Transformers Animated: Episodes 1-3 Transform and Roll Out

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 2:13 pm

Cartoon Network has aired the 90 minute special for Transformers Animated. This is a collection of the first three episodes in a movie format.

So, how was it?

Well, here's the story thus far. We're told in a flashback (featuring G1 style animation) that the Great War with the Decepticons has been over for hundreds of years. The Decepticons have been kicked off of the planet Cybertron. Enter Optimus Prime and his group of Space Bridge Repair Bots. They are repairing a space bridge on an asteroid when The Allspark literally falls into their laps. They're immediately attacked by the Decepticons.

From there, stuff gets REAL. Thanks in no small part to Starscream's treachery, the Autobots defeat Megatron and crash land on Earth. They spend 50 years in stasis and revive just in time to help stop a giant mutant cybernetic cockroach.

Eventually, Starscream makes his way to Earth, attempts to steal The Allspark, and is thwarted by Optimus Prime and the Autobots. ONE Decepticon nearly takes out the entire team. Even though they've saved The Allspark, Optimus Prime dies in the attempt. In what may be a new franchise record, he's revived about 45 seconds later.

So, what worked?

The voice acting was spot on. The animation was fluid and looked amazing. The original Transforming sound was there in full effect. Spike, Carly and even Daniel had a cameo. The show was obviously for kids, but is definitely not pandering. The G1-style intro segment was a terrific nod to the fans.

What didn't work?

Some people won't be able to get over the ultra-stylized animation.

Final rating?

Out of five stars, I give it...five stars. It's a promising start to the new series, it was terrifically written, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I highly recommend watching it.

Oh, and if you haven't yet, you can watch it (in 9 parts) on Youtube. http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=FanofTransformers

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:15 pm

I liked it. I felt a little uncomfortable at first with the change of lingo(Allspark replacing the Matrix and Primus), but overall I enjoyed it. 5 stars. I can really see this show being the next Beast Wars in terms of writing and storytelling.

Brendocon · Post by **Brendocon** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:48 pm

Professor Smooth wrote:They spend 50 years in stasis

That's MUCH more sensible than 4 million.

I wantz to do teh watchz0ring.

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:20 pm

Great show, I can't wait for the next episode.

Watch the part when Sumdac gives his introduction speech - after the trash-can-bot, you can see Spike, Carly, and little Daniel buying from a vendor!

Plus, the bot shown at the end of the G1 'history tape' recap is Dion...

Oh, and Ratchet mentions the Well of All Sparks (the one the Fallen wanted to unlock in TWW v2. Dark Ages)...

Anyone notice any more easter eggs?

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:59 pm

I should have this is 3 hours or so- really looking forward to watching

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:44 pm

It's uploaded on our hungarian forums, you can get it from there directly, if you need it:

http://transformersg1.extra.hu/animated ... mated.html

Aardvark · Post by **Aardvark** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 7:54 pm

Cool character designs, excellent voice-acting but above all else -- the writing was superb. Distinctive characters combined with great dialogue. Awesome!

My favourite bit:

"I'm Bumblebee"
"I'm Sari"
"Oh don't be -- I like my name"

Ratchet, Prowl and Bumblebee kicked so much ass, the 'Cons are a force to be reckoned with and the humans were good fun too! Yayvark!

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:26 pm

I really enjoyed it. The sense of characterisation is really strong because of the small cast. Ratchet and Prowl are especially good, even if Prowl is basically Falco from Starfox

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 3:21 am

About an hour 'til this downloads...will let y'all know tomorrow I guess

Post by **Kaylee** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:41 am

Generally very good! Solid writing and very well acted. Starscream and Megsy were excellent and the bots were very likeable. Not sold on Prime or annoying child but we'll see

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:48 am

Nice to see a bit of excitement over a new TF cartoon for a change.

I look forward to having a ganders.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:27 pm

I really enjoyed this. Some nice nods to what's gone before - even if it's a bit of a stretch that there was a great war millions of years ago that didn't feature Optimus Prime - but on the whole I thought it was ace. Whoever animated this certainly saw Akira recently, that's for sure.

Hopefully it'll continue in this kind of vein.

mikebot · Post by **mikebot** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 5:29 pm

I like it as well. So this Prime is a decendant of the orginal but Megatron is the original? As well as Rachet who died in the Autobot shuttle.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Fri Dec 28, 2007 8:54 pm

I dont think this is a direct follow up from G1, otherwise the Daniel/Spike/Carly appearance would be pretty hard to explain! (being 50 million years old an all)

It's more just a nodd to what has happened before really. A few easter eggs to please the fans.

sprunkner · Post by **sprunkner** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 5:00 pm

Watched this with the wife and we both had a blast. Some great one-liners.

"Will I be able to breathe down there?"

"Sure. What's breathe?"

sidestreaker · Post by **sidestreaker** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 10:44 am

Animation was pretty good, the style can be complained about but its for kids so...you can't have it all I guess. :O

Writing is good too, some great oneliners. Except prime is a pussy :O
and his voice....ungh that kid is annoying as kids always are :P

its a real upgrade overall compared to the crappy shows we got after beastmachines.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:02 pm

So, it seems that overall there's a sense of some solid potential here, then?

Might actually have a gander at this, in due time...

Well, except for that intro, that I gotta see right now.

EDIT: Did have a glander at the ol' tube, and it's not that bad at all. The theme-song and end-credits have a bit of a grove to them.

I guess this might be proof that TF-cartoons should be tailored to the market they're going to air on?

Didn't see the g1-style flashback tho? Wich episode is it in? I checked out "home is where the spark is".

BB Shockwave · Post by **BB Shockwave** » Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:57 pm

I watched these first 3 episodes about 5 times already, and I still don't get bored by them...

Mind you, the reason for me watching them so often was that I was translating the episodes and making Hungarian subtitles for them. Not that anyone here would understand these, but here they are...

http://transformersg1.extra.hu/animated ... 20(HU).zip

Manchester Devil · Post by **Manchester Devil** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 1:04 am

That was rather well done, gonna love the characterisation all the TFs received, even if Sentinel Prime is a bit of a nob. It strange that the animation for the history vid differs in style to everything else.

Aaron Hong · Post by **Aaron Hong** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 3:46 am

Can't believe I'm posting this. I just caught a teaser on tv here in Singapore, they're going to air this 90 minute special in their movie slot sometime soon.

TransFans.co.uk

Transformers Animated: Episodes 1-3 Transform and Roll Out

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