Filed under: — Cartoon, Cartoon Network, DVD, Television
Written by: Dominick at 3:23 PM
Writers: Various
Directors: Various
Cast: David Kaye, Jeff Bennett, Bumper Robinson, Bill Fagerbakke, Tara Strong, Corey Burton, Tom Kenny
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Hasbro
Release Date: June 17, 2008
I grew up watching the original Transformers television series. It was one of the shows I never missed. With the success of the live action Transformers movie it was only a matter of time before another Transformers cartoon was produced. This came in the form of the 2008 Cartoon Network television show, Transformers Animated. While the Transformers have been given a new, updated look they still retain enough for fans of the original series to feel nostalgic about it.
I have a 13 year old son, who is a fan of this series. This was one show that I could enjoy watching with him. While I think it is slightly shoddy of Hasbro and the distributors to release just the first three episodes of the series on this Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD, I think it is even shoddier if the rumors are true and the August release of Season One includes all the episodes from the season but these three, so fans of the series have to buy Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out as well as the Season One DVD release. Still, this show is enjoyable enough that fans of the show will want to purchase both this and the Season One DVD if they must.
Release Information:
Transformers Animated airs on the Cartoon Network. The three episode pilot for the series premiered on December 26, 2007. It seems as though the three episodes were made so they could also be combined together into one movie-style episode, which is how it is available on the Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD. The first season aired for 16 episodes, which ended in April of 2008. The show is now in its second season and this season debuted a week after the first season ended.
The Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD was released on June 17, 2008 by Hasbro through Paramount Home Entertainment. The rest of the first season is set to be released in August of 2008. The Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD can be purchased at Amazon for $14.49.
The Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out Plot
The three episodes that make up 90 minutes of an animated feature were originally presented as the episodes “Transform and Roll Out: Part One”, “Transform and Roll Out: Part Two” and “Transform and Roll Out: Part Three”. The storyline for the three-episode pilot actually pays homage to the original series. There are some references to the original series that those who never watched it will miss. The storyline doesn’t deviate that far from the original storyline for the Transformers, so fans can appreciate the updates made to the characters, the animation and the story without being too upset about those changes.
Taking place in Detroit, in a future that isn’t so far away, the episodes begin with an introduction to how the Transformers came to be on the Earth. Things begin on Cybertron, as the story explores how the Autobots came to be, and how Ratchet discovers the Allspark. The Allspark is wanted by the evil Decepticons, who fight the Autobots for it. As a result, the Autobots crash into the Earth, along with a badly destroyed Megatron. The Autobots end up falling into a state known as stasis (sleep). When they awaken 50 years have passed and New Detroit is facing a crisis.
Dr. Isaac Sumdac (Tom Kenny) is an inventor whose work on a nanobot bug gets out of control. With the bug able to escape Sumdac’s laboratory and create havoc in New Detroit, the Autobots must step in and help the humans before the city is destroyed. To do so, they make themselves known to the humans, who gladly accept their help, when they realize the Autobots can help them get rid of the bug.
With so much going on, the Autobots really don’t have much time to spare. The soft spot Bumblebee (Bumper Robinson) has for the human race ensures that the doctor’s eight year old daughter, Sari (Tara Strong) is able to stow away in him in car form. While at the underwater hideaway of the Autobots, Sari encounters the Allspark. Some very interesting things happen to her before Optimus Prime (David Kaye) and the rest of the Autobots discover her.
However, the Autobots have more pressing issues. Starscream has returned to Earth and he wants the Allspark. He’s willing to do almost anything to get it. There is a lot more to all three episodes and all of them flow together fairly well. Of course, you have fade in fade out moments like you would for commercials, but it is easy to look past any of the breaks in the story since the episodes obviously all go together.
I like the new Transformers. They have a lot of personality. There is only one thing that bothers me and that’s the part where the Transformers let everyone know who they are. It really defeats the purpose of the Transformers being robots in disguise. Even in the movie, the Transformers made it clear they live among us without humans knowing. I know this is me being nitpicky, but I would have liked a little more anonymity for the Autobots.
The Transformers Animated episodic writing is quite brilliant. I like the added humor and the storylines are tight. The acting is excellent. Many of the top voice actors of this generation have a part in Transformers Animated. I also think it’s pretty cool they set the series in New Detroit. As a Michigan resident it’s nice to see the city a little more positively represented then it has been on other television shows.
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Replayability:
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Audio/Visual:
I really like the updated animation for Transformers Animated. These aren’t the Transformers of my youth. They’re a lot more technologically advanced. They sort of look like you always imagined the Transformers would look. The video quality of Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out only helps the animation out. The colors are good, with a lot of vibrancy to the color palette. The video for Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out is presented in 1.33:1 standard full frames. This is your basic transfer for an animated show. There were very few visual errors with no visible grain or dirt.
The sound for Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out comes through clearly. Presented in English Dolby Digital Stereo, this is a standard though not overly dynamic soundtrack. There is also a Spanish Dolby Digital Stereo track. There is nothing necessarily wrong with the sound. It’s just not anything special. Closed Captioning is available in both languages.
Visual:
Audio:
Bonus Features:
While I wasn’t expecting any bonuses I was pleasantly surprised to find one really cool bonus on the Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD. Technically, there are two bonuses, but they’re the same kind of bonus. There are two very funny shorts that feature the new Transformers. In one, Optimus Prime is talking to an elementary school group of children about being a Transformer. The kids seem bored with his discussion until one of the kids asks him to transform and all of the questions thereafter revolve around that part of being a Transformer. This was my favorite of the two shorts.
The second short features Bumblebee and Prowl. Bumblebee is giving Prowl a hard time and teasing him. Together, the two shorts are very short (as is to be expected). I believe both shorts are less than a minute separately. The original animation is excellent, and the shorts are both funny so despite being so short they are actually worth watching. This was a great added bonus I didn’t expect on this DVD.
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Bottom Line:
The Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out DVD may only contain the three episode pilot for the first season of Transformers Animated, but it is still a lot of fun for both kids and their parents. If you’re like me and grew up in the 80s you most likely will enjoy the updates. They aren’t offensive enough to take away from the original show, but are flashy enough to keep a new, technology-driven generation interested. As for the new generation who never had the chance to see the original show, Transformers Animated: Transform and Roll Out is a must have DVD. Every kid should get to experience the Transformers in cartoon form and Transformers Animated is a worthy adaptation of the old series.
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Technorati Tags: Transformers Animated, Transform and Roll Out, DVD Review, Kids Show, Cartoon, Hasbrom Cartoon Network
Written by Dominick Evans - Visit Website
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Dominick is in his late 20s. He lives in Michigan with his life partner, Ashtyn, their 14 year old son Robert, and their Shih-Tzu, Oliver. Dominick is a writer and the head editor for both LI Kids and Literary Illusions. He enjoys composing music and is an aspiring director/screenwriter. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, playing and watching sports, playing video games, watching movies, and singing.
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