For the past few years, I really got the opportunity to watch various incarnation of Transformers and I thought it would be interesting to share with you and the rest of my fellow Transformers fan what I think about what I saw.
Although you can read all the best information on Wikipedia, what I m about to share here is just my pure thoughts about it.
Transformers: G1
It's THE Transformers cartoon series that very much become our childhood memories. Few years ago, my friend gave me a DVD collection of the series' 4 seasons and I was so happy about it. Watching it brings nostagic feeling. But if you ask my opinion, season 1 and 2 was good for me. Season 3 was little out of propotion for me..their space adventure little too..well..out of this world..while sadly season 4 lasted 3 episodes! haha..Of course, the highlight of this series is their cartoon movie, which for me was indeed classic. Wont get a cooler cartoon movie than that..i duno how many times i watched it since i was a little kid.
Transformers:Headmasters
G1 was under American direction but the Japs picked up from where the Americans left..i mean season 4...thus, we get Transformers' Headmasters. So ya, this is the few anime cartoons that I watched..
The story line was little different than G1..some episodes for me were good while some I find it ridiculous..their space stories is little too out of this world..oops..i said it again. But I should give credit to the Japs for taking some bold moves that could stunned TF fans...like killing off Optimus Prime, Galvatron, Ultra Magnus..and the mother of all shockers...blowing off Cybertron to pieces!!!
Transformers : Victory
Another series I watched when I was young but I didnt finished watching it. Even 10 years later when I got the chance, I kinda lazy to follow the series. The storyline is little shallow at times and dull..so it bores me. Being an anime series, sometimes it tends to break into those typical Japanese-type of jokes..which for me is unnecessary for a Transformers cartoon..making it lame.
The only thing that excites me in this series is the whole new look of the robots which totally different than G1 and Headmasters. The main protagonist in this series is super-cool..Star Saber..and well, I can go on and on about how different I like about both Autobots and Decepticons look like. Just sadly, the robots don't match with the storyline..
There were other Transformers series along the line..i decided to skip a few and only follow..
Transformers: Superlink(jap)/Energon(eng version).
It's another anime series and what surpises me is how they animate the robots to move. Abit look as though they were floating. haha. What became the flagship of this series is the Autobots can merge with each other..thus, the series is called Superlink. This version's Optimus has three different combination! His first..it seems pays homage to Super Sentai(jap)/Power Rangers(eng) series by having a combination similiar to Megazord...!! ok..anyway the second was merge with Wing Saber and then with Omega Supreme.
Superlink is in orginal Jap conversation while Energon is English dubbed.
Recently, there's another incarnation of Transformers cartoon which is called Transformers:Animated.
At first I admit I was skeptical about it. The animation tells it all...very Cartoon Network-influenced. Yes, it was childish at times but as the season progress, I find myself liking this series.
What I like about this series is they paid homage to the all the Transformers version before them. Heck, even the opening scene of the series, you can see this version's Optimus Prime watching a footage of G1 series.
Then there's Transformers:Beast Wars.
The story is set in the future. Spoiler ahead..if you havent watch this before..the story starts with the Maximals(it seems they are descendant of Autobots) versus Predacons (Decepticon's descendants). They got trapped in a time warp which transported them back to ancient Earth. Because Earth's Energon power is very raw, the Transformers' body cant take it and thus, they have to adopt the body of the animals..that's why they called it Beast Wars.
First season was yawning for me, animation for a 3-D cartoon is an eye-sore. Season 2 sees improvement in storyline and animation. Season 3 was good for me.
The followup..Transformers: Beast machine..was terrible for me. @.@
The story is that when the Maximals travelled through the time warp to get back to the future..something happen in which Megatron was altered time and made himself Cybertron's ruler. I didnt like Optimus Primal in this series...he was too pre-occupied of the prophecy that he will change Cybertron into an organic planet rather than leading the Maximals...
O ya, you read that right..ORGANIC! Cybertron has always seems like a robotic planet in our heads then suddenly they came in and say it can be changed into an organic planet like Earth. Thus, this is thumbs down for me.
Recently, there's another incarnation of Transformers cartoon which is called Transformers:Animated.
At first I admit I was skeptical about it. The animation tells it all...very Cartoon Network-influenced. Yes, it was childish at times but as the season progress, I find myself liking this series.
I didnt really enjoy season 1 because they have villians (besides Decepticons) who has extra-ordinary powers, like watching Ben10 or X-Men. For me, the latest season is the best..was wondering whether they would continue although the ending looks as though it's really curtain close.
What I like about this series is they paid homage to the all the Transformers version before them. Heck, even the opening scene of the series, you can see this version's Optimus Prime watching a footage of G1 series.
Mm...let's not forget about the live movie version. At first, I admit I was abit skeptical but when you think in a common sense way, the robots have to look that way in a real world. You cant expect a boxy Optimus Prime in the movie. In short, Michael Bay did well. Looking forward to third installment of the movie though.
There's the comics as well but that incarnation itself span to various storylines that I myself hard to follow. I myself didnt step in to follow actually...it's overwhelming of stories when think about it. haha.
There are many more but I just list what I saw/watched. You want the full listing, go Wikipedia.
Sometimes I wonder what's next for this franchise. Oh well, time will tell...
That's all..time for me to rollout...*transforming cue*
PS : Did you know my SMS tone for my new phone is the transforming cue? I find it fun and cool to have such sms tone..haha..and see the faces of the people around me thinking where the sound comes from..
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