Transformers Animated: Season One DVD: Review By aeinhorn

These are not the Transformers you remember, but that doesn't mean that they aren't a lot of fun. “Transformers Animated” reinvented the Autobots and Decepticons in the aftermath of Michael Bay's film, and created a version of the characters that would be accessible to today's children.

It isn't the same version of the characters you grew up with if you watched the original Transformers, nor is it the version from Beast Wars or the film, but if you squint at the characters you will recognize them.

As is all-too-common with kid-oriented animated series, the series is fairly episodic. You can fairly easily watch the three-part season opener, “Transform and Roll Out!” and then skip ahead to “Megatron Rising, Pt. 1” without missing too many details – but that's a minor quibble overall. It's certainly something that is common in all kid's series.

It is nice to see the Transformers rendered in traditional 2-D animation again, even if the slightly deformed style that seems reminiscent of “Teen Titans” is a little jarring to those of us familiar with the more realistically proportioned characters of the original series. Once you get a few episodes in, the new style becomes familiar and acceptable, but I don't know that I'd say I ever really got used to it.

What is a little harder to deal with are elements of the characters that are almost impossible to recognize. Bumblebee remains recognizably himself, and Starscream is almost unchanged from one version of Transformers to the next, but it is difficult to recognize this version of Optimus Prime. Gone is the wise, noble leader we saw in every vision of Transformers before this one. Instead, this Optimus is a brash leader, fairly fresh from the Autobot academy.

It works within the context of the story. After all, these Autobots are arriving on Earth after the war with the Decepticons has been over for many years. These Autobots are not war machines, even though the Decepticons are. And this Prime does not have the power to go toe-to-toe with Megatron or Starscream. But it is a tough transition for those of us who remember and love the original series.

But for those who have never seen the Transformers before this series? The characters are consistent, the story is engaging, and the memories that this generation of Transformers-watchers have of their transforming robots will undoubtedly be just as strong as the previous generation have for the originals.