It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see a new “Transformers” cartoon after the massive success of Michael Bay’s live-action film, but is it any good? Well, it’s hard to say. The first DVD release of the show (“Transformers Animated: Transform & Roll Out”) only includes the one-hour pilot, and though it serves as a decent introduction, there’s nothing particularly special about it either. The basic setup is also too much like the live-action film (Megatron was discovered by a scientist, the Transformers are protecting the Allspark, etc.), which only begs to ask the question: what’s the point? Additionally, the Transformers selected for the core cast are mediocre at best. Classic Autobots like Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Bumblebee are all solid choices, but what is Bulkhead doing there, and why is a Prowl a motorcycle? On the flip side, only Megatron and Starscream warrant spots on the Decepticon team, while lesser-known bots like Blackarachnia, Blitzwing, and a completely new character named Lugnut aren’t exactly first-rate selections. Add to that a group of lame human characters and a total lack of action, and I can’t see how any “Transformers” fan would be interested in the animated series. In fact, the only memorable moment of the entire disc came from the special features, in which Optimus Prime stars in an animated short where he’s speaking to a class of kindergarteners. It’s definitely a must-see, but save your money and just look for it on YouTube instead.
