The future of the TFPrime cartoon? - a 4th season?

[theheretic]

With the news of TF Prime finishing up after 16 episodes of season 3, it's looking like the beast hunters might be the new series after all. Looks like Beast modes will be getting some love. The appearance of Thundertron is what puzzles me. Is he the link between TFP and Beast Hunters?

[Verno]

Prime is wrapping up? I missed that in the past few days.

[SMHFConvoy]

Prime is wrapping up? I missed that in the past few days.

Looks like it was just announced (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/transformers-prime-season-3-will-be-16-episodes-possibly-the-final-season-175936/). Although I'd take it with a grain of salt.

[SuspectimusPrime]

With the news of TF Prime finishing up after 16 episodes of season 3, it's looking like the beast hunters might be the new series after all. Looks like Beast modes will be getting some love. The appearance of Thundertron is what puzzles me. Is he the link between TFP and Beast Hunters?

Any chance that Beast Hunters may be about off-world alien-like beasts rather than Earth-based life-forms? :)

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Any chance that Beast Hunters may be about off-world alien-like beasts rather than Earth-based life-forms? :)Depends...have they given it to Micheal Bay yet?:p

[swoop]

Best to wait for official word before writing prime off, they apparently had planned to continue prime until 2015 and with its success I doubt that it is being cancelled.

[Decepticon]

This is one very sad and shocking thread. TFPrime ending?.....noooooooooo,it can't!:eek:
Beast related TFs hitting the toy shelves? GOD I DREAD THE DAY THEY ARRIVE!:mad:

[theheretic]

Good news everyone! Confirmed today that TFPrime will have a fourth season. Woohoo!

[drahsrebu]

yayyyyyy!!!!!!!!

[griffin]

After speculation (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/hasbro-applies-for-beast-hunters-trademarks-update-transformers-prime-season-3/25815/) of a third season being the last, with just 16 episodes and the new "Beast Hunters" title (neither of which have been confirmed), one of the voice actors has come out to say (http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/news/will-season-3-be-the-last-of-transformers-prime-update-combs-states-there-will-be-a-fourth-season/25834/) that there should be a fourth season. (also unconfirmed, especially as voice actors are the last to know anything beyond the current episode they are recording)

[5FDP]

They give THIS a fourth season but end Animated after 3 :confused: Yeah, I'm still bitter ;)

[griffin]

It was disappointing, especially as they never released Season 3 on DVD either.
Animated was most likely a casualty of the HUB project, which needed a new line up of cartoon shows to launch it. A new series would give it that fresh look, over a fourth season that would have most likely have been the last season (based on the toys being proposed at that time - redecos and core cast with new accessories).
It was a pity too... the first season was done for the kiddies and to promote certain toys, but from then on it was being more targeted to the older fans, making it more interesting.

[griffin]

A bit of a hint as to why the third season is shorter... from a recent Earnings Q&A from Hasbro America (http://www.tfw2005.com/transformers-news/transformers-prime-39/tfw2005-coverage-of-hasbro-2012-q3-earnings-call-fate-of-transformers-prime-series-176173/), it was mentioned that it is more of a strategic investment into new shows, to build up their compliment of episodes. As they see that there is now a large number of TFPrime episodes now to re-run for the kiddies to watch over and over again (like us oldies did with Gen1 - it didn't matter if it was a repeat, as long as we got to watch the cartoon on Saturday mornings), so don't need to create as much new content. They still see the need for new content, to keep it interesting, but I guess they have data that supports the idea that reruns with occasional new episodes are just as effective to their target demographic as all-new content (which is more expensive). (note - just like the toys themselves, adult collectors are not the HUB's primary/target demographic)

There was mention of a cutting back on investment to the HUB channel itself, but didn't sound like it was a reason for the smaller third season, as it sounded like their Hasbro Studios shows (of which TFPrime is one), are performing better than shows they didn't produce, which should mean more of their own shows will continue for the foreseeable future.

[Sky Shadow]

If this is a proper fourth season, it makes Prime arguably the most successful Transformers animated franchise.

[5FDP]

If this is a proper fourth season, it makes Prime arguably the most successful Transformers animated franchise.

I wonder if this generation will look back on the series as fondly as those who grew up with the G1 cartoon...

[SuspectimusPrime]

They still see the need for new content, to keep it interesting, but I guess they have data that supports the idea that reruns with occasional new episodes are just as effective to their target demographic as all-new content (which is more expensive). (note - just like the toys themselves, adult collectors are not the HUB's primary/target demographic)

It has taken them an amazingly long time to get this.


I wonder if this generation will look back on the series as fondly as those who grew up with the G1 cartoon...

I've finally started watching Prime season 2 and its much better than season 1. Dreadwing sounds and acts like Tigatron :p

[Starscream77]

I am quite enjoying it, i finished watching the season 1 blu ray a couple of weeks ago and was fairly impressed (yes the kids are annoying) but overall am happy its going to a fourth season.

Im guessing season 2 is a long way off being released here ?

[LordCyrusOmega]

They give THIS a fourth season but end Animated after 3 :confused: Yeah, I'm still bitter ;)

We all are.

[Hursticon]

We all are.

But to be fair there were greater forces at work that saw to the end of Animated, namely; Cartoon Network not liking the fact that Hasbro was going it alone with their own TV Kids Network, why support a competitor? :o

What was good though is that The Hub/Hasbro managed to secure the rights and just recently finished airing all 3 Seasons of TF:Animated in its complete, unaltered, widescreen, high definition presentation - Something which Cartoon Network & The DVDs never did! ;):cool:


As for TF: Prime moving onto a 4th Season? - Great, glad it will. :cool:
Am I bothered that the 3rd & 4th Seasons are only to be 13-16 Episodes long? - No, I'm actually surprised this didn't happen sooner. :)
Will kids look back on TF: Prime the same way those did/do with G1? - Yes, if people can look back on Beast Machines &/or The Unicron Trilogy with any form of positivity I think TF: Prime will be too. ;):D

[SuspectimusPrime]

I am quite enjoying it, i finished watching the season 1 blu ray a couple of weeks ago and was fairly impressed (yes the kids are annoying) but overall am happy its going to a fourth season.

Im guessing season 2 is a long way off being released here ?

It seems like season 2 has less kids (or at least less Miko :)), so far. The season still has 2 episodes left, so I guess there's still some wait time. Do feel that they really should get some more characters or a B crew.

[SMHFConvoy]

I have no problem with shorter seasons. The British do it all the time :-) I just hope this generates tighter story arcs and better character development (I'm lookin' at you Miko!)

[Quickstrike]

What was good though is that The Hub/Hasbro managed to secure the rights and just recently finished airing all 3 Seasons of TF:Animated in its complete, unaltered, widescreen, high definition presentation - Something which Cartoon Network & The DVDs never did! ;):cool:


It's so awesome. They need to release THAT on DVD or Blu-ray or whatevs.

[theheretic]

I really love Prime and I'm glad it will received atleast a few more seasons. Is the story in Animated good? I've never watched any of it because I dislike the style of animation and the heads of a few of the transformers look like characters from a Disney cartoon.

[Hursticon]

It's so awesome. They need to release THAT on DVD or Blu-ray or whatevs.

...And I certainly hope they do too; because I would happily & gratefully delete the 3 Seasons that comprise 33 Gigabytes from my Harddrive, if it meant I could actually own an Australian Released Blu-Ray Boxset of Transformers: Animated. ;):)

Until that time though... :cool:

[SMHFConvoy]

I know that the Animated DVDs were produced by another company buuut could we ask Madman about it? They were successful in the release of the Japanese DVD collections and they're responsible for the distribution of the Prime series in Australia.

[GoktimusPrime]

If this is a proper fourth season, it makes Prime arguably the most successful Transformers animated franchise.
Japanese G1 ran for 5 series (F!SRLFTF, 2010, HMs, MF, V) -- 6 series if you consider that F!SRLFTF was seasons 1 and 2 combined. But yeah, Prime is a single continuous series made by the same production crew, whereas Japanese G1 picked up from US G1 S3 and ran with it (producing 3 original series). Depends on how you look at it I suppose. It would certainly make Prime the most successful Transformers animated franchise/series that was continuously made by the same production staff. :)

Makes me wonder how far Beast Wars could have gone if Hasbro hadn't decided to axe that -- IMHO prematurely. :o


I wonder if this generation will look back on the series as fondly as those who grew up with the G1 cartoon...
I've noticed some of my students are really enjoying the Prime cartoon (even girls), but none of them seem to be interested in the toys; whereas G1 engaged us both as a cartoon and toy (and comic book et al.) franchise. In my personal observation it seems that kids are enjoying the show, yet the toys seem to be shelfwarming. :(

[Sky Shadow]

Japanese G1 ran for 5 series (F!SRLFTF, 2010, HMs, MF, V) -- 6 series if you consider that F!SRLFTF was seasons 1 and 2 combined. But yeah, Prime is a single continuous series made by the same production crew, whereas Japanese G1 picked up from US G1 S3 and ran with it (producing 3 original series). Depends on how you look at it I suppose. It would certainly make Prime the most successful Transformers animated franchise/series that was continuously made by the same production staff. :)

I think if you count Masterforce and Victory as the same series as the previous franchises, then Beast Machines is the same series as Beast Wars.

[Hursticon]

I think if you count Masterforce and Victory as the same series as the previous franchises, then Beast Machines is the same series as Beast Wars.

From what I hear, were so far removed from what came before that they're more of a pair of Anime shows than anything; Beast Machines is definitely a 'Sequel' and not really a continuation, at least it's what typically happens when a continuation is given a new director, writer & producer anyway, ala Robocop 2 vs. 3. ;):cool:

[Bartrim]

They give THIS a fourth season but end Animated after 3 :confused: Yeah, I'm still bitter ;)

Especialy after reading the synopsis for season 4 in The Allspark Almanac

[griffin]

I know that the Animated DVDs were produced by another company buuut could we ask Madman about it? They were successful in the release of the Japanese DVD collections and they're responsible for the distribution of the Prime series in Australia.

I've tried asking them several times about Animated (to highlight how popular Season 3 would be to everyone, including foreigners), but they don't respond to me with any of their email addresses.

[Hursticon]

I've tried asking them several times about Animated (to highlight how popular Season 3 would be to everyone, including foreigners), but they don't respond to me with any of their email addresses.

Have shot them a tweet; I'll post if they're able to mention something, if they mention anything at all that is. :)