The Energon Pub

Remember when we heard that the Transformers Animated cartoon would be coming to the Hub on July 9th, 2012? Well, yesterday was July 9th and Transformers Animated did indeed make its world premiere on the Hub! But that's not all. What's different this time is that, according to a post by RCX on The Allspark Forums, the Hub is broadcasting each episode in its original widescreen format on their HD channel!

This is the first time that the actual episodes have been officially presented in their original, uncropped, widescreen video format in any fashion. When they aired back on Cartoon Network, the video masters had been cropped to a full screen format, which is also what the DVDs used. Even when released in the Japan, the Japanese dub used the cropped full screen masters with some added background borders to "fill in" the missing widescreen space.

And now, for the first time ever, we are able to properly view the Transformers animated Cartoon in its original, unaltered, widescreen format with everything in full view, and in HD to boot! Here are some comparison screenshots courtesy of The Allspark.

Uncropped widescreen format from the Hub


Cropped full screen format from CN/DVDs

Remember back last month when we reported that Transformers Animated was headed to the Hub? It made it's debut yesterday and came with a pleasant surprise, it's being aired in HD and in it's original widescreen format! Rather than repeating everything Seibertron.com member Sabrblade had to say when he originally reported the news earlier today, here's his write up from the Energon Pub:

Images courtesy of the Allspark's RCX.

Remember when we heard that the Transformers Animated cartoon would be coming to the Hub on July 9th, 2012? Well, yesterday was July 9th and Transformers Animated did indeed make its world premiere on the Hub! But that's not all. What's different this time is that, according to a post by RCX on The Allspark Forums, the Hub is broadcasting each episode in its original widescreen format on their HD channel!

This is the first time that the actual episodes have been officially presented in their original, uncropped, widescreen video format in any fashion. When they aired back on Cartoon Network, the video masters had been cropped to a full screen format, which is also what the DVDs used. Even when released in the Japan, the Japanese dub used the cropped full screen masters with some added background borders to "fill in" the missing widescreen space.

And now, for the first time ever, we are able to properly view the Transformers animated Cartoon in its original, unaltered, widescreen format with everything in full view, and in HD to boot! Here are some comparison screenshots courtesy of The Allspark.

Uncropped widescreen format from the Hub


Cropped full screen format from CN/DVDs

That would explain why Netflix will be adding Transformers: Animated soon as well. It would appear that the deal between Hasbro and Netflix was a huge one (now if only they would hurry up on finishing Season 2 of Prime and Rescue Bots)

On a side note: I can't help feeling that Rescue Bots could be simmiler to Super Hero Squad (which BTW is already on Netflix)

King Slick wrote:On a side note: I can't help feeling that Rescue Bots could be simmiler to Super Hero Squad (which BTW is already on Netflix)

Couldn't be further from the truth. Rescue Bots is a well made, strongly entertaining series. The Super Hero Squad Show, however, is a mind-numbingly bad joke.

For the love of God, Hasbro, give us a blu ray release of this. I will pay any amount of money for this. Just give it to me.

Sabrblade wrote:

King Slick wrote:On a side note: I can't help feeling that Rescue Bots could be simmiler to Super Hero Squad (which BTW is already on Netflix)

Couldn't be further from the truth. Rescue Bots is a well made, strongly entertaining series. The Super Hero Squad Show, however, is a mind-numbingly bad joke.

Agreed, the similarities are non-existent. The only bad thing about Rescue Bots is the occasional boredom. Super Hero Squad's formula is to be as intentionally stupid as possible, throw in one Easter Egg per episode to keep older fans interested, and pray something funny happens. Also, the 4 Rescue Bots are all new characters, not SD versions of icons forced to give up their dignity for no discernible reason.

I'd also love to see TFA released in widescreen on DVD and BluRay, but is it possible Time Warner could mess up the video rights? What was the "bad blood" between CN and Hasbro about anyway? I apparently wasn't plugged into the rumor mill around the time the axe fell.

I still want Animated Season 3 on DVD. Is that out yet?

Bumblevivisector wrote: Also, the 4 Rescue Bots are all new characters, not SD versions of icons forced to give up their dignity for no discernible reason.

Tell that to people who like Blades.

Downbeat wrote:

Bumblevivisector wrote: Also, the 4 Rescue Bots are all new characters, not SD versions of icons forced to give up their dignity for no discernible reason.

Tell that to people who like Blades.

G1 Blades =/= RB Blades. In fact, I'd be willing to even say that RB Blades is a much better character than G1 Blades.

Knew there was something different when I watched it! Just couldn't place it.

Sabrblade wrote:

Downbeat wrote:

Bumblevivisector wrote: Also, the 4 Rescue Bots are all new characters, not SD versions of icons forced to give up their dignity for no discernible reason.

Tell that to people who like Blades.

G1 Blades =/= RB Blades. In fact, I'd be willing to even say that RB Blades is a much better character than G1 Blades.

I completely disagree.

Extremely happy about HD Widescreen Animated.

Downbeat wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Downbeat wrote:

Bumblevivisector wrote: Also, the 4 Rescue Bots are all new characters, not SD versions of icons forced to give up their dignity for no discernible reason.

Tell that to people who like Blades.

G1 Blades =/= RB Blades. In fact, I'd be willing to even say that RB Blades is a much better character than G1 Blades.

I completely disagree.

What did G1 Blades ever do that made him a great character? RB Blades seems to be the most beloved character on the show.