Transformers Animated (franchise)

2009-03-26T15:41:27Z

63.214.229.61: /* Reception */

{{Nav-Animated}}

'''''Transformers Animated''''' is the latest television-supported ''Transformers'' [[franchise]], which began in December 2007. The latest re-imagining of the [[Transformers brand]] brings a highly dynamic and stylized look to the toys and fiction.

The franchise consists of the following components:

*[[Transformers Animated (cartoon)|A cartoon series]]
*[[Transformers Animated (comic)|Three comic book series]]
*[[Transformers Animated (toyline)|A toyline]]
*[[Transformers Animated (books)|Several books]]

The cartoon began with a 3-episode mini-movie, first aired on Cartoon Network on December 26, 2007, and followed by a full 13-episode season, which started airing in January. The toyline, however, did not hit stores till the late spring of 2008, due to the ongoing popularity of the [[Movie (toyline)|2007 movie toys]].

The series has adopted a new visual art style and form of storytelling which has not been used before in ''Transformers.'' The changes in design were created in an attempt to attract the modern youth viewer. The new art style incorporates a more "organic" feel to the Transformer characters. This style of art and character movement was introduced to emphasize dramatic movements and to allow the animator to express more emotion than in previous series.

==Reception==
On [[January 25]], [[2008]] the first regular episode of the Transformers Animated cartoon premiered as the #1 boys show in its time slot, ''significantly'' better ratings than previous [[Cartoon Network|CN]] programming.<ref><tt>"[...] the half-hour original series premiere of Transformers Animated (Saturday, Jan. 5, 10:30 a.m.), charting impressive double-digit delivery and ratings gains among key kid demos and ranking #1 in its time period versus all broadcast and cable competition with boys 6-11 and boys 2-11, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research."</tt>, ''TimeWarner press release about the premiere of the first regular episode of [[Animated (cartoon)|Transformers Animated]], "[[Home Is Where the Spark Is]]"'' — “Transformers Animated Premieres #1 on All Television Among Boys and Boosts Kids 6-11 and 2-11 Delivery by Powerful Double-Digits” ([[January 08]], [[2008]].) TimeWarner newsroom - TimeWarner. Retrieved on [[February 24]], [[2009]]. [http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1701434,00.html]</ref>

On [[February 24]], [[2009]] the seventh wave of Animated Voyager-class toys was canceled for unknown reasons.<ref><tt>"TFormers sponsor [http://www.bigbadtoystore.com/ BigBadToyStore] has just informed us that Hasbro has cancelled [sic] their Transformers Animated Wave 7 Voyager Golfire Grimlock and Hydro Bumblebee figures."</tt> “Animated Wave 7 Voyager Golfire Grimlock and Hydro Bumblebee Cancelled!”, [http://forums.tformers.com/talk/index.php?showuser=440 bwbm (TFormers staffer)] ([[February 24]], [[2009]].) TFormers.com. Retrieved on [[February 24]], [[2009]]. [http://tformers.com/transformers-animated-wave-7-voyager-golfire-grimlock-and-hydro-bumblebee-cancelled/11061/news.html]</ref>

===Homages===
Even more so than ''[[Energon (franchise)|Energon]]'', ''Animated'' is saturated with frequent and obvious references and [[homage]]s to ''[[Generation 1]]'' and other lines, possibly intended as a celebration of the Transformers' 25th anniversary year. Among them are:
* [[Arcee (Animated)|Arcee]] is based on her Generation 1 [[Arcee (G1)|namesake]].
* [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Blackarachnia]] is based on the [[Beast Era]] [[Blackarachnia (BW)|character of the same name]].
* [[Blitzwing (Animated)|Blitzwing]] is based on his Generation 1 [[Blitzwing (G1)|namesake]].
* [[Blurr (Animated)|Blurr]] is based on his Generation 1 [[Blurr (G1)|namesake]]. He even has the same voice actor as his G1 counterpart.
* [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Bumblebee]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Bumblebee (G1)|character of the same name]], however his racing stripe recalls Bumblebee's [[Bumblebee (Movie)|2007 Movie iteration]]. [[Bumblebee (Animated)|Elite Guard Bumblebee]] has a similar color scheme to movie Bumblebee's "stealth" mode with some elements of Goldbug, the rebuilt version of Generation 1 Bumblebee. This Bumblebee's personality recalls [[Hot Shot (Armada)|Armada Hot Shot]].
* [[Cliffjumper (Animated)|Cliffjumper]] is based on [[Cliffjumper (G1)|his Generation 1 namesake]].
* [[Constructicon (Animated)|Constructicons]] [[Scrapper (Animated)|Scrapper]] and [[Mixmaster (Animated)|Mixmaster]] are loosely based on their [[Constructicon (G1)|G1 counterparts]], as well as their [[Scrapper (Movie)|movie]] [[Mixmaster (Movie)|counterparts]].
* [[Dinobot (Animated)|Dinobots]] [[Grimlock (Animated)|Grimlock]] and [[Swoop (Animated)|Swoop]] are based on the Generation 1 [[Dinobot (G1)|Dinobots]] of the [[Grimlock (G1)|same]] [[Swoop (G1)|name]]; and while [[Snarl (Animated)|Snarl]] shares a name with Generation 1 [[Snarl (G1)|Snarl]], his alt-mode is based on the Generation 1 [[Slag (G1)|Slag]].
* [[Blackarachnia (Animated)|Elita-1]] "shares" her name with her Generation 1 [[Elita One|namesake]], but her body is based on her namesake's original form Ariel.
* [[Jazz (Animated)|Jazz]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Jazz (G1)|character of the same name]].
* [[Megatron (Animated)|Cybertron Mode Megatron]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Megatron (G1)|character of the same name]], with some similarities to [[Megatron (Movie)|movie Megatron]]. [[Megatron (Animated)|Earth Mode Megatron]] is based on ''[[Return of Convoy]]'' [[Megatron (G1)|Super Megatron]].
* [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Cybertron Mode Optimus Prime]] is loosely based on the Generation 1 [[Optimus Prime (G1)|character of the same name]], specifically ''[[The War Within]]''. [[Optimus Prime (Animated)|Earth Mode Optimus Prime]] is based on the Generation 1 Prime, as well as ''[[Robots In Disguise]]'' [[Optimus Prime (RID)|Optimus Prime]] and ''Return of Convoy'' [[Star Convoy]].
* [[Prowl (Animated)|Prowl]] has a police-based alternate mode and a logical mind, like the Generation 1 [[Prowl (G1)|character of the same name]]. He also has the ability to create holographic images, an ability shared with Generation 1 [[Hound (G1)|Hound]].
* [[Ratchet (Animated)|Ratchet]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Ratchet (G1)|character of the same name]], with some design elements of [[Ratchet (Movie)|movie Ratchet]] and [[Red Alert (Armada)|Cybertron Red Alert]], and an attitude reminiscent of G1 [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] and [[Kup]].
* [[Sentinel Prime (Animated)|Sentinel Prime]] is named after the Generation 1 [[Sentinel Prime (G1)|character of the same name]].
* [[Seeker]]s [[Sunstorm (Animated)|Sunstorm]], [[Skywarp (Animated)|Skywarp]], [[Thundercracker (Animated)|Thundercracker]] and [[Starscream (Animated)|Starscream]] are based on the Generation 1 [[Sunstorm (G1)|characters]] of [[Thundercracker (G1)|the]] [[Skywarp (G1)|same]] [[Starscream (G1)|name]]. Animated [[Dirge (Animated)|Dirge]], though not a [[Conehead]], recalls his [[Dirge (G1)|G1 color scheme]].
* [[Shockwave (Animated)|Shockwave]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Shockwave (G1)|character of the same name]], though with a new alternate mode. He even has the same [[Corey Burton|voice actor]] as he did in G1. He also transforms into an Autobot, Longarm Prime, as a double agent, much like [[Punch|Punch/Counterpunch]].
* [[Soundwave (Animated)|Soundwave]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Soundwave (G1)|character of the same name]], though with a new alternate mode loosely based on an unproduced [[Classics (2006)|Classics]] toy of his G1 counterpart. He still has his partner, [[Laserbeak (Animated)|Laserbeak]], who is based on his [[Laserbeak (G1)|G1 namesake]], but with an all-new alt-mode.
* [[Ultra Magnus (Animated)|Ultra Magnus]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|character of the same name]].
* [[Wasp|Wasp's]] later appearance is based on Beast Era [[Waspinator]].
* [[Wreck-Gar (Animated)|Wreck-Gar]] is based on the Generation 1 [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|character of the same name]].

In addition, there are characters seen in the cartoon/comic that also have strong homages (The [[Witwicky]] family, [[Omega Supreme (Animated)|Omega Supreme]], [[Wheeljack (Animated)|Wheeljack]], [[Perceptor (Animated)|Perceptor]], etc). These may yet become toys. And of course there's the [[theme song]].

Cartoon Network has Annouced The Swan Song for Animated..In a Press Release They have Annouced There Line Up for 2009 2010 Season and Animated was not on the list..As a fan I cry out that we do something about this, instead of signing a useless petiton call Cartoon Network and ask them to not Cancel Aminated! Here is there Number in New York
(212) 275-7800, and Burbank (818) 729-4000...

==Trivia==
* This is the second Transformers series (the first being ''[[Beast Machines]]'') wherein a strict separation is made in the type of weaponry used by either side. According to [[Derrick J. Wyatt]], "To me the Autobots were built as a labor force, and the Decepticons were created as the Military. This is one reason that the Decepticons use military weapons, while the Autobots use 'tools' to fight with." <ref>[https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=21975298&postID=8564559979841180115 Comments section of "Back from BotCon" in Derrick Wyatt's blog]</ref>
* An early working title for this incarnation was ''Transformers: Heroes'' <ref>[http://www.seibertron.com/news/view.php?id=8312 Next TF Cartoon Series: "Transformers Heroes"?]</ref>
* An edited 10-minute preview of the first episode was shown at the NTFA Mini-Con fan convention held in Arlöv, Sweden, on november 3 and 4, 2007. The full episode had been promised and secured by Hasbro Nordic for the event, but Hasbro US overruled them in the last second, allowing only an abbreviated and for the event created edit to be shown.<ref>http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/transformers-news-rumors/156331-new-transformers-animated-series-details-revealed-ntfa-mini-con.html</ref>

==External links==
* [http://enewsi.com/news.php?catid=194&itemid=11280 Transformers animated press release]
* [http://tv.ign.com/articles/801/801348p1.html Exclusive Transformers Animated Producer Interview]
* [http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/transformersa/index.html Cartoon Network Transformers Animated site]
* [http://www.kabillion.com/transformers Transformers Animated on Kabillion (Full Episodes and Games]
* [http://www.hasbro.com/transformers/animated/ Hasbro's official ''Transformers'' Animated homepage]

==References==
<references/>

[[Category:Animated]]
[[Category:Franchises]]

MediaWiki - User contributions [en]

Transformers Animated (franchise)