Transformers Animated (franchise)



Transformers Animated is the next television-supported Transformers franchise, due to start in the January of 2008 with a 3-episode mini-movie and continue on to a full 13 episode season.

The cartoon is produced by Cartoon Network, scripted in the United States, with character and background designs by the crews behind shows like Teen Titans and Ben10, while animation is being provided by Japanese studio Mook.

Inital (over)reaction to a single image of the very different new art style was fairly negative. The screaming began that (like many shows before it) this had ruined Transformers forever. Hasbro's showcase at the 2007 Botcon caused something of a turn around, with lots more images and much new info leading to a much more positive, even enthusiastic attitude being taken by many fans.

Series details
The series will eschew the ever-continuing space opera storylines of the past few anime to return to the episodic approach of Beast Wars; each episode will be a stand alone story but with an overall story arc that stretches through the whole season. The focus is being put firmly on characterization, dynamic action, and humor.

The episodes will center not only on the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons, but also on the Autobots' interactions with many of Detroit's human supervillain denizens, including a maladjusted marksman, a guy who can spit acid, and a guy named Prometheus who looks really good in a pimp suit. The idea is to give the Autobots "everyday" threats to handle so that when the Decepticons show up it's a major deal. Decepticon manipulation however will likely motivate some of the human adversaries.

Season 2 is already in the works and seasons 3 and 4 are quite possible.

Autobots

 * Optimus Prime (David Kaye)
 * Bumblebee (Bumper Robinson)
 * Ratchet (Corey Burton)
 * Bulkhead (Bill Fagerbakke)
 * Prowl (Jeff Bennett)
 * Ultra Magnus (Jeff Bennett)
 * Jazz (Phil LaMarr)
 * Arcee (Susan Blu)
 * Grimlock (David Kaye)
 * Blurr (John Moschitta)
 * Wreck-Gar ("Weird Al" Yankovic)

Decepticons

 * Megatron (Corey Burton)
 * Starscream (Tom Kenny)
 * Shockwave (Corey Burton)
 * Blackarachnia (Cree Summer)
 * Blitzwing
 * Lugnut (David Kaye)

Humans

 * Sari Sumdac (Tara Strong)
 * Isaac Sumdac (Tom Kenny)
 * Capt. Fanzone
 * Angry Archer
 * Nanosec

Toyline
First previewed July 1, 2007, in Hasbro's Future Products panel at Botcon.

The Transformers: Animated toy line merges the more fluid, expressive design style of the cartoon with extremely poseable robot forms (to a degree even Hasbro seemed pleasantly surprised by). Unlike the franchises immediately before it, there is no overarcing, line-wide gimmick such as Mini-Cons or Cyber Planet Keys; rather, transforming IS the gimmick, and toys will have other special features that are unique and appropriate to the character they depict. While the designs originated with Hasbro and the Cartoon Network team, TakaraTomy is once again stepping up to the plate to engineer the toys.

The toy line is currently scheduled to debut in March 2008 with a special "battle pack" featuring multiple figures. The full line will presumably bow sometime a few months later.