Transformers: Scramble City is an OVA produced by Toei Company that was released in 1986. The OVA was made to tie-in with the second season of The Transformers and the Generation 1 Scramble City toyline that was exclusive only in Japan.
In an underground factory, the Autobots are busy constructing their latest project under the supervision of Ultra Magnus. The "Scramble City" project is a mobile fortress designed to aid in the construction of new Autobot combiner teams. Megatron catches wind of the project and sends Devastator and the Seekers to attack the factory. When their attack is repelled by the Aerialbots, Megatron sends in the Stunticons and Combaticons to turn the battle in the Decepticon's favour. During the fight, the combiner teams demonstrate their "Scramble Power" to switch their limbs around and optimize their battle skills. When the Aerialbots prove to be outmatched, Ultra Magnus decides it's time to activate Scramble City to aid the Autobots and turn the tide of the battle.
Due to the delayed release of The Transformers: The Movie in Japan, Scramble City featured the onscreen debuts of a few characters who would make their way into the show's third season. This includes Ultra Magnus, Metroplex, Trypticon, Ratbat, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn. It also served as the first appearance of most of the combiner teams introduced at the tail-end of season two. Because of licensing rights regarding the OVA, it has never received an official English dub and has hardly received a home-video release outside of Japan.
Examples:
- Base on Wheels: Scramble City is a giant battle fortress that wheels into battle during the climax shortly before transforming into Metroplex.
- Bolivian Army Ending: The final scene in the OVA is Megatron summoning Trypticon into battle and preparing to face off against Metroplex before it cuts to the credits. It wouldn't be until Transformers Legends that the story was finally resolved.
- The Cameo: Spike, Carly, Chip Chase and some Autobots such as Bumblebee and Grapple.
- Continuity Snarl: The narrator mentions that the Stunticons were built as counterparts to the Aerialbots. However, the two-part episode "The Key to Vector Sigma" shows both of their origins and it was the exact opposite. The Stunticons were the first to be built and the Autobots later built the Aerialbots as a response.
- Evil Laugh: Ratbat lets off a sinister, high-pitched cackle when he sneaks into the Autobot's underground lair and discovers their plans to build Scramble City.
- Excuse Plot: While the plots in The Transformers weren't really known for their depth or complexity, the story in Scramble City boils down to Megatron sending the Decepticons to attack the Autobot's factory and the Autobots defending themselves. The entire OVA is really just an excuse to show off the combiner teams fighting each other and the toyline's Scramble Power gimmick.
- Narrating the Obvious: The narrator does give some important exposition early on, such as what Scramble City is and why the Autobots are building it. Once the action scenes start, he mostly narrates who's appearing in the scene and what they're doing during the fight.
- Oh, Crap!: The Autobots gasp in shock when the Constructicons combine into Devastator and start attacking them.
- Remember the New Guy?: While it does offer some backstory for the combiner teams, Ultra Magnus is treated like he's always been a part of the Autobots and is not given any special introduction.
- The Worf Effect: Devastator, who is shown early on to drive off the entire Autobot army, is quickly taken out in a few shots by the Aerialbots. Later on, Menasor and Bruticus are driven off by the arrival of the new cityformer Metroplex.
