New War for Cybertron cartoon for Netflix in 2020

[Paulbot]

Very interesting news today from IGN (https://au.ign.com/articles/2019/02/15/transformers-anime-prequel-series-headed-to-netflix-in-2020)


Netflix has ordered a new Transformers anime prequel series, Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy, and it will premiere in 2020.

Netflix and Hasbro have partnered with Rooster Teeth to bring War For Cybertron to life and Polygon Pictures will act as the animation studio.

This new show promises "a new animation look and style that presents the Transformers like you've never seen them before."


More details (but no pics or anything yet) at the IGN link above.

[griffin]

Probably better than going to Machinima again for their current Generations toyline... but similar to Machinima, this Generations cartoon will start over a year after the toys have been released, so if it features any toys from the 2019 Siege line (all those main cast characters that are out now globally, that won't still be in stores by the middle of this year), it's wasted advertising. (the announcement is more for the Retailers info than us fans, as this will allow Hasbro to convince Retailers to take on WFC toyline because there will be "advertising" through a cartoon... eventually)

[Deonasis]

I am glad transformers have put something new (hopefully for kids) on Netflix. I know not everyone has it but it is on-demand and probably more accessible than foxtel. My kids rewatch their favorite series multiple times and the lore sinks in.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Well we don’t have the internet download for Netflix so hopefully it crops up elsewhere.

I know it’s gojng to be promoting Seige toys after the fact but it might also be a testbed for if they decide to do an all-animated Movie on Cybertron like the Bumblebee director has alluded to

[griffin]

Well we don’t have the internet download for Netflix so hopefully it crops up elsewhere.


I hope so too, but unless they release a physical copy, do netflix programs ever show up on other networks or free-to-air?
I'm fearing that it will as difficult to acquire or view here as Japanese or Chinese TFs cartoons. :(

[Paulbot]

Not so much but they do, the Netflix Voltron has been on ABCKids for instance. They also release Netflix shows on DVD.

[KELPIE]

I am glad transformers have put something new (hopefully for kids) on Netflix. I know not everyone has it but it is on-demand and probably more accessible than foxtel. My kids rewatch their favorite series multiple times and the lore sinks in.

They've mentioned that this one will be targeted at Fans, with the Cyberverse series the one for kids.

Seeing that some of the Machinima writers are working on this has me worried.

Seeing that some of the TF Prime guys are working on this also has me worried (though this may please some).

I will remain cautiously optimistic as to what this series will be. I'm hoping that it's got a great narrative utilising some of the lesser characters from G1 and just using the Siege name for cross promotion.

That said, since the Siege name is in there, I'm hoping to see Flywheels take centre stage... man that would be cool.

[DELTAprime]

Probably better than going to Machinima again for their current Generations toyline...

Machinima has been 100% shut down, so Hasbro can't go to them.

It's been shut down in such a weird way though that people are expecting the owner of the brand to have the Machinima name put on something new.

[Raider]

I'm going to be optimistic. I'm a big fan of some of Rooster Teeth's work and if they bring that to Transformers I think it will be amazing.

[bowspearer]

Gotta be honest, if the animation style is similar to what was done with Gen-Lock, I'm not going to be a fan of it.

[UltraMarginal]

Shared writers with the last trilogy is a bit of a concern, but maybe they wrote the good bits. I think the directing did a lot to let that show down.

TF Prime is one of my favourite shows, so seeing that studio involved, and Rooster teeth gives me a lot to be optimistic about.

Hopefully it becomes available on Blu-Ray fairly quickly. We might have Netflix by then, but only if our NBN connection is on time and is faster than our existing edge of the serviceable area ADSL

[Raider]

Let's not be too negative. Yes it could suck but then again it could be great. I am going to hope for the latter and be optimistic. I'd rather drum up support for it so that if it is good and pulls in solid viewing numbers it will have a chance of lasting awhile.

Being negative about it will not get us anywhere when we don't even have a teaser yet.

[bowspearer]

Let's not be too negative. Yes it could suck but then again it could be great. I am going to hope for the latter and be optimistic. I'd rather drum up support for it so that if it is good and pulls in solid viewing numbers it will have a chance of lasting awhile.

Being negative about it will not get us anywhere when we don't even have a teaser yet.

I'm not saying it can't be good, I'm just going by what we have, which is enough to form an opinion and expectation of what we're likely to see. The fact is that unless the writers were having their stuff heavily rewritten by others on Prime Wars, or are having their stuff heavily rewritten on Siege, then what we saw with the writing on Prime Wars is what we're going to see here. My bog concern is that the characterisations felt a little shallow on Prime Wars and I'm concerned about that happening here. Yes that could have been voice direction, but at the same time, while bad acting will ruin a good script, good acting can't save a bad script.

At this point I think it's better and more realistic to go into this with low expectations: there's enough evidence to suggest they're reasonable and if it does turn out to be really good, our expectations will be completely exceeded.

[Raider]

I'm not saying it can't be good, I'm just going by what we have, which is enough to form an opinion and expectation of what we're likely to see. The fact is that unless the writers were having their stuff heavily rewritten by others on Prime Wars, or are having their stuff heavily rewritten on Siege, then what we saw with the writing on Prime Wars is what we're going to see here. My bog concern is that the characterisations felt a little shallow on Prime Wars and I'm concerned about that happening here. Yes that could have been voice direction, but at the same time, while bad acting will ruin a good script, good acting can't save a bad script.

At this point I think it's better and more realistic to go into this with low expectations: there's enough evidence to suggest they're reasonable and if it does turn out to be really good, our expectations will be completely exceeded.


I won't knock anyone for having an opinion (that is not totally unreasonable) but I am just saying that if we support the new series early and foster encouragement and engagement, we are much more likely to get a better product than if people are already writing it off.

We dont know what led to Prime Wars being exactly the way it was so I am not going to tar this with the same brush. I love RWBY and RvB so if this turns out anywhere near as good as those I know I will be happy. That is what I am hoping for.

[bowspearer]

I am just saying that if we support the new series early and foster encouragement and engagement, we are much more likely to get a better product than if people are already writing it off.

We dont know what led to Prime Wars being exactly the way it was so I am not going to tar this with the same brush.

That's why, given what did happen with Prime Wars, I'm far more inclined to reject both options you've listed and instead adopt a "wait and see" approach.

Given it's on Netflix and the whole series will have been paid for regardless, I don't see a problem with a whole heap of us holding off until a few reviews start surfacing and if it's good, checking it out en masse from there. If it is good, it'll still wind up getting enough views to justify a second season anyway.

[Sinnertwin]

I'll watch a few episodes to get a feel for it, definitely. I've read elsewhere how people have already kicked it to the curb & will be boycotting it. I'm not saying that you shouldn't &, but, far out, considering nobody has seen a single pixel yet... let's just give it a chance

[Trent]

If Rooster Teeth are involved I’ll definitley give it a chance. RWBY is a fantastic show and their new mecha series (name escapes me right now) is apparently showing promise.

I just love speculation. We end up with pages and pages of people arguing over points that just turn out to be wrong anyway. So much wasted emotion and keystrokes :rolleyes:

[Raider]

If Rooster Teeth are involved I’ll definitley give it a chance. RWBY is a fantastic show and their new mecha series (name escapes me right now) is apparently showing promise.


Gen:lock is the new one. I watched the first ep and enjoyed it but you need to be a subscriber for the others. I am hoping it goes free once all have been aired.

I love RWBY too. The character development in that show is outstanding, as is the story and the choreographed fight scenes. I would love to see them put some of that choreography into transformers.

[Trent]

Gen:lock is the new one. I watched the first ep and enjoyed it but you need to be a subscriber for the others. I am hoping it goes free once all have been aired.

I love RWBY too. The character development in that show is outstanding, as is the story and the choreographed fight scenes. I would love to see them put some of that choreography into transformers.

I could go on for hours about how awesome RWBY is. But I won’t :)

[Raider]

I could go on for hours about how awesome RWBY is. But I won’t :)

As could I. I think I posted a few times in the what are you watching thread but only ever heard crickets when I posted about RWBY :p

I'm guessing that they will do this new series in the same sort of animation style. I wasn't a fan of it at first but it grew on me. There is a really interesting making of RWBY video where the team goes through the animation differences between season 1 and season 2. I wonder where the Transformers one will start off. Guess it depends on the budget.

[griffin]

So little has been revealed so far, so if we keep going off topic, I'll have to close this topic until we get more actual news to discuss.

[KELPIE]

I will remain cautiously optimistic as to what this series will be. I'm hoping that it's got a great narrative utilising some of the lesser characters from G1 and just using the Siege name for cross promotion.

That said, since the Siege name is in there, I'm hoping to see Flywheels take centre stage... man that would be cool.
I'm adding to my lists of hopes... That is that of a large roster. I'm so sick of 5 Autobots vs 5 Decepticons and a whole bunch of drones.



Gotta be honest, if the animation style is similar to what was done with Gen-Lock, I'm not going to be a fan of it.
Yeah no thanks. That animation is terrible. It'd be nice if it was 2D but I doubt it.

I'll absolutely give it a go, just like I've given every series a go. That said, nothing has been good (in my opinion) since TF:Animated.

[Soundwarp]

Yay, just tried to watch Cybertron/Galaxy Force with the kids.....
What was I thinking......

[griffin]

The writer for the new WFC cartoon on Netflix (Brandon Easton) was at TFCon on the weekend, and revealed some details for the new cartoon (https://news.tfw2005.com/2019/03/19/transformers-war-for-cybertron-netflix-series-info-from-tfcon-los-angeles-2019-385551)...





Season 1 will consist of 6 episodes.
Each episode will have a running time of 22 minutes.
Brandon Easton has written over half the season.
The series will be directed at older fans of the franchise, and will be very dark in tone.
The story will feature lasting effects on canon.
Animation is taking inspiration from the hit Netflix show Knights Of Sidonia (also from the same animation studio; Polygon Pictures).
The show will keep characters true to themselves and G1 fans will not be disappointed.
Mr. Easton believes that War For Cybertron will become the next definitive iteration for the franchise.

[BigTransformerTrev]

That all sounds very promising- looking forward to it :)

[SMHFConvoy]

So it's basically a G1 sausage fest? I'm out.

[KELPIE]

So it's basically a G1 sausage fest? I'm out.

+ Windblade.


Animation is taking inspiration from the hit Netflix show Knights Of Sidonia (also from the same animation studio; Polygon Pictures)

Oh this is sad. The animation in that show was abominable.

Maybe the AEC fans will be happy?

[Raider]

22 minute episodes is what interests me. Clear change of direction from the terrible terrible show that was does by Machinima. It is also promising that it is directed towards older fans which hopefully means a more in depth look into the characters. Seems promising to me.

[Bidoofdude]

22 minute episodes is what interests me. Clear change of direction from the terrible terrible show that was does by Machinima. It is also promising that it is directed towards older fans which hopefully means a more in depth look into the characters. Seems promising to me.

With the stuff we’ve heard so far, I really hope it ends up being like a lot of the DC animated movies they put out every year, or like a lot of Netflix adaptations that blend mature themes and the feel of the original.

[ChlorHex]

22 minute episodes is what interests me. Clear change of direction from the terrible terrible show that was does by Machinima. It is also promising that it is directed towards older fans which hopefully means a more in depth look into the characters. Seems promising to me.

Indeed.
Machinima didn't do it for me... it lacked depth.
It did reach out to the kids though... my boys absolutely loved it and have started wanting my bots - a good thing.
I'm looking forward to this one.