Cartoon Network and Hasbro Roll Out New Transformers Animated Series

[Ditchy McAbandonpants]

Nya-ha! Since all the cool kids have got Transformers Animated avatars these days, I'm going to follow the pack like the sheep that I am. Also, because Starscream is awesome.

I also wish to chime in on the TFA lovin', too. The embers of my long-dormant love of the franchise might have first been fanned by last year's live-action movie, but it wasn't until TFA started airing that they burst right back into flame again. Showrunner Marty Isenberg has been quoted as saying that his objective with TFA was to create the funnest Transformers series to date; if that's the case, Mr Isenberg, then mission well and truly accomplished. Animated is the complete show, everything a Saturday morning series should be: it's funny, it's exciting, it's well-written, it's smart, it's fresh. Moreover, it's also everything a Transformers series should be; it's clearly written with an encyclopedic knowledge of all facets of Transformers history, from G1 to Beast Era right through to the 2007 movie, yet does so in a way that's totally accessible to newcomers. The art designs are full of character and colour, offering fresh new takes on old favourites; the voice cast, as ORD has mentioned, is unrelentingly top-notch (I swear Tom Kenny is actually channeling Chris Latta's ghost as Starscream at times); hell, even their version of the famous theme tune is a particularly awesome one. OK, so perhaps the plotting and character development haven't yet quite reached the ambitious high-watermark left by Beast Wars, and perhaps the animation could stand to be a little smoother, but as far as I'm concerned these are nitpicks that the show has plenty of time to rectify. For now, I am absolutely loving the ride; this show (plus the equally outstanding The Spectacular Spider-Man) has once again made Saturdays as exciting for me as they were when I was eight years old, and that's got to be worth something.

PS - Oh, and the toys are works of absolute art. I know they're not technically available at mass retail yet, but with a little help from a good friend of mine, Mr. E. Bay (ahem), I've already managed to get my unwashed mitts on Voyager-class Optimus Prime, Starscream and Bulkhead, and let me tell you, good sirs: the sculpting is top drawer, the articulation amazing and the show accuracy absolutely astonishing, right down to the transformation technique. Anyone with even the slightest interest in Animated or indeed with Transformers in general should endeavour to pick up as many of these beauties as possible, if only to stop me from bankrupting myself buying them all.

PPS - Might this topic not be slightly more at home on the "Other Entertainment" board? Just a thought...

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Ditchy McAbandonpants

PPS - Might this topic not be slightly more at home on the "Other Entertainment" board? Just a thought...

Oh...yes. I never noticed. Sorry, I'll move it.

[One Radical Dude]

Starscream is definitely my favorite Decepticon (sorry, Megatron ). I'm quite impressed with how Tom Kenny's performance of him. This gentleman doesn't fail to deliver. With the Autobots; it's a much more difficult choice for me. It's between Bumblebee and Ratchet, but I do like Prowl, too (didn't I say it was a tough one for me?). I also enjoy watching Sari in the series, definitely a great human character.

I don't have any of the toys (any idea when they come out?). Got any images of them Ditchy?

[Medikor]

Originally Posted by One Radical Dude

I don't have any of the toys (any idea when they come out?). Got any images of them Ditchy?

In most areas now you can find the deluxe size figures of Cybertron Optimus Prime, Prowl, Bumblebee, and Lockdown. I have Lockdown and he's worth every penny because he could easily pass for a voyager size figure. In fact, he actually dwarfs my alternators figures!
My favorite characters are the dinobots (natch!) but Ratchet is a fantastic character too. I also can't get enough of Wreck-Garr. His episode had me laughing non stop! And of course, Sari.
On the decepticon side of things I just love Starscream and Lugnut. Blackarachnia has proven to be as great a character as her Beast Wars counterpart.

[Prutnick]

Oh, Transformers. I remember back in the old days I watched the animated movie. I was so amazed with the animation and the story, not very childlish for a cartoon. I watched a few episodes of the TV series, but don't remember them well.
But the new antimated Transformers aren't ones I rememberd and loved. Those above are quite ok, but the 3D animation in some of the adaptations was horrible. I don't mean it was bad, it's just not the cool transformers I got used to.

[Lynnie]

I'm not the most educated person relating to this show, but I remember seeing a few episodes back in the '80s and as I see no one else has shared this yet, I don't mind doing so.

The movie "Transform and Roll Out" is now out on DVD.

This DVD is frustrating only because it is so good at creating a yearning for more.

And also a tip shared by a poster on the ToonZone forum suggests that Target is carrying a special edition where the first episode "Home is Where the Spark Is" is included.

[Medikor]

I'll probably pick up the dvd if I see it but I don't understand why they just didn't include the three part pilot in the season 1 set.