this show is awsomeeee

2) The human cast doesn't suck. Sari, Sumdac and Fanzone have distinct and unique characters, and the things they do are vital to the story.

Cos Professor Princess and the Headmasters are "teh bomb." :/

Yeah, cause they made my list. I'm not asking you to like Animated, or it's human villains, but you can't deny that the humans with the most screentime are distinct and vital characters, unlike, say Spike and Sparkplug who didn't impact the story any deeper than "Ah, I'm in danger, save me!" or "Hey, I built a robot body. And now my son is stuck in it. What a one episode dilemma no one will remember next week!"

 

6) G1 references on top of G1 references.

...relatively shallow G1 references IMO... although, considering that TFA is a different universe from G1, it can't really get into deeper G1 references unlike say Beast Wars, which deeply anchored itself into G1 and G2 continuity. That's not to say that I don't enjoy the G1 references in TFA but they're really just Easter Eggs rather than being woven into the fabric of its universe as it was with BW and BM.

It's not a "reference" if it's in continuity, IMO, it's just story at that point.

1. It fails to sufficiently engage me as an adult. I was an adult when Beast Wars and Beast Machines came out and both those shows engaged me as an adult (especially Beast Machines, which was really too adult and that worked against the show).

 

Well, I don't care if you like or hate the show, but I really just don't understand this concept.

 

I was an adult when BW/BM came out too and I felt both of those shows were the epitomy of "kiddie shows", and on par with things were aimed at my toddler nephew at the time.

 

Again, just a matter of opinion. I just find it funny that so many people can see something one way and others, see it completely different.

*is 35*

 

I like it for the intelligence of the writing, the character design, plot, humor, and how they update G1 characters to be what I always felt they should be (Megatron a real threat, Starscream backstabbing *and* effective, Prime with some personality at all, Ratchet actually having a reason to be old and grumpy, etc etc etc). It is an ongoing story and it's really best to watch it from the beginning if at all possible.

 

P.S. welcome :wave

 

Ok, I see there are lots of fans of the show, but I've seen the beginning. I have every episode downloaded, but mostly because I collect all TF shows whether I liked them or not (BW Neo??) and I've seen about four episodes, the first 2, another one at some random time, and the last one that just aired Elite guard I believe. But I'm just not feeling it. I guess one thing that through me for a loop was Prime being an elite guard washout? Or the fact that everyone but his team seems to look down on him as failing to live up to a basic potential? Most incarnations of Optimus Primes has him respected by almost all, whether they be the bad guys or the good guys. But this Prime seems to have always prove to himself.

 

I got over the fact that Prime's not the Supreme leader of the Autobots (Like in BW where he was just a simple ships captain) but this version, I dunno. Everyone seems to see him, at first, as the leader of a team of rejects. Prowl (I just won't go into what my problem is with him. too many here like him). I did like Bumblebee's character, but thats really all.

 

And I always thought Starscream was a backstabber in G1. Well in the first 2 seasons. He couldn't wait it say "Megatrons unable to fight, I'm the new leader" ever chance he got and the movie even had him throw the injured Megatron from the train. But this version just seems creepy to me. The version in Galaxy force even went head to head with old Meg's, but this one..........

 

I dunno, I guess I'm just going to chalk it up to taste. Mine are different than others, and I'll just have to keep taping them to file away in my library, but I doubt I guess my intrest will ever grow. I was just curious if there was something I was missing.

 

Thanks for the heads up though folks :)

 

So, just going by the 2 examples you give (Prime & Starscream), you basically don't like Animated because some of the characters you remember from past TF series are being portrayed differently than how you remember them? For it to be a good show Optimus has to be the great and respectable leader? For it to be a good show Starscream has to be the backstabber who can stand toe to toe with Megatron? I'm surprised you even like Bumblebee because he is far from being much like G1 Bumblebee. I think that if you let go of your preconceptions of what each characters personality "need to be like" then perhaps you may enjoy the show more. Like alot have already said, the writing is intelligent and the interaction between the characters is very witty and many times humorous. BTW I'm 33 and grew up a hardcore G1 fan.

Actually, most of the TFA Transformers are significant departures from their G1 namesakes. The only one that I would say is the most similar is Starscream, who is more similar to G1 (and G2) toy and comic Starscream than G1 cartoon Starscream. Like G1/G2 toy/comic Starscream, TFA Starscream operates with more guile and stealth whereas G1 cartoon Starscream was far more open and direct with his treachery.

 

But other than cosmetic visual and occupational similarities, the TFA Transformers are really very different characters from their G1 counterparts.

Not my review, but I thought I'd share it here. :)

 

Not my review, but I thought I'd share it here. :)

 

*IDIOTIC RAMBLING FANBOY VIDEO REMOVED*

 

First of all, it's not a review. The series hadn't even aired when he made that.

 

Second of all, I lost all interest in what this a$$ hat had to say when he called The Batman "The Crapman."

"The Crapman?" Really? That just screams angry closed minded fanboy. Anyone who calls a series theydon't like by some demeaning variation of the actual name thinks they're being clever. They're not. They're just making themselves look foolish. I admit, I much prefer the original Batman The Animated Series over The Batman, but come one dude.

 

Thirdly, he says the lifeblood of the Transformers franchise is the old school G1 fanbase. WRONG!

We make up, at the most, 20% of the TF fan base. They could make a series that totally alienates every single fan over the age of 15 and they'd still have a major cash cow if they draw in their key fan base, the kids. And in the end, that's who the franchise is for.

 

What's wrong with David Kaye? He rules. I think he's done a fantastic job with Prime.

 

*EDIT* And Bob Skir was the head writer for BM, not Marty Isenberg.

Isenberg's redeemed himself from his work on BM, and some, with Animated.

But then what's a little smudging of the facts if it makes for a better rant?

 

Again, this "review" was made by a rambling closed minded fanboy who is obviously unable to accept anything new. The "review" doesn't even actually review the series, as it was apparently made before the first episode aired.

 

Nothing worth watching, unless you like armpit smell* in visual and audio form.

 

*Pays royalties to LM

It's fun. It's full-out indulgence in what makes TF great, that is, the characters. Prime's character actually has to develop, rather than stick a macguffin in his chest, Bulkhead is misunderstood, Prowl looks out for his teammates even when they irk him, Ratchet is a crotchety old wanker with a heart of gold, and Bumblebee is well, Bumblebee I suppose. The decepticons, for the first time in half a decade, are awesome characters too, Blitzving is ze awesome, Starscream is actually a smart, deceptive backstabber, and Megs can be subtle one moment then full-out badass the next. And Sari goes down in the human sidekick hall of fame for actually being useful and probably having a higher IQ than every A/E/C human put together. At the age of 8. And no, I'm not implying she's a genius.

I will also out myself as a supervillans fan. PP is a nice dig at the "evil war toys" folks, and methinks Angry Archer is most full of the win.

Not my review, but I thought I'd share it here. :)

 

<25 year old virgin living in his mother's basement ranting>

 

The phrase "There but for the grace of God" distinctly comes to mind.

When I first saw the promo pic for Animated, I was like WTF!!! Definitely not my cup o' tea in the art department. Since I'm not a closed minded fool or a fan of stagnation, I decided to give it half a chance (I am a pessimist after all :) .) I'm glad I did. I'm gonna go out on a limb and say Animated has the best writing and plot development of any TF series so far, IMO. Not since the mid-eighties, have I looked forward to watching a Saturday morning cartoon. While some would say that the characterization has been drawn from the all too familiar archetypes and the writing has been simplified and aimed more toward children (crazy, a cartoon for kids, what were they thinking,) the show does a good job at entertaining all us "adults" (and I use the term lightly) by poking fun at the fandom and paying tribute to some of the previous incarnations of the TFs. On the same token, the simplistic writing seems to match the simple art style as well. I couldn't imagine a hand-drawn G1 style or 3D CGI art direction working very well with Animated's writing style or voice work. They are a very good match. What I enjoy most about the series so far are the plot lines and the wonder of not knowing what will happen next. Just when you think you've got things figured out, the writers shake things up a bit and turn everything upside down. Plain and simple, Animated is fun. Remember when toons were fun? I'm not saying that everyone should fall in love with this series. I just think if more of the naysayers would give the series a chance and watch more than a few random episodes, they might be surprised. It really is that good.