Transformers Animated

**Transformers Animated** animated television series based on the *Transformers* toy line. It was produced by Cartoon

    Network Studios and animated by The Answer Studio, MOOK DLE., and Studio 4°C. The series debuted on Cartoon Network on December 26, 2007, and ended on May 23, 2009.

## Plot

The series began with a three-part pilot called "Transform and Roll Out!". Stellar-cycles (years) after the Autobots won the great war for Cybertron against the Decepticons, an Autobot maintenance crew led by Optimus Prime and consisting of Ratchet, Bulkhead, Prowl, and Bumblebee 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 notorious warlord Megatron and consisting of Blitzwing, Lugnut, Blackarachnia, and Starscream. 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. Fifty years later, Professor. Issac Sumdac is the CEO of a robotics company known as Sumdac Systems, which is based in a futuristic version of Detroit. 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 Earth customs, and whose security card is transformed into a supercharged key which possesses a fraction of the AllSpark's vast power. At the end of the pilot episodes, 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.

## Why It Rocks

1. The animation looks amazing and very detailed.
2. Nice retelling of stories from G1, but with different and fresh ideas.
3. Excellent choices of voice actors, such as David Kaye as Optimus Prime (who also voiced Megatron in Beast Wars: Transformers and the Unicron Trilogy), Tara Strong as Sari Sumdac (Ben Tennyson in Ben 10, Bubbles in The Powerpuff Girls, etc.), Jeff Bennett as Prowl, Ultra Magnus and Soundwave (Johnny Bravo), Cree Summer as Elita-1/Blackarchnia (Numbah 5 in Codename: Kids Next Door), Weird Al as Wreck-Gar (Cheese Sandwich also in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic), Phil LaMarr as Jazz (Samurai Jack), as well as SpongeBob voice actors, Tom Kenny (SpongeBob) as Starscream and Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick) as Bulkhead.
4. Some G1 Transformers voice actors return to reprise their respective roles, such as Susan Blu as Arcee, Corey Burton as Shockwave (who also voices Ratchet, Megatron, and Ironhide in this show), as well as minor roles for Brawn and Spike Witwicky, John Moschitta as Blurr and Judd Nelson as Rodimus Prime.
5. Not only does this show do homages to other Transformers shows, such as G1 and Beast Wars, but also homages to the 2007 Transformers film, such as, for example, in the third season three part starter, "Transwarped", Blackout, who's famous for appearing at the beginning of the film appears in this show and his appearance reassembles his Michael Bay counterpart, due to the fact that this show was also created to cash in on the success of the first film.
6. Very hilarious moments from Ratchet, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Starscream, Blitzwing, Lugnut, etc.
7. Megatron is portrayed as very intimidating and power hungry, thus making him more imtimidating than his G1 counterpart.
8. Very respectful to the source material, such as Starscream taking a huge dislike to Megatron and wanting to take over as leader of the Decepticons.
9. Sari Sumdac is well developed human character, and really interacts with Bumblebee the most, which makes sense as to why fans ship them, or pair them up in a couple. The same goes for Elita-1/Blackarchnia as in G1, she was originally Optimus Prime's love interest, and that also makes sense for fans to pair them up.
10. Catchy theme song.
11. Amazing character development, such as Prowl, for example, for his ninja-like and quiet personality.

## Bad Qualities

1. Some the character's designs and personalities may bother some hard-core G1 fans.
2. Sentinel Prime is an unlikable and annoying jerk.
3. Blackarchnia's appearance and design may seem and look a bit inappropriate and frightening for younger audiences.
4. This show was originally supposed to have a fourth season which was gonna end the show perfectly, but because Cartoon Network had low budget issues and because the 2007 film's sequel *Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen* getting ready for it's release, the fourth season was cancelled and the many new changes, such as Ironhide getting an Earth mode, were left on the drawing room floor.