Transformers: Animated

Transformers: Animated
File:Transformersanimated.jpg The Autobots
Country of origin	United States
No. of episodes	26
Production
Camera setup	Animation
Original release
Network	Cartoon Network
Release	December 26, 2007

Transformers: Animated is an upcoming American animated television series based on the Transformers toyline. The series is being produced at Cartoon Network Studios with animation being done at Japanese animation studios MOOK DLE, The Answer Studio (the Japanese studio who animated Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!), and Studio 4°C. Formerly known by the working title, Transformers: Heroes, its simplified new title—first revealed in Broadcast magazine—was designed to specifically distinguish it from the live-action film released in July 2007.

The series is currently scheduled to debut on the Cartoon Network on December 26 and distributed by DVD,HD-DVD and Blu-Ray Disc by Warner Bros. Television Distribution due to Cartoon Network Studios being part of the Turner Broadcasting System. There have been 26 episodes (to be broadcast in two 13-episode seasons) ordered so far, with rumors of two additional seasons (26 more episodes) as a strong possibility. The first episode was due to be screened in full at the NTFA Mini-Con in Arlöv, Sweden, on November 3rd and 4th, but Hasbro Inc (US) pulled out their approval of the screening of the full episode, so the episode had to be cut down to the first 11 minutes.

Storyline

Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and the rest of the noble Autobots battle Megatron and the Decepticons in the near-future Detroit. Megatron has come to Earth to find the Allspark and turn Earth's robots into Decepticons for his army.

Cast and characters

Confirmed Transformers featuring the show include Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Ultra Magnus, Prowl, Bulkhead, Ratchet and Starscream. It was believed that the Optimus Prime of this series would be younger than the other Autobots but this is not true, although it was stated in an interview with the show's director that he is new to his role as leader. It was announced that David Kaye (best known for voicing the Megatrons of the Beast Era and the Unicron Trilogy) will provide his voice. Meanwhile, statements from Frank Welker suggest that voice actor, Corey Burton (Shockwave, Spike Witwicky and Brawn from the original series) will provide the voice of Megatron in the show. Tom Kenny confirmed during an interview on IESB.net that he will be voicing Starscream, and Tara Strong will be voicing a girl named Sari, one of the supporting human characters. Her website states that the show will start shortly after the release of the live-action film. Most of the Transformers will be seen in their Cybertronian (pre-Earth) modes at the beginning of the series. Kaye said that most of the characters outside the core cast (Prime, Bulkhead, Bumblebee, Prowl, Ratchet) will be single-episode cameo appearances. He also strongly hinted that Waspinator might make an appearance. At BotCon 2007, David Kaye revealed the voice actors and also announced that he would play both Optimus Prime and Grimlock.

Confirmed characters are:

Autobots

• Optimus Prime: New leader of the Autobots on Earth, transforms into a futuristic fire truck, and wields an axe.
• Bumblebee: The youngest member of the group. Has a retractable battle mask. Transforms into a vehicle similar to his Transformers Classics version.
• Ultra Magnus: Supreme Autobot Commander on Cybertron.
• Ratchet: Seasoned Autobot medic and veteran of the war against the Decepticons. Transforms into an ambulance.
• Bulkhead: Tough Autobot, similar to the Fantastic Four's Thing. Transforms into a military truck.
• Prowl: His alt-mode is now a motorcycle and he functions as a ninja for the group.
• Jazz: Second in command of the Autobots with an automobile alt-mode.
• Hot Rod: His role is unknown at this time. He will most likely be in his G1 colors and form. His alt-mode is very likely a muscle car, quite possibly a Autobot version of Lockdown. However, this vehicle may not be a 1967 Mercury Cougar XR-7 as Lockdown is.
• Grimlock: Leader and member of the Dinobots subgroup. Transforms into a Tyrannosaurus Rex; wields a sword.
• Slag: Member of the Dinobots. Transforms into a Triceratops; wields a club.
• Swoop: Member of the Dinobots. Transforms into a Pteranodon.
• Sentinel Prime: Autobot Officer on the planet Cybertron and Optimus Prime's rival.
• Blurr: May be similar to his G1 incarnation. Talks too much and fast. Will be voiced by John Moschitta, Jr.
• Arcee: Robot mode is similar to the G1 version.
• Ironhide: Robot mode is similer to Ratchets cybertron mode.
• Wreck-Gar: Weird Al Yankovic will be voicing a garbage truck Transformer in the series, most are assuming he will be Wreck-Gar. Weird Al previously worked in Transformers the Animated Movie with the Junkions lead-in music.

Decepticons

• Megatron: The leader of the Decepticons; alternate mode is a helicopter gunship. He is betrayed at the beggining of the series by Starscream and caught in an explosion that cripples the Autobots craft. Claims to have been searching for the Allspark for 4 million solar cycles (Roughly 11 thousand years). It is said he will look completely different by the end of the series, and perhaps even be renamed as Galvatron.
• Starscream: Much in the spirit of G1 Starscream, wants to usurp Megatron. Transforms into a jet.
• Blitzwing: A Triple Changer (tank, jet, robot) with a new spin — a split personality. Spinning face gimmick on the toy.
• Lugnut: Lugnut has missiles for hands and alt-mode of a jet — he is the "Incredible Hulk" to Bulkhead's "The Thing".
• Blackarachnia: Different origin than in Beast Wars. Starts out as a different character entirely, one of the more complicated Decepticons. Transforms into a black-purple spider.
• Soundwave: His alt-mode is now based on a Scion xB and his minion Laserbeak now transforms into a guitar. Similar color as his G1 version.
• Lockdown: A combination of a 1980s style black Corvette and 1960s Cougar hybrid design with a Supercharger. He is calculating and has been described as being like Boba Fett (Bounty Hunter); has a hook for a right hand.
• Shockwave
• Scrapper

Humans

• Isaac Sumdac: Father of Sari, he is a scientist who designs and tests robots at Sumdac Tower.
• Sari Sumdac: Daughter of Isaac Sumdac; befriends the Autobots.
• Nanosec: A human who allies himself with the Decepticons, he uses inline skates and a whip as weapons.
• Captain Fanzone: Head of the police department in Detroit.
• The Angry Archer : A Robin Hood/Green Arrow-themed human villain who uses a bow and arrows to fight against the Autobots. The Angry Archer's appearance is a caricature based on Hasbro's Aaron Archer.
• Prometheus Black
• Headmaster

Locations

• New Detroit: The Autobots and Decepticons crash land in this future city on Earth. Instead of the Motor City, it has now become known as the "Robot City".
• Sumdac Tower: The largest tower in Detroit, this is where Isaac Sumdac designs and tests his robot creations.
• The Ark: The Autobot ship. The Decepticons cripple the ship and it crash lands on Earth.
• The Nemesis: Decepticon ship that dwarfs the Ark by comparison; it chases the Ark to Earth, where it also crash lands.

Production

The show's supervising director will be Matt Youngberg (Teen Titans, The Batman), with Cartoon Network vice-president Sam Register as executive producer and Vincent Aniceto as line producer. Additionally, Beast Machines writer Marty Isenberg is returning to Transformers as the head writer for this series. Art director/lead character designer Derrick Wyatt (Teen Titans, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Legion of Super Heroes) is creating a "brand new look" unlike anything seen in Transformers before. The series is being distributed internationally by Entertainment Rights.

Voice actors

• David Kaye – Optimus Prime/Grimlock/Lugnut
• Corey Burton – Megatron/Ratchet/Shockwave
• Chris Latta – Starscream/Isaac Sumdac/Scrapper
• Lance Henriksen – Lockdown
• Tara Strong – Sari Sumdac
• Bumper Robinson – Bumblebee
• Homer Simpson (from The Simpsons")– Bulkhead
• Jeff Bennett – Prowl/Ultra Magnus/Captain Fanzone
• Susan Blu – Arcee
• Brian Posehn – Nanosec
• Peter Stormare – Prometheus Black
• Townsend Coleman – Sentinel Prime
• Cree Summer – Blackarachnia
• Phil LaMarr – Jazz
• John Moschitta, Jr. – Blurr
• "Weird Al" Yankovic – Wreck-Gar
• Christian Moore - Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime

Episode list

List of Transformers: Animated episodes

1. Transform and Roll Out!(Part1)
2. Transform and Roll Out!(Part2)
3. Transform and Roll Out!(Part3)
4. Home is Where the Spark is
5. Total Meltdown
6. Blast from the Past
7. Thrill of the Hunt
8. Nanosec
9. Along Came a Spider
10. Sound and Fury
11. Lost and Found
12. Survival of the Fittest
13. Headmaster
14. Nature Calls
15. Megatron Rising, Part One
16. Megatron Rising, Part Two
17. The Elite Guard
18. Bulkhead's Betrayal
19. Mission Accomplished
20. Garbage in, Garbage out
21. Velocity
22. Rise of the Constructicons
23. A Fistful of Energon
24. S.U.V. - Society of Ultimate Villainy
25. Autoboot Camp
26. Black Friday
27. Sari, No One's Home
28. A Bridge Too Close, Part One
29. A Bridge Too Close, Part Two

All from http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/transformersa/index.html

External links

• Transformers: Animated entry on IMDb
• Transformers: Animated - Transformers Animated.com
• Transformers Animated News Latest Transformers Animated News