Sideswipe (G1)

Sideswipe is the name of several characters in the Transformers universes. Because of trademark restrictions, toys of the character are sometimes marketed as Side Swipe.

Transformers: Generation 1
Sideswipe (Lambor in Japan, Frérot in the French-speaking part of Canada, Freccia inItaly) is described in his tech file as a brave but often rash warrior. He is almost as skilled as his twin brother Sunstreaker in combat, but is less ruthless. Sideswipe transformed into a red Lamborghini Countach, while his brother, Sunstreaker, transformed into a yellow Lamborghini Countach. Because of his jetpack, Sideswipe was one of few G1 Autobots with the ability to fly.[1]

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Animated series
SideswipeSideswipe was part of the initial crew of Autobots aboard the Ark when it crash-landed on Earth four million years ago. He awakened along with his fellow Transformers in 1984, with both he and his brother being reformatted intoLamborghini sports cars. Sideswipe loanedOptimus Prime the use of his rocket pack when the Decepticons nearly escaped from Earth with a starship full of energon. Throughout Seasons 1 and 2, Sideswipe was voiced by voice actor, Michael Bell.

Sideswipe and Sunstreaker often operated together. When antimatter-fueled Decepticons attacked the Ark on one occasion in the episode "Roll for It", Sideswipe and Sunstreaker took to the air to battle with the incoming seeker jets, in a rambunctious, if ultimately ineffective, display of "jet judo."

When investigating tremors that were shaking the Autobot base, Ironhide's scanner found some interesting objects inside a rock wall. Sideswipe, using his piston-like arms, helpedBrawn removed the rock wall and found a cave full of dinosaur bones, the discovery of which would lead to the development of the Dinobots. Sideswipe disguised as the Stunticon Breakdown.Towards the end of 1985, Sideswipe was a semi-regular in the series, and is among the team of five Autobots who disguised themselves as the Stunticons. Penetrating the Decepticons' camp, the Autobots ran into trouble when the real Stunticons arrived, trying to prove their identities by forming Menasor. With a combination of Windcharger's magnetic powers and Hound's hologram-creating ability, the Autobots were able to appear as Menasor too, but the Deception was soon revealed, though they were still able to thwart the Decepticons' plans.

In an early script for The Transformers: The Movie there was a scene planned where Sideswipe, Red Alert and Tracks hop off Ultra Magnus to attack Devastator, but they all flee and Red Alert is shot in the back and killed.

Sideswipe appears in the first two episodes of the Japanese series Transformers: Headmasters, participating with Ultra Magnus, the Trainbots, and Prowl on a shootout against the Triple Changers, Soundwave and Sixshot. During a segment of this intense shootout, Sideswipe manages to hit Frenzy and later, after foiling a new Decepticon assault, has also a line.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Sideswipe appears in the live action Transformers film series. He transforms into aChevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept, and has two wheeled feet like Bonecrusher in the first film. He is armed with two retractable Cybertanium arm blades on each of his wrists in robot mode, along with a pair of guns and a machine gun on his back. Early concept art of Sideswipe portrayed him as being red, but he ended up silver, presumably due to directorMichael Bay's notion that the color red does not photograph well on film (the same reasonOptimus Prime in the film series is primarily blue over red).

His Hasbro battle bio states that he is 15 ft. tall and that he is a master in almost every form of martial arts on Cybertron. Sideswipe first appears in the chase inShanghai, China, pursuing the DecepticonSideways. Using his wheeled feet to menuvere, Sideswipe somersaulted over him while shooting at him, then threw one of his arm blades into the front of Sideways' vehicle mode. As he landed, Sideswipe reattached the blade (which was still embedded in Sideways) and forced it lengthwise down Sideways' body, cutting him in half. He was also seen in the fight against the Decepticons after Optimus Prime was killed by Megatron as Bumblebee and the twins escaped with Sam. Sideswipe was surrounded by the human military and forced to go back to the Autobot base alongside Ironhide, Ratchet, Arcee and Jolt. They arrived in Egypt and fought against many Decepticons and watched as Optimus Prime was resurrected. Sideswipe was brushed aside by The Fallen when he teleported in front of them.

Sideswipe returns in Dark of the Moon as one of the main Autobots. He accompanied Bumblebee, Que and Dino when they investigated a nuclear facility in the Middle East. Later he joined Dino/Mirage and Bumblebee in accompanying the humans to find out more about the Space Race. Sideswipe helped Bumblebee and Dino/Mirage fight the three Dreads on the highway, who are after Sentinel Prime, using his vehicle weapons mode to shoot at Hatchet. He then helped Ironhide finish off Crowbar and Crankcase in a Mexican Standoff as Sideswipe called it. Sideswipe was expelled from Earth along with the other Autobots and was thought to have perished when Starscream destroyed the Xanthium. He participated in the final battle in Chicago. He was captured by the Decepticons and witnessed the death of Que/Wheeljack. He almost shared Que/Wheeljack's fate but escapes after Wheelie and Brains crash the Decepticon ship. He helps Bumblebee and Ratchet fire at incoming Decepticons, and briefly fights Sentinel Prime alongside them. He is among the surviving Autobots at the end of the film.

Sideswipe is the only character in the film series to have his voice actor be recast between Revenge of the Fallen and Dark of the Moon.