| Transformers: Animated | |
|---|---|
 Series logo | |
| Created by |
|
| Based on | Transformers byHasbro andTakara Tomy |
| Developed by | Marty Isenberg |
| Voices of | |
| Theme music composer | Andy Sturmer |
| Opening theme | "Transformers: Main Theme" |
| Ending theme | "Transformers: Main Theme"(Instrumental) |
| Composer | Sebastian Evans II |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 42(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Vincent Aniceto |
| Running time |
|
| Production companies | [a] |
| Original release | |
| Network | Cartoon Network |
| Release | December 26, 2007 (2007-12-26) – May 23, 2009 (2009-05-23) |
Transformers: Animated is ananimated television series based on theTransformers toy line. It was produced byCartoon Network Studios andHasbro Entertainment and animated byThe Answer Studio,Mook Animation, andStudio 4°C (shorts). The series debuted onCartoon Network on December 26, 2007, and ended on May 23, 2009; running for42 episodes across three seasons. In Japan, the show debuted on April 3, 2010, on bothTV Aichi andTV Tokyo.[2]
The show is set in its own stand-alonecontinuity, separate from any other previousTransformers continuities. Despite this, the series features many references to the other continuities; such as footage from theGeneration 1 series being used as a historical film.[3]
The show is one of twoCartoon Network Studios shows whose rights are not owned byWarner Bros. Discovery, the other being the 2003-2005Star Wars: Clone Wars television series (owned byThe Walt Disney Company viaLucasfilm).
The series began with a three-part movie-length episode called "Transform and Roll Out!". Stellar cycles (years) after theAutobots won the great war for Cybertron against theDecepticons, an Autobot maintenance crew led byOptimus Prime and consisting of Ratchet, Bulkhead, Prowl, andBumblebee discover the legendary AllSpark buried on an asteroid. The Autobots take the AllSpark back to their ship, but are soon confronted by a crew of Decepticons led by the notoriouswarlordMegatron and consisting of Blitzwing, Lugnut, Blackarachnia, andStarscream. Megatron attacks the Autobot ship and tries to retrieve the AllSpark, but when an explosive planted on Megatron by the treacherous Starscream detonates, the ship crashes on Earth. The Autobots go into stasis to survive the crash, while the scattered remains of Megatron are discovered by a human scientist named Isaac Sumdac.
Half a century later, Professor Issac Sumdac is theCEO of a robotics company known as Sumdac Systems, which is based in a futuristic version ofDetroit in the 2050s. Optimus Prime and the Autobots awaken from stasis and defend the people of Detroit from a monster, resulting in them becoming local celebrities. They befriend Professor Sumdac's young daughter Sari, who teaches them about Earthsocial norms, and whose security card is transformed into a metallic tool which possesses a fraction of the AllSpark's vast cosmic power. Starscream arrives on Earth and tries to take the all-powerful AllSpark for himself, but the Autobots successfully stop him and save the Earth once again.
The Autobots settle into their new home and learn about Earth culture and customs, while also defending Detroit from various threats. Megatron's disembodied head, which has been in Professor Sumdac's laboratory since the ship crashed, comes back online and manipulates Sumdac into building him a new body, pretending that he is an Autobot. Blitzwing and Lugnut arrive on Earth searching for Megatron, while Blackarachnia targets Optimus Prime, blaming him for her techno-organic mutation. New Transformers introduced in the first season include the AutobotArcee (who only appears in Ratchet's flashbacks), the DecepticonSoundwave, the bounty-hunterLockdown, and the DinobotsGrimlock, Snarl, and Swoop. Several human villains are also introduced, including Nanosec (who can run at extreme speeds), the Headmaster (who pilots a machine that attaches to and controls large robots) and Meltdown (who is covered in a toxic and corrosive substance). The season ends with Megatron returning with a new body (built by the all-powerful AllSpark from his old body, while also killing Starscream for his betrayal), and the AllSpark exploding into many fragments that scatter across Detroit.
The Autobot Elite Guard membersUltra Magnus,Sentinel Prime, andJazz arrive on Earth to retrieve the AllSpark, only to learn of its destruction in the Season One finale. While Sentinel completely disbelieves Optimus's claims, Optimus and his team are eventually able to convince Magnus of Decepticon activity on Earth. The main theme for Season Two is the discovery of small fragments of the AllSpark littered across the city (and possibly, the entire planet), while the Decepticons work on building a space bridge back to Cybertron with the help of Issac Sumdac, who was kidnapped by Megatron in the previous season's finale. This is part of Megatron's plan to invade Cybertron from within, without the Autobots' awareness.
New characters introduced in season 2 include the AutobotsOmega Supreme (who was revealed to be Optimus Prime's team's spaceship), Wreck-Gar,Wasp andBlurr, the DecepticonsShockwave,Swindle,Mixmaster and Scrapper, the human villain Slo-Mo (who is able to slow down time using a watch embedded with an AllSpark fragment), and Starscream's army of clonesThundercracker, Ramjet,Skywarp,Sunstorm, and Slipstream (none of the clones are openly referred to by name in the series, the names listed come from the toy-line, while Slipstream was retroactively given her name by Hasbro). At the end of the season, the Decepticon Space Bridge is destroyed, but Megatron, Starscream (resurrected by the AllSpark fragment in his forehead), and Omega Supreme are sucked through and lost in deep space. Sari meanwhile, notices an injury that exposes mechanical components under her skin, revealing that she is not entirely human.
The revelation that she's a robot sends Sari into a whirlwind of shock and disbelief, immediately suspecting her "father" as her creator, despite Sumdac's insistence that he discovered her in a liquid metal form. Ratchet's examination unveils Sari's mixed human and Cybertronian composition. Prowl's inquiry supports Sumdac's account, pinpointing Sari as a Cybertronian protoform merged with Sumdac's genetic code. Using her Key's energy, Sari evolves into a formidable armored techno-organic teenager with advanced weaponry and unique Cybertronian abilities.
Meanwhile, on Cybertron, Shockwave (disguised as the Autobot Longarm Prime) sabotages several Elite Guard operations in preparation for Megatron's return, unaware that Megatron and Starscream are lost in deep space, trying to gain control of Omega Supreme. Suspecting that the double-agent may be the escaped convict Wasp, Ultra Magnus sends Sentinel and Jazz back to Earth to find and apprehend Wasp, who has found his way to Earth to exact revenge on Bumblebee for framing him. Soundwave and Arcee reappear, with Soundwave being accompanied by minionsLaserbeak andRatbat. New characters introduced in season 3 include the Constructicon Dirt Boss, the Autobot scientistPerceptor, Prowl's mentor Yoketron (who only appears in flashbacks), and the flying Elite Guard membersJetstorm andJetfire.
In the two-part finale, "Endgame", Jazz joins Optimus Prime's team on Earth, while Megatron and Starscream also find their way back to Earth, using information stored deep within Arcee's subconscious mind to create an army of Omega Supreme-sized robots in Lugnut's likeness. Optimus defeats Megatron with the aid of Ultra Magnus' Magnus Hammer (which destroys Megatron's fusion cannon) and a "Wingblade" jetpack built by Professor Sumdac, Ratchet, and Sari while Prowl sacrifices his own vital Spark to reassemble most of the AllSpark into what resemblesthe Matrix of Leadership, killing Starscream in the process, and destroying the "Lugnut Supremes" all at once. Megatron is arrested, and the Autobots return to Cybertron, and are hailed as heroes upon arriving on their home world with Sari who is intent on learning what it is to be an Autobot and finally about her unique origins.
A fourth season of more than thirteen/sixteen episodes was initially planned for, consisting of more than just the regular thirteen or sixteen episodes, but was ultimately cancelled. According toThe AllSpark Almanac II,The Complete AllSpark Almanac, and issue #71 of theTransformers Collectors' Club magazine, season four's main theme would have been the discovery of Energon deposits left by the Allspark across Detroit.
Two official script readings in Botcon convention taking place in Animated tells stories after the events of the Third Season but before the proposed 4 Fourth Season.
After the events of Endgame focuses on Animated versions of Sideswipe as a senior police bot with one last case before retirement paired up with a new parter loose cannon Cheetor investigating stolen modifications which would lead to the "Stunt Convoy" show but however were revealed to be Animated versions of the Stunticons (Minus Menasor) and bizzario toxic Optimus Prime clone dubbed Toxitron. Optimus would switch places with Toxitron when the latter got arrested and released due to lack of evidence. Optimus exposes the Stunticons plan with Sideswipe and Cheetor's help put astop to them. However, after Sideswipe retired and settle at the Energon farm it would be attacked by a new Team Charr.[citation needed]
Taking place around the events of the previous script reading focusing on Sari Summadic in a Cybertronian class with Animated versions of Headmasters Siren, Horsehead, and Nighbeat with Arcee as its teacher inside of Metroplex. When Sari's classmates was grossed out from her eating her food from Earth she went to throw it in a garbage chute she ends up falling in where she finds the crushed Blurr (From the events ofTranswarped Part 2) still alive where in events of trying to escape they accidentally unleashed an Animated version of Kremzeek that ended up taking over some Autobot bodies before trying to hyjack Fortress Maxinus' cannons that would destroy the Iacon later revealed to be created by Shockwave. However using her powers she gained Blurr's speed to race over there while running into Cheetor and Sideswipe along the way. Sari would manage to trap Kremzeek in a cup where Kremzeek. Later on Optimus would use the Allspark to fully restore Blurr where Blurr breaks thefourth wall exited to be back in time for season 4 but when he learns there is no season 4 he asked his agent to get involved withRobots in Disguise orSusan Blu's input to hopefully get into voice directing.
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season premiere | Season finale | |||
| 1 | 16 | December 26, 2007 (2007-12-26) | April 5, 2008 (2008-04-05) | |
| 2 | 13 | April 12, 2008 (2008-04-12) | July 5, 2008 (2008-07-05) | |
| 3 | 13 | March 14, 2009 (2009-03-14) | May 23, 2009 (2009-05-23) | |
The main Autobots are Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee. The main Decepticon cast is made up of Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing, Lugnut, and Blackarachnia. The main humans, or as the Transformers call them, "organics",[4] are Professor Isaac Sumdac, Sari Sumdac, and Captain Fanzone.
Transformers: Animated was adapted into comics and published byIDW Publishing in 2008. The book used cartoon screen captures arranged in comic book style panels. In the same year, they also published a comic series featuring original stories titledTransformers Animated: The Arrival. In Japan, amanga adaptation titledTransformers Animated: The Cool (トランスフォーマー アニメイテッド ザ・クール) was created by Naoto Tsushima and serialized inKadokawa Shoten'sKerokero Ace magazine from March 26, 2010, to March 26, 2011.
The series isanimated by Japanese animation studiosMOOK DLE, The Answer Studio, andStudio 4°C.[citation needed] Formerly known by the working titleTransformers: Heroes, its new simplified title was designed to specifically distinguish it from thelive-action film released in July 2007, months before the first episode aired.[3] The series is distributed internationally byEntertainment Rights.[8] Hot Shot was originally going to be part of the main cast, but was replaced by Bumblebee. Hot Shot still makes an appearance in the show.
The show's supervising director is Matt Youngberg (Teen Titans,The Batman),[9] with Cartoon Network vice-presidentSam Register, who also createdHi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, as an executive producer and Vincent Aniceto as a line producer. Additionally,Beast Machines writerMarty Isenberg returned as the head writer for this series.[citation needed] Art director and lead character designer Derrick J. Wyatt (Teen Titans,Ben 10: Omniverse, andScooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated) created the controversial "brand new look" that this series introduces.
The first episode was due to be screened in full on November 3–4, 2007, at the NTFA Mini-Con, aTransformers convention inArlöv,Sweden, but US toymakerHasbro pulled their approval of the screening of the full episode, despite it being green-lighted by Hasbro Nordic at first. The episode had to be cut down to the first 11 minutes.[10][11]
WhileTransformers: Animated had aired and completed its run in many other territories, the release of the series in Japan had been delayed. However, on December 18, 2009, it was announced through the launch of the official website thatTakara Tomy would be bringing the series to Japan come Spring 2010.[2] Later,TV Tokyo affiliate,TV Aichi confirmed the exact date of broadcast, which was April 3, 2010, at 8:00AM.[12]
The series was shown in a 4:3 aspect ratio, similar to Cartoon Network's broadcast, unlike the original 16:9 ratio used byThe Hub. To compensate, the Japanese version added side backgrounds, such as one featuring the Autobot insignia.
In line with the Japanese movie release, Takara Tomy modified the dub to resemble the movie more closely, retaining many of the original character names. Optimus Prime's name was kept instead of changing it to Convoy. However, to align the main cast with the movie, Bulkhead was renamed Ironhide,[13] which meant the English version's Ironhide had to be renamed "Armorhide".
Following the trend of earlierTransformers series such asBeast Wars andBeast Machines, the Japanese dub ofTransformers: Animated takes on a more cheerful tone than the original. It includes a lot of self-referential, fourth-wall-breaking humour, and numerous pop-culture references.
The Japanese opening theme is "TRANSFORMERS EVO." performed byJAM Project, while the ending theme is "AXEL TRANSFORMERS" byRey.[citation needed]
The North American releases feature full-screen video and stereo sound in both English and Spanish (except Season Three and The Complete Series (both feature widescreen video and stereo sound in only English)).
As of 2024[update], the series is currently available for streaming online on the officialTransformers YouTube channel (the first and second seasons only), as well asKabillion and the AVOD/FAST servicesPlex,Pluto TV,The Roku Channel andTubi, as they use the widescreen masters from both the 2014 Shout! Factory DVD release and Cartoon Network HD/Hub Network broadcasts and the only Cartoon Network Studios-produced show to made available on the AVOD/FAST streaming services.[14][15][16][17][18][19]
Whereas in North America the series was released in complete seasons, the UK instead got several single-disc "volumes" containing four episodes each, also featuring full-screen video, but with audio and subtitles in English and German.
Germany saw the same releases as the UK.
In a press release by Takara Tomy, it was announced that starting in Fall 2010, they would be releasing the series on DVD byParamount Home Entertainment Japan.[20]
Transformers Animated: The Game is the first game based on the series. Released for theNintendo DS platform in October 2008 byActivision.
Two arcade games, Transformers Animated: The Chase and Transformers Animated: The Shooting were released in Japan bySega. Both games took advantage of the cards included in the Japanese releases of the toy line.[21]
| Generation 1 | |
|---|---|
| Beast era | |
| Unicron Trilogy | |
| Aligned Universe | |
| Prime Wars Trilogy | |
| Other | |
| Animated films | |
