I'm not sure what to think of TF Animated..

[Zaul]

I watched the first ep on Youtube tonight.

Hmmm....


I like the Toys, and the Art Style.

The fight scenes seem pretty cool, but the way they portray the Formers as almost human, moving a large screen tv....

I'm really not sure what I think of it, I want to like it.

Anyone actually a fan? Is it any good from your perspective?

[Tober]

Season 1 is a bit slow, gets better towards the end. Season 2 is better and season 3 is better still.

[liegeprime]

Like Tober said. Plenty of G1 nostalgia catchphrases and stuff shown here and there like easter eggs on some scenes are scattered in various episodes. Season one was more of a hit and miss, prolly Hasbro still feeling and figuring out what direction they wanted the animation to go to. Also I read somewhere that Animated is a filler line (as was Classic) should the Movie franchise bomb out they tried to thread slowly to feel the market/fans response to it I figure. Then that blasted movie somehow got blockbuster hits:mad: which got the Animated (which a better IMO) line cancelled altogether so they can concentrate on marketing the fuglyformers of that line. To this day everyone is still waiting if Hasbro will break their tradition of NOT ISSUING a G1 esque Arcee that is in the show. As far as the episodes go. I'tll definitely get better as the season progresses....

[Paulbot]

Yes there are a lot of people who are "actually fans".

There are reviews of nearly every episode of Animated in the reviews area.

[Zaul]

Yes there are a lot of people who are "actually fans".

There are reviews of nearly every episode of Animated in the reviews area.

I dont mean it in an offensive way.

I just saw Bumblebee playing video games, and it kind of threw me off. :confused:

[Kyle]

Anyone actually a fan? Is it any good from your perspective?

I am. :D LOVE it. :D

Animated is like candies.


I dont mean it in an offensive way.

I just saw Bumblebee playing video games, and it kind of threw me off. :confused:

Bumblebee playing video games later becomes a comedic plot device during a Season 3 episode. :D

[GoktimusPrime]

I think it's okay. I enjoyed some parts of it but really cringed at other parts. IMHO it's still not as good as Beast Wars, but it's not without merit either.


The fight scenes seem pretty cool, but the way they portray the Formers as almost human, moving a large screen tv....
Yeah, I've never liked it when Transformers - as a race of alien robots from space - are portrayed as being too human. Animated makes this mistake on several occasions, but at other times they do try to remind the audience that they are aliens, such as when Bumblebee and Bulkhead first try to provide fuel for Sari in the form of oil, then later rotten food scraps!

And to be fair, portraying the Transformers isn't a problem that only plagues Animated (though it does happen too much IMO) - it's something that's occured since G1. Even Simon Furman occasionally does it too. In fact, the one writer who consistently portrays Transformers as being otherworldly is Bob Budiansky!

It's a balancing act - on one hand you need to establish the fact that the Transformers are an alien species, but on the other hand, you need to give them enough anthropomorphic traits so that audiences can empathise and care about the characters.

And that's one thing I didn't really like about Animated, overall IMHO it wasn't all that well balanced. It was kinda hit and miss with really great and cringeworthy moments happening all over the place - particularly with Season 1. To the Animated writers' credit, I think they realised this problem because in Seasons 2 and 3 we saw better consistency in the kind and type of stories being written; there were still some really cringe worthy moments in Seasons 2 and 3 but overall with less intensity and frequency than Season 1 (except for the Headmaster - god I loathe that character - though I loved the way he got pwned in the end ;)).

P.S.: One thing I really like about Animated though are the number of characters who are primarily operating their own agendas e.g.:
+ Lockdown: First time we've seen a mercenary in a TF cartoon!
+ Blackarachnia: Essentially joined the Decepticons because she felt the Autobots abandoned her, but doesn't truly care about the Decepticon cause - her only mission is to rid herself of her organic half (like BM Megatron!)
+ Sentinel Prime: A massive d***wad - and I really don't like this character, but it's interesting to have an Autobot who's sense of morality is quite screwed up.
+ Wasp(inator): A bit of tragic character who is driven purely by revenge against the one who wronged him. But as Bulkhead pointed out, he was already a jerk before that incident anyway.
+ Swindle: As Megatron pointed out, he'd sell his own motherboard for the right price. ;)
+ Mixmaster and Scavenger: Greedy simpletons - though Scavenger seemed more morally salvageable than Mixmaster.
+ The Dinobots: The Animated Dinobots lack the sapience to even understand what factions are, let alone truly align themselves to one!
...and I've probably left a few others out, but you get the idea. :)

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Just wait 'til you get to the opening episodes of season 3 (Transwarped)...:)

It's easily my favourite series to date. The toys are mostly amazing, series-wise it is hit and miss but the hits are great and the misses are rarely painful (mostly just dull, S1 is the worst for this), the human villain episodes (while mostly lame IMO) at least have a rationale (to keep the 'cons a 'real' threat by not having them easily beaten all the time a la G1), it's got more easter eggs than the Easter Bunny, the characterisation is just gold (with a real distinction between Autobots and Decepticons weaponry-wise - they really did push the civilian/military hardware distinction), they keep an overarching storyline throughout the whole series, Sari is probably the least annoying 'human character' ever - the list goes on and on, but as ever it's better to watch it for yourself and make up your own mind.
My only real complaints are 1: it's stopped already and there are still so many characters who didn't get toys, and 2: the series finale felt sorta rushed and doesn't really tie everything up (hopefully we'll see a straight-to-DVD movie or summat someday but I'm not holding my breath).
Basically, it's the first series that felt like it was for-the-fans-by-the-fans to me, and it is and ever shall be sorely missed.

[i_amtrunks]

Like Beast Wars, Animated gets better the longer it goes on.

There are a number of ordinary episodes, but often a very good episode follows a fairly poor one, so it all balances out.

Its a shame it was canned to make way for robot testicles and other hallmarks of the movie line.

[Sky Shadow]

I'm not sure what to think of TF Animated..

If you don't know what to think, then try thinking it's one of the best Transformers shows ever, only rivalled by Beast Wars, Beast Machines and Masterforce. You'll then be thinking along the right lines. :D

[Lint]

I like the Toys, and the Art Style.

The fight scenes seem pretty cool...

Keep watching, you'll love it :D
The three things you mentioned you liked are the most common gripes people have with animated.

The human-ness element (and the more involved role of human characters) may take a while to get used to but keep in mind its a cartoon for little kids and all in good fun ;)

[The_Damned]

i thought it was great :)

[kup]

The first season for me is the worse and very off putting. Its got a couple of shining episodes but they get drowned by a lot of crap which can be a strugle to watch. However as has been said already, the series significantly improves during Season 2 which still has is fair share of crappy episodes but these are balanced better by good above average episodes and Season 3 is generally good overall but short.

There are still Animated 'eccentricities' that one has to tolerate if you are not into that sort of thing but it becomes much easier to get used to them as the series improves.

In my opinion Animated is a very 'bipolar' series in the sense that it has some of the best episodes we have seen since Beast Wars that really stand out on their own but at the same time it has some of the worse we have ever seen, particularly in Season 1 with many episodes being 'Sari and her robot friends' with the key fixing everything and high emphasis on lame human villains.

[SilverDragon]

Think of it as being like every other TF series combined into one really awesome series. It really does get better as it goes along-despite the human villains being lame, at least they give the Autobots a chance to show their stuff without turning the Decepticons into the jokes they were in the G1 cartoon.

Re: 'too-human', I don't find this a problem. I think it's kind of funny to see them adapting to Earth by watching TV and doing human things. It really sets up a contrast between Optimus Prime's crew and the almost xenophobic Cybertronian Autobots. Plus, it's not like this is a new thing (e.g. Jazz, Mindwipe being addicted to earth TV, etc.).

[dirge]

Think what you want to think. As long as your opinion is considered (that is, you've taken the time to think about the line, you're able to tell us why do you/don't like it), I'll respect your view on the series, and would hope others do the same.

[TheDirtyDigger]

It's a great kid's cartoon! :)

[Robzy]

I really enjoyed it! It was annoying and slow at times, but overall it was pretty enjoyable. :)

[AussieJason]

I like it.

While some episodes and TF origins are a bit odd (such as Soundwave), overall I think it's a good Transformers franchise.

It has a charm and quality that I think has been missing since G1. A shame it is most likely ending.

If they replace it with anything Armada-ish I'm unplugging my TV antenna.

[GoktimusPrime]

It has a charm and quality that I think has been missing since G1.
Since Beast Wars IMO.

At the end of the day, you make your own opinion about this show (and any other series), regardless of what the rest of us think. Don't feel obliged to like or dislike a show just because most other people do. :)

[klystron]

Look at it this way:
things could be worse - there could be no current TF cartoon series at all.

I like it and enjoy it for what it is. I have fun watching it with my my offspring.
Some of the 'new' characters are funny (Wasp; Sent Prime), some annoying (Sent Prime), some cool (Prowl FTW). Season 2&3 are definitely better than S1.
Its easier to watch than G1 cartoons (I can only sit thru 2 at a time), but no-where near as good as BW.

I find the TFA toy line a little disappointing from a quality point of view. Some good designs that seem to be a bit flimsy, with poor plastics and bits that dont fit together well.

[Sky Shadow]

Look at it this way:
things could be worse - there could be no current TF cartoon series at all.

Um... then things are worse, since there is no current TF cartoon series at all. :(

[kup]

Um... then things are worse, since there is no current TF cartoon series at all. :(

But we do have ROTFL! ;)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I am. :D LOVE it. :D

Animated is like candies.



Bumblebee playing video games later becomes a comedic plot device during a Season 3 episode. :D

And a common theme during the DS Animated game aas well that is amusing.

I loved it. Originally I thought the characters look Bleh, but now I thinks it awesome. Season 1 was pretty lame, but when the deceps show up its awesome. Plus the ending eps for season 1 and 2 were very cool and both had me very excited whilst watching.

Not quite up with the joy of Beast Wars, but better than the G1 cartoon in my opinion. But the toys are all ace! I cant think of one I dont like. My only regret, no toy Omega Supreme....

[TF76]

I like it a lot, i have limited the number of episodes I watch. Im trying to draw it out and keep it alive. I'm still only really on one season 1. :eek:
Once I watch that again, then I'll continue with season 2.

[AussieJason]

Um... then things are worse, since there is no current TF cartoon series at all. :(

I hope they aren't this short sighted, as when the ROTF hype has gone what will they have to promote and sell their toys ?

Maybe they are planning a cartoon for Transformers Universe.

What do you think is the catalyst for ending Animated anyway ? Substandard toy sales I assume ? Or is it just poor TV viewer ratings ?

[GoktimusPrime]

I hope they aren't this short sighted, as when the ROTF hype has gone what will they have to promote and sell their toys ?
*cough*RiD*cough* ;)

[Linthart]

I loved it, so bummed when it finished./got canned.
i'm this close to finishing the set of toys MISB

[Stompy]

I imported the entire season 1 & 2 from Amazon (quite cheap too during a sale, ended up being $25au per season shipped).

I was a bit bummed it ended as I think it could do with 2 more seasons but what is here will suffice. At least it gave me one of the best toy lines in the franchise. Waiting patiently for Season 3 on DVD and the new figures coming up.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

What do you think is the catalyst for ending Animated anyway ? Substandard toy sales I assume ? Or is it just poor TV viewer ratings ?
Probably the live action movie that just recently came out.
They have so many figures (and inevtible recolours) it makes sense to only have one large line running at a time. Especially when parents might go to buy "Optimus Prime" but accidentally get the animated one instead of the movie one. It would just annoy lessinformed consumers.

[jaydisc]

Hasbro stated that their recent venture into their own network contributed to the ending of the deal with Cartoon Network, but that really doesn't confirm the end of the toyline, or even the end of the series for sure yet.