Transformers: Robots In Disguise (2015)

Transformers: Robots in Disguise is an American-Japanese animated robot superhero television series for children produced by Hasbro Studios and Darby Pop Productions in the United States for Cartoon Network. It was also animated by Polygon Pictures in Japan. It is the stand-alone sequel to Transformers: Prime that ran from 2010-2013 on The Hub Network, featuring characters (most of whose voice actors reprise their roles) and storylines mostly self-contained from the events of its predecessor as well as an overall more lighthearted tone. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (the executive producers of Prime) did not return to the new series. In the United States, the series ran on Cartoon Network from March 14, 2015 to November 11, 2017.

The show's second season, featuring guest appearances from some returning Transformers: Prime characters, premiered on February 20, 2016. A six-episode mini-series centered on the return of Starscream premiered in Canada on September 10, 2016, before debuting on U.S television the following month. The third and final season, subtitled Combiner Force, aired from April 29, 2017 to November 11, 2017. It was the first Transformers series to feature Bumblebee as the main protagonist rather than Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots and the main protagonist in most of the series.

## Plot

### Season 1

Five years after the events of *Predacons Rising*, Cybertron's beginning brings forth a new age of prosperity to a new generation of Transformers. Earth no longer remembers the Decepticon-Autobot conflict as the Cybertronians stopped visiting the planet. Bumblebee has since become a seasoned Cybertronian police officer and despite his fame, he chooses to be a humble peacekeeper. Things change when he is summoned by the vision of Optimus Prime. Thought to be long dead after restoring Cybertron's population, Optimus Prime calls for Bumblebee to return to Earth as a new threat appears.

With the help of Sideswipe (a rebel "bad boy bot") and Strongarm (an Elite Guard cadet partnered to him), the trio makes it to Earth to discover a crashed maximum security prison ship called the *Alchemor* and its steward Fixit (a hyperactive Mini-Con with faulty wiring). They soon learn the *Alchemor* had "a couple hundred" Decepticon prisoners within Stasis Pods, but all of its inmates have escaped. It is now their duty to recapture all the escaped Decepticon prisoners before they cause further harm on Earth. With the aid of humans Russell and Denny Clay and the Dinobot Grimlock (who was a prisoner of Alchemor for committing property damage before siding with Bumblebee), Bumblebee leads this unlikely team to protect Earth from the Decepticon prisoners and restore order. During their mission they often clash with Steeljaw, soon forms his own group of fellow Decepticon prisoners to contend with the Autobots and attempt to conquer Earth, including the metal-eating Underbite, crime boss Thunderhoof, stranded bounty hunter Fracture and his Mini-Con partners Airazor and Divebomb, and cowardly informant Clampdown.

The Autobots are later joined with the likes of Autobot bounty hunter Drift, his Mini-Con partners Slipstream and Jetstorm, the female warrior Windblade, and Optimus Prime, who returns from the dead in the wake of the arrival of Megatronus, who was the one that crashed the Alchemor to free the prisoners (and subsequently blackmailed Steeljaw into helping him escape his imprisonment) and who the Thirteen Primes have been preparing Optimus for. During the battle against Megatronus, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, and Strongarm realize they can combine their Decepticon hunters together and become more powerful. With this new knowledge, the Autobots prevail, seemingly destroying Megatronus with a powerful energy beam, and apprehending Underbite, Thunderhoof, Fracture, and Clampdown, though Steeljaw escapes. Bumblebee then finally overcomes his insecurities of being a worthy leader, finding his perfect rallying cry ("Rev up and Roll out!"), and chooses to remain on Earth to protect it from any other potential future threats, as do the rest of his team, including Optimus, who states that from now on he will be Bumblebee's equal rather than leader, to which Bumblebee agrees.

### Season 2

Weeks after Megatronus' defeat, the Autobots continue to deal with the threat of the Decepticon fugitives that are still on Earth. While Steeljaw is still at large, he eventually discovers another group of Decepticons stationed on the crashed remains of a second half of the *Alchemor* that is dubbed "Decepticon Island" and led by Glowstrike, Scorponok, and Saberhorn. As Optimus is weakened when the immense power he was lent from the Primes is drained by them, the Autobots split into two teams: an Away Team led by Optimus and consisting of Drift, Slipstream, Jetstorm, Sideswipe, and Windblade, and another team led by Bumblebee that remains at their scrapyard base. Along the way, the Autobots run into a strange occurrence in the form of Decepticon criminals who are not listed in the *Alchemor* prisoner manifest yet have criminal records on Cybertron. At the same time, Steeljaw attempts to prove himself to the Decepticon Island by not only freeing Thunderhoof and Clampdown, but also new prisoners, including Bisk, Groundpounder, Overload, Quillfire, and Springload, to be his "elite warriors."

During this time, Optimus slowly recovers his strength and teaches his team valuable lessons about teamwork. Fixit eventually repairs the Autobots' Ground Bridge, which was destroyed by an explosion that occurred after he originally dispatched the Away Team; however, a malfunction allows the Decepticon Soundwave (who was trapped in the Shadowzone - a parallel dimension where anyone and anything becomes completely invisible and can't interact with normal space, as if they were out of phase - in the season 3 finale of *Transformers: Prime*) to escape. Soundwave then attempts to contact the former Decepticon leader Megatron (who went into a self-induced exile following the events of *Predacons Rising*) and have him return to Earth, but is thwarted by Team Bee and returned to the Shadowzone.

As the two Autobot teams are reunited, they pair up with the Autobot medical officer and Optimus and Bumblebee's old friend and teammate Ratchet, along with his Mini-Con Undertone, to apprehend the rest of the Decepticons on Decepticon Island. Using a Stasis Bomb, they manage to place Decepticons in stasis, while Bumblebee and Optimus, aided by Fixit and his fellow Caretaker Mini-Cons who were enslaved, defeat Steeljaw. Following their victory, Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Windblade, and the Caretaker Mini-Cons repair the ship and return all Decepticon prisoners to Cybertron, as Bumblebee and his team reside on Earth.

### Miniseries

Shortly after the Autobots' victory on Decepticon Island, a group of Decepticon Scavengers arrive on Earth looking for relics from the Great War; they have been partnered with Weaponizer Mini-Cons, a breed of Mini-Cons who can control the bodies of their wielder and grant team great powers. At the same time, Starscream (who was presumed dead after the events of *Predacons Rising*) makes an unexpected return, and is aided by of a trio of bounty hunters - Shadelock, RoughEdge, and Razorhorn - in his quest for the powerful Dark Star Saber and the Weaponizer Mini-Cons, intending to use them to rebuild the Decepticon Empire and exact revenge on Megatron for all of the abuse he inflicted upon him. Upon learning the truth from the Mini-Con Sawtooth, the Weaponizers abandon the Scavengers and later ally themselves with the Autobots, aiding them in their battle against Starscream. Ultimately, all the Decepticons, including Starscream, are defeated and placed onto Optimus' ship alongside the Dark Star Saber, who leaves to deliver them to the Cybertronian Authorities. The Weaponizers thank the Autobots for saving them and then they leave in their Sub-Orbital Craft (which Fixit both fixed and modified for space travel) with the intent of "going where they will never be found".

### Season 3: *Combiner Force*

Sometime after their victory against Starscream and the Scavengers, Team Bee crosses paths with the Stunticons, a group of Decepticons consisting of Motormaster, Dragstrip, Slashmark, Heatseeker, and Wildbreak, who can combine to form the massive Menasor. In order to combat this new threat, the Autobots need to learn how to combine themselves, becoming Ultra Bee.

Following the Stunticons' defeat, Optimus Prime has them and several other Decepticons that have been captured recently stored away in his ship so he could return them to Cybertron. He also enlists Drift and his Mini-Con students to accompany him for a special mission. Meanwhile, Soundwave attempts to escape from the Shadowzone once again, aided by a group of Activator Mini-Con, and Steeljaw, Underbite, Thunderhoof, Quillfire, and Clampdown also return to cause more problems for the Autobots, attempting to capture Team Bee for their mysterious benefactors on Cybertron who arranged for them to be pardoned of their respective crimes. Soundwave eventually escapes from the Shadowzone and is revealed to also be allied with Steeljaw's mysterious benefactors, but is defeated by Team Bee before he could activate a beacon to summon Megatron, and subsequently taken back to Cybertron by Optimus Prime to stand trial. Soundwave and Steeljaw's mysterious benefactors are later revealed to be the Autobot High Council, who are actually Decepticon infiltrators - Cyclonus, Cyberwarp, Riotgear, Skyjack, and Treadshock - and have plans to invade Earth. After a battle for the fate of both Earth and Cybertron, the High Council, in their combined form of Galvatronus, are ultimately defeated by Ultra Bee, and the Autobots restore order to Cybertron. As a new Autobot High Council is formed, Team Bee returns to live on Earth as ambassadors and continue protecting it from any possible future threats.

## Cast

### Main cast

* Stuart Allan - Russell Clay, Toddler Son (ep. 35)
* Eric Bauza - Drift, Headlock, Pseudo, Silverhound, Back, Forth, Lt. Ziegler (ep. 17), Look-Out (ep. 23), Male Tourist (ep. 24), Police Officer (ep. 26), Scoutmaster #2 (ep. 28), Major Mayhem (ep. 37), Scientist (ep. 48), Radio Commercial Announcer (ep. 51), Instructor (ep. 55), Computer Voice (ep. 56)
* Darren Criss - Sideswipe, Son (ep. 28)
* Will Friedle - Bumblebee, Ultra Bee, Butch, Righty, Dispatcher (ep. 1), Motorist (ep. 5), Junior (ep. 7), Security Guard (ep. 10), Game Voice (ep. 12), Father (ep. 28), Security Guard (ep. 34)
* Ted McGinley - Denny Clay, Sea Captain (ep. 3)
* Khary Payton - Grimlock, Bisk, Divebomb, Newsman (ep. 1, 54), Dad (ep. 7), Operator (ep. 10), Bot (ep. 15), Anchorman (ep. 30), Stadium Announcer (ep. 34), Impound Lot Guard (ep. 35), Dispatcher (ep. 46), Proctor #1 (ep. 56)
* Mitchell Whitfield - Fixit, Toolbox, Cinch, Groundskeeper (ep. 4), Museum Staff Member (ep. 5), TV Announcer (ep. 11), Major Mayhem (ep. 37)
* Constance Zimmer - Strongarm, Filch, Wingcode, Matronly Docent (ep. 1, 46), Ship's Computer (ep. 18)

### Additional voices

* Jonathan Adams - Razorpaw
* Carlos Alazraqui - Hammer, Anvil, Nigel (ep. 34)
* Dee Bradley Baker - Bludgeon, Clout
* Troy Baker - Steeljaw, Vector Prime, Arnold (ep. 6), Blue Car Driver (ep. 14)
* Jeff Bennett - Axiom, Theorem
* Gregg Berger - Stockade, Major Mayhem (ep. 37)
* Ted Biaselli - Octopunch
* Steve Blum - Starscream, Backtrack, Ransack, Polarclaw, Aerobolt
* Kate Bond - Casey (ep. 19, 55)
* Victor Brandt - Scorponok
* Jeffrey Combs - Ratchet
* Ian James Corlett - Shadow Raker
* Peter Cullen - Optimus Prime
* Jim Cummings - Clampdown, Thermidor, Vehicon Sentry #1 (ep. 38)
* Eddie Deezen - Ped
* Trevor Devall - Hermit (ep. 46, 47), Patrolman #2 (ep. 46)
* John DiMaggio - Groundpounder, Farnum (ep. 19)
* Robin Atkin Downes - Jacknab, Pilfer, Flamesnort
* Chris Edgerly - Crustacion, Video Game Voice (ep. 48)
* Dave Fennoy - Overload
* Crispin Freeman - Sawtooth
* Bailey Gambertoglio - Hank
* Gil Gerard - Megatronus/The Fallen
* Brooke Goldner - Cyberwarp
* Grey Griffin - Glowstrike
* Jackée Harry - Zizza
* Mark Hildreth - Scowl, Automated Announcer (ep. 22)
* David Hunt - Chop Shop
* Danny Jacobs - Brother Gunter (ep. 42)
* John Katovsich - Larry LaRue (ep. 7)
* David Kaye - Hammerstrike, Slashmark, Announcer (ep. 55)
* Mikey Kelley - Heatseeker, Heatmark, Opposing Captain (ep. 46)
* Tom Kenny - Nightstrike, Police Officer (ep. 15)
* Arif S. Kinchen - Jazz
* Matthew Yang King - Simacore, Computer Voice (ep. 32)
* Maurice LaMarche - Dragstrip, Dragbreak
* Harry Lennix - Cyclonus
* Erica Lindbeck - Windblade (season 3)
* Yuri Lowenthal - Glacius
* Edie McClurg - Realtor (ep. 41)
* Andy Milder - Quillfire, Father (ep. 35)
* Max Mittelman - Blurr
* Liam O'Brien - Underbite, Kickback, Cybertron Museum Guard #1 (ep. 1)
* Adrian Pasdar - Micronus Prime
* Rick Pasqualone - Buzzstrike
* Lori Petty - Nightra
* Kevin Pollak - Fracture, Tour Boat Captain (ep. 14)
* Kevin Michael Richardson - Bulkhead, Terrashock, Gallery Narrator (ep. 5)
* Robbie Rist - Tricerashot, Swelter
* John Steven Rocha - Springload
* Daniel Roebuck - Malodor, Computer Voice (ep. 13)
* Charlie Schlatter - Vertebreak
* David Sheinkopf - Dropforge
* Roger Craig Smith - Slipstream, Jetstorm, Airazor, Blastwave, Scoutmaster #1 (ep. 28), Major Mayhem (ep. 37)
* Andre Sogliuzzo - Clawtrap
* Kath Soucie - Tour Guide (ep. 24)
* Jason Spisak - Paralon
* Frank Stallone - Thunderhoof
* Raymond Stein - Police Officer (ep. 7)
* Christopher Swindle - Ragebyte
* Fred Tatasciore - Saberhorn, Night Watchman (ep. 29), Vehicon Guard #1 (ep. 38)
* James Arnold Taylor - Crazybolt, Boostwing, Arnold (ep. 30), Teenage Boy (ep. 53)
* Kirk Thornton - Shadelock
* Robin Weigert - Scatterspike
* Frank Welker - Soundwave, Mayor's Secretary (ep. 66)
* Gary Anthony Williams - Slicedice, Dad (ep. 30)
* Travis Willingham - Motormaster, Menasor
* Dave Wittenberg - Wildbreak
* Kristy Wu - Windblade (seasons 1-2), Newswoman (ep. 5), Woman's Voice (ep. 10), Pilot (ep. 23), Mother (ep. 28)
* Michael Yurchak - Zorillor

## Broadcast

### United States

The series was originally planned to premiere on what was known as the Hub Network (a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications). However, on October 7, 2014, just days before the channel's re-branding as Discovery Family that took place on October 13, it was announced that the series would premiere on Cartoon Network instead. Hasbro Studios president Stephen Davis felt that Cartoon Network was a more appropriate home for a *Transformers* series due to its male-oriented demographics, having felt that Hub Network had been skewed towards girls. Previous animated *Transformers* series had also aired on Cartoon Network prior to the launch of the joint venture and Hasbro Studios.

The series debuted with a special prime time premiere of the two-part pilot on March 14, 2015, followed by the regular time slot debut, starting with an encore of "Pilot" Pt. 1, on March 21.

Season 2 ran from February 20 to May 14, 2016. The six-part miniseries premiered on October 22 and concluded on December 3.

The Series Premiered On October 6, 2020 On Toon Disney/Jetix.

1. ↑ StayingInTheBox (June 28, 2014). Transformers: Robots in Disguise Cartoon Launching Spring 2015. *TFW2005.com*.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tformers.com. SDCC 2016 - Starscream and Steve Blum to Invade Robots in Disguise Cartoon Transformers News Reviews Movies Comics and Toys.
3. ↑ http://www2.unicron.com/2017-transformers/rid/4882-menasor-team-consists-of-dragstrip,-heatseeker,-motormaster,-slashmark,-wildbreak.html
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 NYCC 2014 - Transformers Robots In Disguise 2015 Live Panel Report Transformers News Reviews Movies Comics and Toys. *tformers.com*.
5. ↑ Template:Cite episode
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Template:Cite episode
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Template:Cite episode
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `disguise`
9. ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 9.15 Robots in Disguise Cast List and Voice Actors for the first 13 episodes - Transformers News -TFW2005. *tfw2005.com*.
10. ↑ Mechafire (March 17, 2014). New Transformers Cartoon Revealed - First Look at Bumblebee. *TFW2005.com*.
11. ↑ BaCon (October 9, 2014). NYCC 2014 – Transformers Robots In Disguise 2015 Live Panel Report. *Tformers.com*.
12. ↑ Template:Cite episode
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Template:Cite episode
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Template:Cite episode
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 Template:Cite episode
16. ↑ Ian James Corlett Joins The Cast Of Transformers: Robots In Disguise - Transformers News - TFW2005 (July 18, 2016).
17. ↑ SilverOptimus (October 7, 2014). Brand New Trailer For Transformers: Robots In Disguise Animated Series. *TFW2005.com*.
18. ↑ Template:Cite episode
19. ↑ Erica Lindbeck To Voice Windblade For Transformers: Robots In Disguise Combiner Force (July 1, 2017).
20. ↑ Christopher Swindle to voice a character in Robots in Disguise - Transformers News - TFW2005 (July 22, 2016).
21. ↑ Template:Cite episode
22. ↑ RUMOR - Robots In Disguise Season 4? - Transformers News - TFW2005 (July 11, 2016).
23. ↑ Hasbro Returns to Comic-Con International, Showcasing Top Entertainment Brands. *hasbro.com*.
24. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `To CN Hasb Press`
25. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `variety`
26. ↑ Cite error: Invalid `<ref>` tag; no text was provided for refs named `To CN D Holl`
27. ↑ Thielman, Sam (February 23, 2015). The Rise and Fall and Rise of Hasbro's TV Strategy. *Adweek*.
28. ↑ Holbrook, Damian (February 12, 2015). Cartoon Network Gears Up for Transformers: Robots in Disguise. *TV Insider*.
29. ↑ Cartoon Network - TV Schedule - Transformers.