Watched it on YouTube - overall I liked it.
***This post contains spoilers***
I didn't think the animation was bad, but the art style is very cartoonish and parts of the animation is goofy (such as making their vehicle modes physically emote...(--;)) so I can understand why some people wouldn't be huge fans of the art/animation style. The transformation animation was mostly cheap... didn't like the whole "woosh woosh!" whirlwind transformation style. Then there's the over-the-top song and dance transformations that the Autobots had when they first appeared to fight that monster. Gah - had enough of that after seven years of Car Robot/RiD and Armadaverse... considering that this was an American-scripted show, was it really necessary? Thankfully it didn't happen every time someone transformed (which is more typical of what happens in the Japanese series). Some of the transformations were done well, like Starscream transforming in mid-air - that looked nice.
The story premise was interesting - like a futuristic version of the premise behind the live action movie where their recent technology is reverse-engineered by studying Megatron... and I liked the ending where the scientist (why do they always wear lab coats even when they're not working in a lab?!) expresses dread about his life's work from studying Megatron.
And although the story is overall aimed at kids, there were elements that were aimed at adults too. Not just G1 references, but lines which are definitely not aimed at kids, like Sari explaining sex to Optimus Prime. ;D
And I like the culture shock between the Autobots and humans as it reminds audiences that these robots are extra terrestrial aliens. It sounds agiven but a lot of writers (even Simon Furman and BW writers) often portray Transformers as being too earthly. It reminds me of the way Bob Budiansky used to portray Transformers as being other-worldly.
The G1 transformation noise was grossly overused. I don't mind them using it for actual transforming, but I didn't like how they were using it for everything... Bumblebee changes his hand to a tool/weapon - *krrk krrk krrk krrk krrk* - Optimus Prime puts on his face plate - *krrk krrk krrk krrk krrk* - Prowl scratches his butt - *krrk krrk krrk krrk krrk* SHUT UP!
I agree - although the G1 cartoon was even worse in portraying war as inconsequential. At least in Animated you see Transformers being hurt and killed (the instant wanton revival sucks) - there are no casualties. G1 was inconsistent - sometimes you'd have a Transformer brutally smashed only to be quickly revived, other times they would have to go to great lengths to repair them.Originally Posted by MV75
Omega Supreme nearly dies from a return flight from Cybertron. Optimus Prime nearly dies from a computer explosion and dies from sustaining multiple wounds in battle. Ultra Magnus is blown to pieces (in the G1 comic adaptation he is physically drawn and quartered by Sweeps) and the Junkions reassemble him like Lego(TM)! W T F ?!
Behold! Here's what's inside Sari's key!!