Transformers: Animated
Transformers: Animated is an animated television series based on the Transformers toy line. It was produced by Cartoon Network Studios and Hasbro Entertainment and animated by The Answer Studio, Mook Animation, and Studio 4°C. The series debuted on Cartoon Network on December 26, 2007, and ended on May 23, 2009; running for 42 episodes across three seasons. In Japan, the show debuted on April 3, 2010, on both TV Aichi and TV Tokyo.
The show is set in its own stand-alone continuity, separate from any other previous Transformers continuities. Also, the series does feature many references to the other continuities; such as footage from the Generation 1 series being used as a historical film.
The show is one of two Cartoon Network Studios shows whose rights are not owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, the other being the 2003-2005 Star Wars: Clone Wars television series.
Synopsis
Series overview
The series began with a three-part movie-length episode called "Transform and Roll Out!". Stellar cycles after the Autobots won the great war for Cybertron against the Decepticons, an Autobot maintenance crew led by Optimus Prime and consisting of Ratchet, Bulkhead, Prowl, and Bumblebee discover the legendary AllSpark buried on an asteroid. The Autobots take the AllSpark back to their ship, but are soon confronted by a crew of Decepticons led by the notorious warlord Megatron and consisting of Blitzwing, Lugnut, Blackarachnia, and Starscream. Megatron attacks the Autobot ship and tries to retrieve the AllSpark, but when an explosive planted on Megatron by the treacherous Starscream detonates, the ship crashes on Earth. The Autobots go into stasis to survive the crash, while the scattered remains of Megatron are discovered by a human scientist named Isaac Sumdac.Half a century later, Professor Issac Sumdac is the CEO of a robotics company known as Sumdac Systems, which is based in a futuristic version of Detroit in the 2050s. Optimus Prime and the Autobots awaken from stasis and defend the people of Detroit from a monster, resulting in them becoming local celebrities. They befriend Professor Sumdac's young daughter Sari, who teaches them about Earth social norms, and whose security card is transformed into a metallic tool which possesses a fraction of the AllSpark's vast cosmic power. Starscream arrives on Earth and tries to take the all-powerful AllSpark for himself, but the Autobots successfully stop him and save the Earth once again.
Season One
The Autobots settle into their new home and learn about Earth culture and customs, while also defending Detroit from various threats. Megatron's disembodied head, which has been in Professor Sumdac's laboratory since the ship crashed, comes back online and manipulates Sumdac into building him a new body, pretending that he is an Autobot. Blitzwing and Lugnut arrive on Earth searching for Megatron, while Blackarachnia targets Optimus Prime, blaming him for her techno-organic mutation. New Transformers introduced in the first season include the Autobot Arcee, the Decepticon Soundwave, the bounty-hunter Lockdown, and the Dinobots Grimlock, Snarl, and Swoop. Several human villains are also introduced, including Nanosec, the Headmaster and Meltdown. The season ends with Megatron returning with a new body, and the AllSpark exploding into many fragments that scatter across Detroit.Season Two
The Autobot Elite Guard members Ultra Magnus, Sentinel Prime, and Jazz arrive on Earth to retrieve the AllSpark, only to learn of its destruction in the Season One finale. While Sentinel completely disbelieves Optimus's claims, Optimus and his team are eventually able to convince Magnus of Decepticon activity on Earth. The main theme for Season Two is the discovery of small fragments of the AllSpark littered across the city, while the Decepticons work on building a space bridge back to Cybertron with the help of Issac Sumdac, who was kidnapped by Megatron in the previous season's finale. This is part of Megatron's plan to invade Cybertron from within, without the Autobots' awareness.New characters introduced in season 2 include the Autobots Omega Supreme, Wreck-Gar, Wasp and Blurr, the Decepticons Shockwave, Swindle, Mixmaster and Scrapper, the human villain Slo-Mo, and Starscream's army of clones Thundercracker, Ramjet, Skywarp, Sunstorm, and Slipstream. At the end of the season, the Decepticon Space Bridge is destroyed, but Megatron, Starscream, and Omega Supreme are sucked through and lost in deep space. Sari meanwhile, notices an injury that exposes mechanical components under her skin, revealing that she is not entirely human.
Season Three
The revelation that she's a robot sends Sari into a whirlwind of shock and disbelief, immediately suspecting her "father" as her creator, despite Sumdac's insistence that he discovered her in a liquid metal form. Ratchet's examination unveils Sari's mixed human and Cybertronian composition. Prowl's inquiry supports Sumdac's account, pinpointing Sari as a Cybertronian protoform merged with Sumdac's genetic code. Using her Key's energy, Sari evolves into a formidable armored techno-organic teenager with advanced weaponry and unique Cybertronian abilities.Meanwhile, on Cybertron, Shockwave sabotages several Elite Guard operations in preparation for Megatron's return, unaware that Megatron and Starscream are lost in deep space, trying to gain control of Omega Supreme. Suspecting that the double-agent may be the escaped convict Wasp, Ultra Magnus sends Sentinel and Jazz back to Earth to find and apprehend Wasp, who has found his way to Earth to exact revenge on Bumblebee for framing him. Soundwave and Arcee reappear, with Soundwave being accompanied by minions Laserbeak and Ratbat. New characters introduced in season 3 include the Constructicon Dirt Boss, the Autobot scientist Perceptor, Prowl's mentor Yoketron, and the flying Elite Guard members Jetstorm and Jetfire.
In the two-part finale, "Endgame", Jazz joins Optimus Prime's team on Earth, while Megatron and Starscream also find their way back to Earth, using information stored deep within Arcee's subconscious mind to create an army of Omega Supreme-sized robots in Lugnut's likeness. Optimus defeats Megatron with the aid of Ultra Magnus' Magnus Hammer and a "Wingblade" jetpack built by Professor Sumdac, Ratchet, and Sari while Prowl sacrifices his own vital Spark to reassemble most of the AllSpark into what resembles the Matrix of Leadership, killing Starscream in the process, and destroying the "Lugnut Supremes" all at once. Megatron is arrested, and the Autobots return to Cybertron, and are hailed as heroes upon arriving on their home world with Sari who is intent on learning what it is to be an Autobot and finally about her unique origins.
Season Four
A fourth season of more than thirteen/sixteen episodes was initially planned for, consisting of more than just the regular thirteen or sixteen episodes, but was ultimately cancelled. According to The AllSpark Almanac II, The Complete AllSpark Almanac, and issue #71 of the Transformers Collectors' Club magazine, season four's main theme would have been the discovery of Energon deposits left by the Allspark across Detroit.Script Readings
Two official script readings in Botcon convention taking place in Animated tells stories after the events of the Third Season but before the proposed 4 Fourth Season.Stunticon Job
After the events of Endgame focuses on Animated versions of Sideswipe as a senior police bot with one last case before retirement paired up with a new parter loose cannon Cheetor investigating stolen modifications which would lead to the "Stunt Convoy" show but however were revealed to be Animated versions of the Stunticons and bizzario toxic Optimus Prime clone dubbed Toxitron. Optimus would switch places with Toxitron when the latter got arrested and released due to lack of evidence. Optimus exposes the Stunticons plan with Sideswipe and Cheetor's help put astop to them. However, after Sideswipe retired and settle at the Energon farm it would be attacked by a new Team Charr.The Return of Blurr
Taking place around the events of the previous script reading focusing on Sari Sumdac in a Cybertronian class with Animated versions of Headmasters Siren, Horsehead, and Nighbeat with Arcee as its teacher inside of Metroplex. When Sari's classmates was grossed out from her eating her food from Earth she went to throw it in a garbage chute she ends up falling in where she finds the crushed Blurr still alive where in events of trying to escape they accidentally unleashed an Animated version of Kremzeek that ended up taking over some Autobot bodies before trying to hyjack Fortress Maxinus' cannons that would destroy the Iacon later revealed to be created by Shockwave. However using her powers she gained Blurr's speed to race over there while running into Cheetor and Sideswipe along the way. Sari would manage to trap Kremzeek in a cup where Kremzeek. Later on Optimus would use the Allspark to fully restore Blurr where Blurr breaks the fourth wall exited to be back in time for season 4 but when he learns there is no season 4 he asked his agent to get involved with Robots in Disguise or Susan Blu's input to hopefully get into voice directing.Episodes
Characters
The main Autobots are Optimus Prime, Prowl, Ratchet, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee. The main Decepticon cast is made up of Megatron, Starscream, Blitzwing, Lugnut, and Blackarachnia. The main humans, or as the Transformers call them, "organics", are Professor Isaac Sumdac, Sari Sumdac, and Captain Fanzone.Autobots
Source:- Optimus Prime - The young leader of the main Autobot team.
- Ratchet - The medical officer and senior member of the main Autobot team, and a veteran of the Great War.
- Bulkhead - A member of the main Autobot team.
- Prowl - A Cyber Ninja and a member of the main Autobot team.
- Bumblebee - The scout and youngest member of the main Autobot team.
- Arcee - An Autobot intelligence officer during the Great War. She befriended a young Ratchet while on a mission together. She was originally a teacher who taught young Autobots.
- Omega Supreme - A giant Autobot superweapon that served as the main Autobot team's ship. During the Great War, he nearly sacrificed his spark to end the war, leading a younger Ratchet to place him in stasis until he was properly repaired.