User reviews

Being a G1 die-hard, I was naturally skeptical about this new series (especially after catching glimpses of the questionable character design). But I have to say that after watching the first 3 episodes (or was it a full 1 1/2 hour mini-movie?), I think this new series is pretty good. Not great, but good.

The high points: They kept the original transforming sound (which is more than I can say for that damn live-action movie). The storyline vaguely follows in G1's footsteps (it's not exactly the same, but it's close enough). Oh, and you won't even notice the funky character design after a while...it's not actually THAT bad after all, once you start watching.

The one low point: Most of the characters have changed significantly. A lot of these new Transformers seem to be combinations of different G1 characters. Ratchet in particular is a perfect 50/50 hybrid of Ironhide and Kup, Optimus seems more like Rodimus, Megatron has vague traces of Unicron, and so on. However, it must be said that the writers/producers had the good sense to keep at least a few key characters perfectly intact...namely Bumblebee and Starscream.

For somebody who loved the original so dearly, this series doesn't disappoint. It's an entertaining take on the cartoon that defined my childhood. If nothing else, it's definitely fun to watch!

As a fellow Transformers fan, there's a little confession I would like to make: I was almost a Bayformers fan!!! But don't worry, even though I thought the first movie was good, it still wasn't enough to make me a genuine "Trans-Fan". My best friend knew much more about Transformers than I did, as she grew up with the franchise, so I've mostly learned about the main premise of the story from her.

Anyway, by 2007 I knew almost nothing about G1, Beast Wars, or the Unicorn Trilogy (though, from what I've heard, I didn't miss anything from the Unicron Trilogy). Then it just so happened, on Cartoon Network, I came across a TV promo for this new show simply titled, "Transformers: Animated". The moment I first saw their new designs I thought, "It would never catch on, the proportions of the robots look all wrong!" However, when the show finally aired, I took a look at one episode. My first thought was, "Well, the story seems pretty basic, but this Starscream guy looks like a cool character (by the way, this was the show that made me a Starscream fan-girl).

A couple years later, I soon forgot about it, until my friend show me the Allspark Allminac (which is a book that has information about everything from the show). Eventually, my interest for the show lit up again, and I've watched reruns of it on The Hub, then I realized everything I first thought about this show was wrong. The main Autobots, for example, are not the Superman archetypes you see in the original show, in fact Optimus here isn't even leader of the Autobots, but the leader of a small group of rookies. I really like this change, because not only does it make it a lot easier to root for them, but it also makes them more realistic and sympathetic.

Now the main human character, Sari, is another interesting aspect of this show. At first, she appears to be an annoying tag-a-long that never does what she's told. This of course, was a very common trope in Transformers since G1, but instead of just being a tag-a-long, Sari actually has a story arc in this series! She's also not as useless as most Trans-Fans like to believe, she actually helps the Autobots multiple times. Her father, Prof. Isaac Sumdac, is one of the "weaker" characters in the show. He's way too trusting towards Megatron in Season 1, and is clearly irresponsible letting his 8-year old daughter handle the AllSpark Key, but he's not too annoying and you'll eventually grow to love him.

I was also impressed by how the Decepticons were portrayed. Megatron doesn't get a very big role in the first season, but he is BY FAR superior to the clumsy G1 version, and the bland TF: Prime version of the character. The other Cons are also very well written. Blackarachnia and Waspinator both have tragic and interesting back stories, Blitzwing the triple-changer is given a split-personality, and Shockwave is given a more prominent role in Season 3.

It just makes me said that they were never able to release a Season 4 before it got canceled! This is a vastly underrated show, that has more emotional depth than "Transformers Prime", and much more character development than G1.

My Overall rating-- 8.5 out of 10!

I'm a fan of Transformers G1... but as I grew older, I lost interest. I don't follow each of the reincarnations like Beast Wars and Armada.

Transformers Animated sparked my interest back, especially seeing my kid watching it religiously. The art style is different - but it grows on you. I just wish they show more of the autobots I grew up with like Hound, Iron Hide, Sunstreak. My kid saw the old Transformers the Movie cartoon, and he had no interest in it... it was too serious and the action is a bit lame.

I guess the powers-that-be in Cartoon Network knew what they were doing. They've also brainwashed my kid into buying the Animated style toys as opposed to the movie figures and Transformers Universe.

This is another under the radar gem, the show is another favorite show in the "Transformers" franchise in my book despite a tad lower on the list, but I still like it for what it is. This show wasn't totally overlooked even though it wasn't as successful as it's predecessors it became a sleeper hit; though as time went on the show has become a bit forgotten.

I will admit I was skeptical of this series at first, which is understandable as remakes/reboots/revivals (whichever term you prefer) are always a hit or miss operation; one of the main reasons why most of them fail is because some are half assed efforts as if the people that worked on the material didn't care about the source material, which I'll admit makes no sense on an artistic standpoint. This show is one of those examples of a revival done right as it really felt like there was care and effort in what they were doing, which respects fans both young and old, new and veterans. It walked the fine line of being somewhat different while being true to the spirt of its predecessors.

The animation is decent, it's nothing to run home about it could just be it's not necessarily my style; however just because a show's animation isn't up to a certain length on a scale doesn't make it bad. Believe it or not, it was the kind of animation that you get use to and after a while felt right.

One plus with it were in the designs of both the Autobots and Decepticons, who both look on scale and detailed right. Each of them is uniquely designed, from the familiar ensemble like Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Starscream whom still like slightly the same but also a few differences, just so they won't repeat themselves and stand on their own.

The characters are all solid, the show has one of the best ensemble voice casts as it consists of some familiar voices.

Despite low on the list of favorite Optimus Prime, this version I thought was pretty good and a radically different take on Prime as this version is a younger version, feels like Prime when he still went by his original name Orion Pax. He's still the strong leader type but we also see him struggling and going though the motions trying to make sense of not just the world their all in but what the right thing to do for both the humans and robots is.

Prowl he's cool, he's my favorite in this show. He's sort of who Snake Eyes is to G. I. Joe as he's the ninja of the group (ok, he's not quite like Snake Eyes, but he's the closest we'd come to a Transformer version of Snake Eyes) really like the voice which makes him sound like David Hide Pierce. But it fits the character as the guy is extremely sharp and precise as well as serious which is good thing which means no bull crap.

Bumblebee is another favorite, he's still that young underdog hot shot type but here he's cuts loose a little more, he's sort of more like who Michelangelo is to the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" as he's a person that energetic and loves to have fun. The character is smart but sometimes he's not either because he's a bit of a slacker or just doesn't think hard enough. But what I love about him is he's not afraid to act on his feelings and instinct which are most of the time right and makes him a little more aggressive of the team.

Megatron as usual he is just an awesome villain and really love the voice work from Corey Burton another of my favorite voice actors which make him probably my third favorite Megatron voice. His voice just has that cold calculating ruthlessness to it, but also a little more militaristic. His transformation is cool once again another different thing as it's an air gunship which fits his character.

Starscream as usual is an awesome subordinate villain and the voice from Tom Kenny fits which makes him my third favorite Starscream voice. His voice has that sort of that almost whiny scheming tone almost similar of Chris Latta's voice from the old series. He's pritty much like your corporate weasel or a character from "Game of Thrones" that is just trying to short cut his way to the top or somehow get the upper hand over his CEO Megatron. The guy is smart and sometimes his schemes succeed (or for a while that is) but most of the time are undone not just by Megatron, Decepticons loyal to him, Autobots, but mainly himself all because of his ego. I guess he never heard the old Earth saying, "Cowboy has to know when to swallow his pride." Though with Starscream that would be difficult as it's one heavy chunk.

The strengths of the show for me is in the action which all "Transformers" fans and non Transformer fans are in it for. The action is well choregraphed, you see shoot outs and close melee combat, one of the things I like is how things are mixed up from seeing the robots use some of their special abilities or even other kinds of weapons like with Mantis it's shuriken's and Optimus Prime a freehand battle axe with a laser edge. The other is in the episode arcs; I always love it when the "Transformers" shows in fact any show does this because it really gives you a feeling that things are actually developing and getting somewhere.

The only circuitry misfires are the humor some of it can be cringe inducing or even inappropriate in places, though same can be said about humor in most shows, it's always hit and miss. But I wouldn't worry as there's really not too much, there's just the right amount for it not to be oversaturated; so this I can let slide.

The human villains, I could kind of take or leave, though I'm kind of leaning more toward leave. Human villains are an uncommon thing in the Transformers franchise as most of the time their non effective but also some are just completely out of place like in this show there was this stupid Robin Hood wanabe that was probably that same villain from "Batman 66" whom was never my favorite. Though one is the villainess "Nanosecond" whom was kind of cool but they never did much with her and she easily could have been a villain of the week for the TV series "The Flash" (both the 90 and 2014 versions to be exact). I appreciate the effort, but they don't add much to the show or franchise in general.

Another is the show was a bit short, from what more happened I couldn't help but wonder what more was planned for the show, though same can be said for most animated shows as most had only a length of three seasons which was the natural quota at the time. Though sometimes that's for the best, where most shows that go beyond their natural quota stagnate in quality much like leftovers in the fridge too long. And the show did have a conclusion which is something most animated and even live action shows don't have and are lucky even to have one.

So, everything worked out well all the same; it would be cool if somewhere along the line might have a comic series based on this show, with the number of series, spin off, and miniseries comics they have it's a possibility to consider.

Overall, this is a solid Transformers entry if you're a Transformers fan this is worth a test drive.

Rating: 3 and a half stars.

this is a really great show, sure the style is aimed at a younger audience, but the show gives little goodies to the older audience ... like the whole elita one episode the characterization of the characters is really well done, each has their own unique attributes and weakness, much like the G1 characters but much more a lot of people are saying how the human characters ruin it, but i really like sari and sumdac, shes much more of a kid who audiences can relate to, (and she doesn't wear a hardhat) shes like a fangirl to the autobots :D i really can't wait to see which transformers they animated next definitely give this one a chance, watch a full episode before saying anything

TFA is easily my favorite Transformers cartoon out there. The character designs, though they were a bit odd at first, quickly grew on me as well as the animation. The voices are all top notch and achieve the desired effect for each character. Though Season One (after a fantastic pilot) is off to a bit of a rocky start as far as villains go, once the show really takes off, it goes hard.

Over all, a really great show and my favorite little corner of Transformers media.