sure why he’s changed the colours on his head crest, too, though!

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#54:

Broadside lifts Galvatron up in the air with one hand, which would be a triumphant moment if we were even slightly sure of just how big Broadside is even meant to be at this point!

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#53:

Here’s the famed Autobot warrior, Bonecrusher. Wait.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#52:

This Devastator transformation sequence is easy to skip over initially but just have a closer look at whatever is going on there. I mean, *really* pay attention and try and count how many Constructicons are getting in on the action.

*spoiler alert* – there are seven of them now. A new guy becomes the crotch.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#51:

Alright, I’m adding another point because of whatever is happening with the head here. Jeepers.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#50:

Whenever anyone on the Internet talks about scale in Transformers, show them this image. End of conversation.

ERROR COUNT: 2 (1 for each mini-Constructicon, it’s only fair!)

 

#49:

Galvatron and Soundwave fly away from the battle to search for a strange harmony they heard earlier, holding each other’s hands as they go. Is this an error? No, they really are that close.

ERROR COUNT: 0

 

#48:

This is one of those shots that seems kinda fine until you really look at it and then suddenly you can’t sleep because of whatever is going on with Galvatron’s arms and head.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#47:

Soundwave has so many looks! Here he’s added a third stripe on his chest, showing his sudden promotion from Lance Corporal to Sergeant.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#46:

I may as well continue to point out how oddly-sized Broadside is, eh? He’s small again now, in case you were wondering. Although weirdly, Blaster is a bit bigger than usual, too. And has very smooth legs. Ultra Magnus was only half-committed to that effort.

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#45:

This one is subtle but Broadside suddenly has green eyes. Because OF COURSE.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#44:

Another shot that seems fine (Carnage in C-Minor can trick you like that!) until you look at the missile on Ultra Magnus’ arm. Even Blaster seems kind of curious about it.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#43:

Wow, what a doozy. Is Galvatron massive or is Soundwave small? Either way, the former’s pants are more purple than ever and he’s now rather randomly adopted a Red Cross symbol on this chest. Meanwhile, Soundwave is still rocking those three stripes and now has a weird blue face to go alongside them.

ERROR COUNT: 3

 

#42:

I feel the height disparity is worth mentioning again here but it does at least distract you from the fact that Soundwave has briefly decided to become an Autobot.

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#41:

I can’t… I just… what is this episode?

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#40:

Nothing appears odd here, right? At least not until you watch the entire scene and realise that Blaster and Ultra Magnus are supposed to be holding onto Broadside’s wings.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#39:

Galvanose. Soundface. Oh, and no Decepticon symbol again.

ERROR COUNT: 2

 

#38:

Looks all good, looks all good, looks all good… wait, what is going on with Galvatron’s arm? Where is his shoulder attached? The elbow is as low as his waist… oh no.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#37:

Alright look, I *could* have included pretty much any time Soundwave transforms in this episode as it’s never not an event, but instead, I just went for this one as it’s definitely my favourite of the lot. No Masterpiece toy will ever be ‘cartoon accurate’ until they can do this.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 

#36:

This is fine, right? Just Ultra Magnus in truck mode with some humans running alongside him. Wassat? That’s Blaster and Broadside. Oh, dear.

ERROR COUNT: 1

 
 
Oh, but we’re not nearly done. Be sure to continue with part 2!

TTFN