Jazz (Animated)
From Transformers Wiki
| The name or term "Jazz" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, seeJazz (disambiguation). |
- Jazz is anAutobotfrom theAnimated continuity family.
Though a member of theCybertron Elite Guard,Jazzis a bit of an independent thinker. He's reluctant to disobey orders, but he has more of an appreciation for the finer things than his compatriots. This is evidenced in his better choice of vehicle mode disguise, a "sweet ride" drawn from Earth culture. He is aCyber-Ninja,likeProwl.However, his training is more progressed, and instead of ninja stars he wields a pair ofLaser Nunchaku.He seems to be the only one of the Elite Guard willing to learn, and fits in with the Earth team pretty well.
He isincrediblycool.
| “ | Any species that can come up with a sweet ride like this can't be all bad! | ” |
—Jazz digs his newaltmodeand the humans that created it,The Elite Guard | ||
Contents |
Fiction
Animatedcartoon
- Voice actor:Phil LaMarr(English),Hideo Ishikawa(Japanese),Jens-Uwe Bogadtke(German),Gabriele Calindri(Italian),Abel Musa(Latin-American Spanish, season 2),Eleazar Osorio(Latin-American Spanish, season 3),Fábio de Castro(Brazilian Portuguese, seasons 1 and 2),César Marchetti(Brazilian Portuguese, season 3),Juha Paananen(Finnish),Frédéric Cerdal(French, season 2 and first half of 3),Frédéric Popovic(French, second half of season 3)
Jazz accompaniedSupreme CommanderUltra MagnusandSentinel PrimetoEarthto retrieveOptimus Prime's crew and theAllSpark.DispatchesWhen Magnus ordered Jazz to activate aforce fieldaroundtheir shipto prevent organic contamination from thenatives,Jazz expressed interest in getting a closer look at them. This prompted Sentinel Prime to warn Jazz that the organics would eventually spit acidic goo that would melt through his body armor and destroy vitalcircuitry.Jazz was...less willing to meet the organics after that.
WhenSari Sumdacmanaged to sneak aboard their ship, he tried to send her out without provoking her. When she realized that Jazz was afraid of her, she tried to scare him. AfterBulkheadexplained that humans were harmless (andBumblebeeexplained that Sentinel Prime was a jerk), Jazz accompanied the Autobots to a Sumdac manufacturing plant that was going haywire. Jazz and Prowl managed to keep the AllSpark-poweredpolice dronesaway from Sari and Optimus long enough for Sari to shut down the assembly line. He and Prowl traded several martial arts-centered quips throughout the battle, talking aboutMetallikatomoves like the "Five Servos of Doom"attack.The Elite Guard
When Ultra Magnus started to receive reports ofDecepticonuprisings at the rim of the galaxy, Jazz commented that it was probably because they'd "got wind" thatMegatronwas still online. Jazz later noticed a spike in AllSpark energy, and Ultra Magnus took him to investigate, leaving Sentinel Prime to watch Optimus Prime. Their combined attempt to remove the "SmallSpark", whichStarscreamhad booby-trapped, failed, and they were blown off the train in which it was embedded. Optimus and his crew, with the help of Sari and theAllSpark Key,successfully and safely removed the AllSpark fragment, but Jazz could only watch as they received a dressing-down from Ultra Magnus for becoming involved. Then Starscream himself crashed to Earth, courtesy of Megatron's cannon, and knocked out Magnus. Jazz turned to Sentinel for orders, but the panicking Guardsbot was unable to think of anything. Optimus took over, directing his crew and Sari to various tasks and himself, Jazz and Sentinel to take down Starscream—although Jazz needed to talk down the posturing pair ofPrimesbefore they could get to fighting the bad guy.
His nunchaku proved ineffective, however, and he was swiftly knocked out, leaving Optimus to save the day again. Jazz later escorted Optimus's crew in taking thestasis-lockedand gagged Starscream to be imprisoned in the Elite Guard's ship, before the three Guardsbots and their ship departed, leaving Optimus and his crew to deal with the remaining Decepticons on Earth.Mission AccomplishedJazz was present as Starscream escaped the Elite Guard ship.A Fistful of Energon
When Ultra Magnus decided to beginProject Safeguard,Jazz and Sentinel voiced dissent, stating that Autobots don't fly. Their cautions went unheeded, however, and it was in the process of downloading the captive Starscream'sflight protocolsfor this project that the Decepticon escaped. Jazz's discomfort only worsened when he sawJetfireandJetstorm.He was soon assigned to train them. While taking them on in battle to gauge their abilities, Jazz seemingly won quite quickly, but as soon as he turned his back, the twins defeated him with ease. Later, he was observing the twins in simulated training whenPerceptortried putting Starscream's coding into the program. The Starscream code took over, trapping the twins and preventing Jazz and Sentinel from disconnecting them. They were powerless to help, and the twins had to save themselves by discovering the ability to merge intoSafeguard.First (and Second) in Flight
Jazz was still on board the Elite Guard ship, along with Ultra Magnus and Sentinel, during the galactic battles with the Decepticon rebels when they received a transmission fromRodimusrequesting back-up. Jazz had told him to hold on a little longer, but by the time the Elite Guard had arrived,Team Chaarhad already left, albeit onMegatron'sorders.TransWarped
Longarm Primelater sent Jazz, accompanied by Sentinel, Jetfire, and Jetstorm, to go after the supposed traitorWasp.However, Wasp had retreated to Earth, much to Longarm's dismay, as he had ordered all contact with that planet be filtered through him. Despite this, Jazz and the others still went after the traitor. They found Optimus Prime's crew, who revealed that Longarm was really Shockwave, a Decepticon double-agent, and that Wasp had been innocent the whole time. Despite this, Sentinel Prime still wanted Wasp brought in, but the crazed Autobot got away.Where Is Thy Sting?
Sentinel later succeeded in capturingSwindle,Sunstorm,Blitzwing,andLugnut,leavingProwlto suspect he was getting help. Jazz had this suspicion, too, and they followed Sentinel to find that he was bargaining witha double-dealing, bounty-hunting scum.Jazz and the others defeated Lockdown, along withanother Decepticon fugitive.While they captured the clone, Lockdown escaped. Jazz later became impressed by Prowl's new armor, especiallyYoketron's helmet.Five Servos of DoomWhen Sentinel realised he was needed on Cybertron, the Elite Guard packed up and headed for home. Jazz was disappointed, as he had enjoyed being on Earth.Predacons Rising
On the return trip, Jazz and Sentinel were contacted by the Autobot council, who wished to discuss Sentinel's temporary promotion. Sentinel let this go to his head and told Jazz to refer to him as "Commander". He also directed Jazz to take them through an unstable ion storm, despite Jazz's protests. As Jazz piloted them in, energy from the storm somehow restored Swindle, who had been stuck in hisalt mode.Swindle instigated a prison break, releasing the other Decepticons, and led them in an attack on the Elite Guard. Jazz requested that Sentinel contact Cybertron for help, but fearing repercussions for allowing the escape to happen on his watch, Sentinel sent a coded message to Optimus instead. Appearing unexpectedly through a transwarp link within Swindle's chest, Optimus Prime was able to free the Elite Guard. He then made sure the Decepticons could hear him order Jazz to modify the ship's decontamination chamber to freeze its occupants. However, he simultaneously gave Jazz a secret coded order to set up the chamber to freeze thoseoutsideof it. Thus, when the Decepticons eventually recaptured the Autobots and placed them in the chamber, it backfired, allowing the Autobots to escape and recapture all the prisoners but Swindle and Lugnut.Decepticon Air
Having returned to Cybertron, Jazz began chafing under Sentinel Magnus's militant approach. WhenRatchetandCaptain Fanzoneaccidentally transwarped to Cybertron, Jazz followed orders and helped capture them. However, once they escaped, he tailed them and eventually helped them by granting them access to the Elite Guard infirmary so they could search forArcee.After battlingShockwave,Ratchet was able to recapture theMagnus Hammer,but refused to give it to Sentinel. Instead, he took it with him back to Earth, intent on keeping it from Sentinel and protecting it for Ultra Magnus. Sentinel started to follow, but Jazz volunteered to go instead. Upon his arrival on Earth, Jazz informed Ratchet that he had enough of Sentinel and promptly volunteered his services to the Earthbound Autobots.This Is Why I Hate Machines
Jazz was mighty impressed with Prowl's mastery ofprocessor-over-matter,though his query regarding why Prowl never finished his training went unanswered. When Prowl volunteered to go to theMoonto check up on Megatron's activities, Jazz insisted he stay on Earth to complete his Cyber-Ninja training. The pair retired to some woods, where-with Jazz's encouragement-Prowl was able to reconstitute a fragment of the AllSpark solely through his mental prowess. They returned to base in time to see threeLugnut Supremesdropping on the city.Endgame, Part I
As Optimus Prime attacked the Omega clones with the Magnus Hammer, Jazz helped the rest of the Autobots protect the humans. He later aided Prowl in attacking the two remaining Lugnut Supremes, though to little effect, and the pair retired to Sumdac Tower to work on reconstituting the AllSpark using processor-over-matter. Pooling their processors, they were able to reassemble most of the AllSpark from the scattered fragments, but not enough to protect the city. Prowl donated his own spark, despite Jazz's protest, to complete the AllSpark, and Jazz caught his comrade's lifeless body. Though the city was subsequently saved through their actions and the Autobots were celebratory, Jazz had to break the bad news. With the Earth saved, Jazz returned to Cybertron with the Autobots and received a triumphant welcome.Endgame, Part II
Following his return to Cybertron, Jazz attended theStunt Convoyshow that turned out to be a disguised attempt to free Megatron.The Stunti-Con JobOptimus Prime and Jazz restored theBlurr cubeto his normal body in theCyber-Ninja Dojo,using theAllSpark Matrix.The Return of Blurr
The Coolcomic
Jazz and the Elite Guard journeyed to Earth in order to extract an explanation from Optimus Prime regarding why he had yet to return to Cybertron with his crew.The Cool Episode 5
Apparently having stayed on Earth but not doing anything, Jazz joined the Autobots on their return flight to Cybertron with the shackledMegatronin tow.The Cool Episode Final
Legendscomic
Jazz and Safeguard attempted to apprehendSlipstream,but failed to prevent her from crossing over to theLegends World.Bonus Edition Vol. 16
Toys
Animated
Deluxe Class
(Hasbro version pictured)
- Autobot Jazz(Deluxe, 2008)
- Takara release date:July 24,2010
- Takara ID number:TA-29
- Accessories:2 side-pipe "energy chucks"
- Known designers:Eric Siebenaler(Hasbro)
- Part of the third wave of Hasbro'sAnimatedDeluxes, Jazz transforms into a luxury car of made-up model reminiscent of a Porsche 911. The toy features translucent bluelight-pipingfor its visor, as well as translucent blue headlights. Curiously, all the toy's vehicle mode windows arealsocast from this plastic, but tinted black bypaint applications.The toy's exhaust pipes can be removed from his forearms, and are connected by a short length of string to serve as nunchaku-style "energy chucks" weapons.
- Jazz was released in the sixth wave of TakaraTomy'sAnimatedline in 2010. This version ismostlythe same as the Hasbro release, except his front bumper, pipe-bases and side-mirrors are painted metallic silver rather than the Hasbro version's metallic blue-silver.
- This mold was also used to make theBotCon 2011-exclusiveAnimatedDead Endand theFigure Subscription ServiceJackpot.
- Freeway Jazz(Deluxe, 2009)
- Accessories:2 side-pipe "energy chucks"
- Known designers:Marcelo Matere(packaging artist)
- Released in the seventh and ultimately final wave of Hasbro's Deluxes, Freeway Jazz is aredecoof Deluxe Autobot Jazz inmovie-inspired colors.
- Interestingly, the light-piping gimmick (now the same yellow color as his headlights) is painted over from the front in pure cyan, rendering it moot. The back of the head is still that same translucent color, however.
Bumper Battlers
- Autobot Jazz(Bumper Battler, 2008)
- Known designers:Vickie Stratford(Hasbro)
- Jazz is part of the second wave ofBumper Battlers.Pressing on the vehicle mode's front bumper activates electronic noises and pops up the roof, revealing a relief of Jazz's robot form. Pressing on the Autobot faction symbol on the hood activates a random string of sound effects and voice samples from the samples available on the toy's sound chip.
- Stealth Ninja Jazz(Bumper Battler, 2009)
- Known designers:Vickie Stratford(Hasbro)
- A silver redeco of Bumper Battlers Jazz withTRON-like light-blue piping detailing was released in the fifth wave of the assortment.
- However, this wave, which includesWorkzone Bulkhead,functionally never made it to US shelves. It saw release in Australian stores, and eventually saw someextremelylimited release in North America (Canada and the US) in 2010.[1]
Notes
- The Allspark Almanacidentifies his weapons as "Laser Nunchaku",as did hischaracter modelsheet.
- The Allspark Almanac IIrevealed that, had a fourth season ofAnimatedgone into production, Jazz was to become part of the main cast, replacing Prowl, just asIronhidewas to takeBulkhead's place.
- Phil LaMarr, Jazz's voice actor, has openly claimed he did not attempt to emulate the lateScatman Crothers,voice of the original Jazz from the Generation 1 cartoon, instead opting for a more low-key, calmer personality.[citation needed]
Foreign names
- Japanese:Jazz(ジャズJazu)
