Jump to content

Transformers: Prime

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 108.196.86.132 (talk) at 18:15, 6 June 2012 (→‎Video game). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Transformers: Prime
File:Transformers Prime logo.jpg
GenreAction
Adventure
Science-fiction
Drama
Developed byRoberto Orci
Alex Kurtzman
Duane Capizzi
Jeff Kline
Voices ofAdam Baldwin
Steven Blum
Clancy Brown
Jeffrey Combs
Peter Cullen
Tania Gunadi
James Horan
Ernie Hudson
Josh Keaton
Sumalee Montano
Daran Norris
Andy Pessoa
Markie Post
Kevin Michael Richardson
Gina Torres
Tony Todd
Frank Welker
Opening theme"Transformers: Prime" by Brian Tyler
Ending theme"Transformers: Prime" by Brian Tyler
ComposersBrian Tyler
Matthew Margeson
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes52 (41 aired) (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersAlex Kurtzman
Roberto Orci
Jeff Kline
ProducersSteven Puri
Mandy Safavi
Hasbro Studios
Running timeapprox. 21 minutes
Production companiesDigitalscape
K/O Paper Products
Darby Pop Productions
Hasbro Studios
Polygon Pictures
Original release
NetworkThe Hub
ReleaseNovember 29, 2010 (2010-11-29) –
present

Transformers: Prime, also known as Transformers: Prime – The Animated Series, is an American computer-animated television series based on the Transformers toy franchise by Hasbro. It airs on the The Hub in the United States. The series broadcasted its first two episodes on Friday, November 26, 2010, at 4:00pm Eastern/3:00pm Central on The Hub television network, as a special preview. It broadcasted officially on Monday, November 29, 2010, at 6:30pm Eastern/5:30pm Central. On February 11, 2011, the series started to air new episodes, under the name of Transformers: Prime – The Animated Series. Other channels air the series internationally. The second season aired on February 18, 2012. A third season has been announced to air in the 2012–2013 season.[1]

The first season became available for instant streaming through Netflix on April 5, 2012. The second season will be available in late 2012/early 2013.

The series has received universal acclaim, as well as a positive number of viewers. Transformers: Prime is rated TV-Y7-FV, despite its darker, more violent tone. Many references/Easter eggs to other Transformers continuities have appeared in the series, but have not been fully explained.

Overview

Mini-Series

The series began with a five-part mini-series called "Darkness Rising", which served to introduce the main characters and provide back story on the Transformers and their war.

In Jasper Nevada, three young humans, Jack Darby, Miko Nakadai and Rafael Esquivel, are accidentally caught in the crossfire in a fight between enormous robots that transform into vehicles. They are taken to the base of the Autobots, where Autobot leader Optimus Prime explains that he and his team, Arcee, Ratchet, Bulkhead and Bumblebee, are bio-mechanical aliens from the planet Cybertron, and not long ago the Autobots had a devastating war against the warlord Megatron and his followers, the Decepticons. While this is going on, Megatron returns from a three-year-long exile in deep space, bringing with him Dark Energon, a substance able to revive dead Transformers as mindless zombies, and sets out to raise a vast army of the undead and conquer the galaxy. In the final episode, Megatron is seen in front of the Space Bridge waiting for his army of the undead to come through the Space Bridge, however the Space Bridge explodes and Megatron is seen no more...

Season 1

After Megatron's supposed death during the explosion that destroyed the Decepticon's Space Bridge, Starscream appoints himself as the new Decepticon leader but, much to his annoyance, Megatron is found barely alive in the wreckage of the Space Bridge. Megatron remains in a coma for a large portion of season 1, until he returns to power and punishes Starscream severely for his actions. Throughout the series, Jack, Miko, and Rafael develop closer bonds with the Autobots, and several new characters are introduced, including the Autobot Wheeljack, the Decepticons Airachnid, Knock Out, Breakdown, Makeshift and Skyquake, and the human terrorist group M.E.C.H. At the end of the season, the Autobots form an uneasy alliance with Megatron when the Earth is threatened by the ancient and destructive being Unicron. In the end though while the autobots succeded it was at a cost. Optimus had lost more than the collective wisdom of the primes after surrendering the matrix but he lost himself. He then became Orion Pax his name back on cybertron and sided with Megatron as one of them under his amnesia.

Season 2

Following the events of "One Shall Rise", Optimus Prime loses all memory of ever being the Autobot leader, believing that he is still the data clerk Orion Pax, and Megatron tricks "Orion" into joining the Decepticons. Distraught by this turn of events, the Autobots attempt to use the legendary super-computer Vector Sigma to restore Optimus' memories, and eventually they succeed. The main theme for the rest of the season is the discovery of ancient Cybertronian artifacts from the Vaults of Iacon buried on Earth, with the Autobots and Decepticons fighting over each new discovery. Wheeljack returns, albeit without joining the main cast, and new characters include the Decepticon Dreadwing, a swarm of feral Insecticons and M.E.C.H.'s man-made Transformer Nemesis Prime. Breakdown has been killed by Airachnid whose remains were found and reconstructed by M.E.C.H to repair their leader Silas, while Airachnid has been put in stasis lock by Arcee.

In a 5-part storyline, the Decepticon warship (known in other media as Trypticon), had come to life due to the side effects of dark energon and was able to decode 4 sets of Iacon relics (the Phase Shifter, the Apex Armor, Resonance Blaster, and a cache of Tox-En). Each team scouted in different missions with different results. Acree, Bumblebee, Miko, and Jack (with the aid of a subway worker named Vogal) retrieve the Phase Shifter, Starscream takes the Apex Armor for himself (preventing Optimus Prime and/or Dreadwing from obtaining it), Soundwave successfully retrieves the Resonance Blaster and uses it to defeat Wheeljack (who survives), however Rachet and Raf infect Soundwave's then-injured minion, Laserbeak, with a virus designed to infect Soundwave which in turn will infect the warship computer network and transmit the entire Iacon database to them.

At the very end of the five part story arc, the final relic (a cache of a toxic form of energon called Tox-En, which is toxic to Cybertronians) was retrieved by Bulkhead after a brief encounter with the elite Insecticon Hardshell. Knowing Megatron would use the Tox-En to create a bio-weapon (which he had used during the War), Bulkhead evades the Hardshell and his troop of Insecticons (using an old Wreaker tactic) and decides to destroy it by throwing it into the nearby volcano, despite slowly being poisoned by the Tox-En. With the encouragement of Agent Fowler (who helps Bulkhead keep going by reminding him what is at stake) via intercom, Bulkhead defeats the Insecticons and successfully destroys the Tox-En by throwing into the volcano, but is shot from behind by Hardshell while traveling back to base through the ground-bridge, returning to base badly injured and suffering from Tox-En poisoning.

Season 3

A third season is currently in early development. It is set to be released late 2012-2013.

Characters and Locations

Main articles: List of characters in Transformers: Prime and List of locations used in Transformers: Prime

Many notable Transformers characters appear in the series, while a group of non-fictional and fictional locations appear also. The first designs of the characters were first shown off at Botcon 2010 at its panel. The designs were also shown off a second time at San Diego Comic Con 2010.

Episodes

Main article: List of Transformers: Prime episodes

A total of 52 episodes have been produced. 41 episodes have been aired. Starting in 2012, Shout! Factory will release the TV series on DVD and Blu-ray.[2]

Season Episodes Originally aired DVD and Blu-ray release date
Season premiere Season finale Region 1/A Region 2/B Region 4/B
Mini-Series 5 United States November 29, 2010
November 26, 2010 (preview) 		United States December 3, 2010 December 6, 2011
March 6, 2012 (Blu-ray) 		— June 20, 2012[3]
1 21 United States February 11, 2011 United States October 15, 2011 March 6, 2012[4] — —
2 26 United States February 18, 2012[5][6] TBA — — —

Production

Concept

After the success of High Moon Studios' third-person shooter game Transformers: War for Cybertron, Hasbro placed the continuity of the series into that of War for Cybertron's.[citation needed] Hasbro created a 400-page Transformers production bible titled the "Binder of Revelation" for Prime.[7] Whereas the movies were about a boy and his car, the dynamic between the kids and the robots on the show was meant to be more like The Iron Giant.[8]

Animation

Digitalscape Company Limited, famous for their work on such titles as Soul Calibur III, Ninja Gaiden, and Dead or Alive Paradise, developed the CGI Animation of Transformers: Prime. Although Digitalscape ran a job fair looking for a talent to work on the production, Polygon Pictures ultimately won. Jose Lopez, character designer, described the animation of the series as "groundbreaking mix of 2D animation and CGI." A show on the level of Transformers: Prime would take about two years to produce, but the animators only had ten months, so five episodes were animated at a time (hence the monthly gaps during a season).

Japanese version

A Japanese version of the series was confirmed by TV Aichi to begin airing on April 7, 2012, on the TV Tokyo Network.[9] The opening theme is "Feeling" performed by K-Pop band BigBang, while the ending theme is "I Believe in All" by Clutcho.

In the Japenese version the transformers will say "Transform" in english and on occasion their name during the change from vehicle-to-robot form, and vice versa. When the transformers change their hands to a gun form they will say "Arms up" in english.

Cast

English Voice Cast

Future Voice Actors

Japanese Voice Cast

Crew

  • Susan Blu – Voice Director (ep. 1–11)
  • Duane Capizzi – Supervising Producer, Head Writer
  • Nicole Dubuc – Staff Writer[38]
  • Marsha Griffin – Staff Writer[38]
  • David Hartman – Supervising Director, Art Director
  • Jeff Kline – Executive Producer
  • Joseph Kuhr – Staff Writer[38]
  • Alex Kurtzman – Executive Producer
  • Jose Lopez – Character Designer[39]
  • Matthew Margeson – Music Arranger (ep. 15–Present)
  • Steven Melching – Staff Writer[38]
  • Roberto Orci – Executive Producer
  • Steven Puri – Producer[38]
  • Mandy Safavi – Producer[38]
  • Jamie Simone – Voice Director (ep. 12–Present)
  • Vince Toyama – Production Designer
  • Therese Trujillo – Supervising Animation Producer[38]
  • Brian Tyler – Composer (ep. 1–Present)

Merchandise

Hasbro has manufactured Transformers: Prime merchandise.

Toy line

Main article: Transformers: Prime (toy line)

Template:Image The official launch date of the toy line is December 1, 2011. The release date of July 2011 was incorrectly stated during BotCon 2011, but the December 1, 2011 date was later confirmed by the Hasbro Brand Team.[40] Although earlier resources stated that the line would launch on October 1, 2011[41] or October 11, 2011.[42]

Mobile media

Ruckus Mobile Media is to deliver Transformers: Prime innovative storybook apps for Android, and iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch). The app will deliver immersive reading experiences with interactive storytelling including title specific activities, coloring and read-and-record functions.[43] The app was slated to release in May 2011,[43] but was not released.

Books

IDW Publishing has released a group of comic books based on Transformers: Prime. A comic book prequel was released on October 13, 2010, in the United States. Followed by a October 26, 2010, Canadian release date. Adaptations of episodes (usually two episodes per comic book) from the series are currently being released, similar to the Transformers Animated comic books. Some Transformers: Prime storybooks are also set for release in April, August and September 2012, in the UK such as Transformers Prime: Official Handbook and Transformers Prime: Meet the Team.

Home media

Shout! Factory produced a DVD featuring the 5-parted mini-series, "Darkness Rising" released on December 6, 2011.[44][45][46][47] The 5 episodes are "sewn" together as one big story, and are not in separate episodes to make a more movie-like presentation.[47] Shout! Factory is in talks with Hasbro to add animatics and concept designs for characters and backgrounds to the DVD, as special features.[47] Transformers: Prime's first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 6, 2012. Recently, Shout! Factory has announced another DVD release titled "One Shall Stand" set for July 31, 2012. This will include the final four episodes of season 1 and the first three episodes of season 2, with these 7 episodes "sewn" together to make a more movie-like presentation in the same manner as the "Darkness Rising" DVD. Season 2 will be available in late 2012/early 2013.

Video game

Main article: Transformers: Prime – The Game

A video game developed by Nowpro and Altron is set to release in Fall 2012. The game will be available for Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DSand Wii U.

Music

Film composer Brian Tyler serves as the music composer for Transformers: Prime. Matthew Margeson is the music arranger for the series, first arranging the fifteen episodes of the series. The music features a large live orchestra, a rarity in contemporary television scores. The official soundtrack of Transformers: Prime was released on iTunes on March 6, 2012, and on CD on March 13, 2012.

Broadcast

The original broadcast of Transformers: Prime on The Hub has been announced to have done extremely well. During the second week of broadcasting many sources showed an increase in ratings. A one hour sneak peek of the first two episodes of the series was broadcast on The Hub on November 26, 2010. Airing started on November 29, 2010, and continued to December 3, 2010, with the official Season 1 launch airing February 11, 2011. On The Hub the series attracts an approximate 102,000 viewers per episode.[48]

The Transformers: Prime/G.I. Joe Renegades block of special programming on Friday from 3:30 p.m.–7 p.m. generated significant gains audience versus the previous week among households and key demographics: HH (+111%, 97,000), Persons 2+ (+133%, 142,000), Kids 2-11 (+130%, 62,000), Kids 6-11 (+78%, 32,000), Adults 18-49 (+117%, 50,000) and Women 18-49 (+120%, 11,000).

Bill Gorman[49]

International release

In the United States, Transformers: Prime airs on Hasbro and Discovery Communications-owned television network, The Hub. Additionally several other countries have also aired the series on their country-exclusive channels or overseas versions of other channels. With a premiere date of January 9, 2011 in Canada,[50] the series airs on a Corus Entertainment kids network,[51] Teletoon, with new episodes airing on Sundays at 12:00pm Eastern/11:00am Central. Transformers: Prime will air in Spain on Boing and in Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden and the Middle East the series will air on Cartoon Network. Transformers: Prime started airing in the United Kingdom, on September 5, 2011 airing on Cartoon Network UK.[52][53] Nickelodeon started airing the series, on September 4, 2011.[54] The show debuted on Cartoon Network Arabic for a pan-Arabian audience on September 8, 2011.[55] In Italy, Transformers: Prime airs on Italia 1. The Italian premiere date was September 11, 2011.[56] In Taiwan, YoYo TV has been broadcasting the series since December 5, 2011.[57] In Singapore channel Okto has been announced to be the broadcaster of Transformers: Prime.[58] South Korean public broadcaster EBS has also picked up Transformers: Prime. And TVB Jade in Hong Kong has too.[58] A Turkish dub of the series is being broadcast via Minika since January 20, 2012.[59]

Marketing

Hasbro got the Toys R Us located in Times Square in New York City to cover all of the outside of the store in Transformers: Prime.[60] Several billboards were rented. One even appeared on Broadway in New York City.[60] Additional advertisements were added to comic book backings.[61] A giant statue of Optimus Prime (modeled after his Transformers: Prime design) was shown off at San Diego Comic Con 2010.[62] The statue was later moved to the location of New York Comic Con 2011, where Hasbro debuted their involvement in the convention.[63]

Reception

Awards and nominations

Transformers: Prime has won two Daytime Emmy Awards, and received four other nominations. It was the first Transformers show to be nominated for (and win) an Emmy Award since Beast Wars in 1997.

Year Award Category Work Outcome
2011 Daytime Emmys "Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program" Peter Cullen Nominated[64]
"Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program" Directors Nominated[64]
"Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" Vince Toyama Won[64]
Christophe Vacher
"Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition" Brian Tyler Nominated[64]
"Outstanding Writing in Animation" Writers Nominated[64]

References

  1. ^ Van, Peter (March 6, 2012). "Transformers Prime Gets Third Season; The Hub Renews Transformers Rescue Bots For Second Round". TFormers. Retrieved March 6, 2012.
  2. ^ http://www.shoutfactory.com/press/443/transformers_prime__the_complete_first_season_fea.aspx
  3. ^ "Transformers Prime: Volume 1 - Darkness Rising". Ezy DVD. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  4. ^ Lambert, David (December 9, 2011). "Transformers Prime – The Complete 1st Season on 4-Disc DVD and Limited Edition Blu-ray!". TV Shows on DVD. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Q, Jack (December 19, 2011). "Transformers Prime Season 2 Trailer Video – The Robots Return February 2012". TFormers. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  6. ^ Van, Peter (November 15, 2011). "Transformers Prime Season 2 Will Not Premiere Until 'Early 2012'". TFormers. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  7. ^ Executive Producers Roberto Orci and Jeff Kline Interview Transformers: Prime
  8. ^ Transformers: Prime Creative Talent Interview – BotCon 2011
  9. ^ "TV Aichi's Transformers Prime Website". Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  10. ^ a b c d e Transformers: Prime Cast and Show Info
  11. ^ 09:00 PM url=http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/transformers-prime-starcream-voiced-by-blum-170524. "Transformers: Prime Starcream Voiced by Blum – Transformers News". TFW2005. {{cite web}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Missing or empty |url= (help); Missing pipe in: |author= (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Silas on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005.
  13. ^ "Ratchet on TFW2005".
  14. ^ "Optimus Prime on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005.
  15. ^ "Skyquake on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005.
  16. ^ "Miko on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  17. ^ a b "Tony Todd for Transformers: Prime Dreadwing, Wheeljack is a Recurring Role". Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  18. ^ Jay Cochran. "ENI Exclusive: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson Lends His Voice to Transformers: Prime".
  19. ^ Auto Assembly 2011 Update – David Kaye in Transformers: Prime
  20. ^ a b Press Release from Hasbro Hub
  21. ^ Spider-Man voice star Josh Keaton wants to be on DWTS
  22. ^ "Tailgate on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  23. ^ "Sierra on TFW2005". Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  24. ^ Unicron on TFW2005
  25. ^ "Knock Out on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005.
  26. ^ "Rafael "Raf" Esquivel on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  27. ^ "June on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  28. ^ Celebrity Skin: Markie Post
  29. ^ "Vince on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  30. ^ "Makeshift on TFW2005".
  31. ^ "Fast Willy on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  32. ^ a b "NYCC 2011 Transformers: Prime Panel – Tony Todd Is Dreadwing, Nathan Fillion To Voice A Transformer"
  33. ^ a b "NYCC 2011 – Tony Todd is Dreadwing on Transformers: Prime; Could Nathan Fillion Voice a Character Too?"
  34. ^ a b 01:31 PM. "Transformers: Prime Cast Announced Officially – Transformers News". TFW2005. Retrieved 2011-03-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ "Airachnid on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005.
  36. ^ "Megatron on TFW2005". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  37. ^ [1]
  38. ^ a b c d e f g "Transformers: Prime's Confirmed Crew".
  39. ^ "Jose Lopez Breaks the Silence, Talks About Transformers: Prime at San Diego Comic-Con 2010"
  40. ^ tformers.com. "BotCon 2011 Live Blog – 2011 Hasbro Toys with the Brand Team". Retrieved June 4, 2011.
  41. ^ Brian Truitt. "Check out the new toy for Arcee, the resident girl bot on Transformers: Prime".
  42. ^ Jasen Kwedlo. "Hasbro's 2011 Transformers: Prime First Edition Action Figures".
  43. ^ a b "Hasbro Teams Up With Ruckus Mobile Media to Bring Transformers: Prime Storybook App".
  44. ^ "Transformers: Prime – 'Darkness Rising', the Newest Program's Original 5-Part Mini-Series, Announced!"
  45. ^ "Transformers: Prime – Darkness Rising Hits DVD Dec. 6"
  46. ^ "Transformers: Prime Miniseries Rises: Five-part Darkness Rising series coming to DVD in December."
  47. ^ a b c "Transformers: Prime – 'Darkness Rising' DVD info Updated: Story Presentation and Extras"
  48. ^ The Hub ratings shows some momentum
  49. ^ "The Hub Delivers Ratings Increases with Holiday Programming, Including Transformers: Prime and G.I. Joe Renegades"
  50. ^ "Sunday Mornings on Teletoon are a Rush with an All-new Lineup of Action Programming". CNW. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  51. ^ "Corus Entertainment Networks to air Transformers: Prime in Canada". Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  52. ^ "Transformers: Prime to air in the UK from 5 September on Cartoon Network"
  53. ^ "Transformers: Prime Rolling Into the UK"
  54. ^ "Transformers: Prime Debuts in the Netherlands Sunday 4 September on Nickelodean"
  55. ^ "Untitled" (in Arabic). Official Facebook page for Cartoon Network Arabic. September 6, 2011. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  56. ^ "Transformers: Prime Coming to Italy"
  57. ^ http://yoyotv.ebc.net.tw/apps/promo.aspx?id=37
  58. ^ a b "Hasbro Studios series head to Asia"
  59. ^ "Untitled" (in Turkish). Official Facebook page for Minika. January 6, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2012.
  60. ^ a b "Hasbro Markets Transformers: Prime in New York City".
  61. ^ New Transformers: Prime Advertisement Featured on Back Cover of DC Comics' JLA Issue #51
  62. ^ Transformers: Prime Optimus Prime Revealed
  63. ^ Hasbro Makes a Giant Debut at NY Comic Con: Focuses on Marvel Comics and Transformers
  64. ^ a b c d e bwbm. "Transformers: Prime Nabs 6 of 8 Hasbro Studios Daytime Emmys". Retrieved July 24, 2011.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Transformers: Prime.

Template:Alex Kurtzman Roberto Orci

Template:Animated series based on toys

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Transformers:_Prime&oldid=496310124"