The Energon Pub

[fenrir72]

Is this a continuation of Prime then?

Yes.

I'm gonna go with, maybe, kinda, sorta?

- Same animation company as Prime
- Same writers and creative staff as Prime
- Same voice actors (where applicable) as Prime
- Same aesthetic as Prime
- Continuity in-check and blatant references to Prime
- Some (unknown) Prime characters returning in season two
- Multiple press releases and descriptions from staff stating it takes place some years after Prime

I'm gonna go with yes.

Synpsis says Prime's dead? But since there are toys of him, he's gonna make a "Return" then? Wish this was just a different continuity fresh start and all.

[NuclearConvoy]

I'm a truck. Vroom, vroom.
Best Grimlock quote ever.

[PrymeStriker]

Is this a continuation of Prime then?

Yes.

I'm gonna go with, maybe, kinda, sorta?

- Same animation company as Prime
- Same writers and creative staff as Prime
- Same voice actors (where applicable) as Prime
- Same aesthetic as Prime
- Continuity in-check and blatant references to Prime
- Some (unknown) Prime characters returning in season two
- Multiple press releases and descriptions from staff stating it takes place some years after Prime

I'm gonna go with yes.

Synpsis says Prime's dead? But since there are toys of him, he's gonna make a "Return" then? Wish this was just a different continuity fresh start and all.

He'll probably make a return, but right now, he's getting toys because 1) he's Optimus Prime and 2) he's gonna have some sort of Afterlife/Tomb of the Primes arc going for him at some point. Personally I think they should restrict that to one episode as a connection point between all of his pop-up moments in the show so far, but whatever.

[william-james88]

Synpsis says Prime's dead? But since there are toys of him, he's gonna make a "Return" then? Wish this was just a different continuity fresh start and all.

Well the show sure seems to act that way anyway.

And I totally think we would get a summary show that connects all of Prime's sporadic appearances.

[william-james88]

Roger Craig Smith, who voices minicons Slipstream, Jetstorm and Airazor on Robots in Disguise has tweeted that there will be a Live Tweet session this Saturday, March 14th at 3pm PT with the cast and crew of the Robots in Disguise Show. This will be during the show's premier on cartoon network and you can tweet your questions to the cast and crew while the show airs. For those who don't mind spoilers, we already have a review of the two part pilot episode here.

[NuclearConvoy]

I gotta say that I really enjoy the simple, episodic nature of this series. The villains are certainly simpler in motivation than usual, but the diversity of ideas and the high level of originality being brought to the table is great.

I'm a little sad that we didn't get to see Filtch's robot mode in detail. I am so far in a state where I would buy toys of any of these Decepticons if donein Warrior class.

[Sabrblade]

Episode 8 is online - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k4ClmoKtEMfPcJaoGAB


Episode 8 -

New proximity alarm installed by Fixit.

The others found an empty stasis pod covered in mud. Its emptiness can't be a good thing.

Grimlock's gone feral!

It's like Grimlock doesn't remember being the Autobots' teammate and has somehow reverted to being a savage Decepticon.

And it's like he's talking to someone inside his mind.

Okay, someone else is definitely in on control of Grimlock, with the real Grimlock trying to resist the guy in the driver's seat.

The guy controlling Grimlock (speaking through the real Grimlock's mouth) makes mention of some kind of "-Cons" that he refers to as hoarders, but I can't make out what he called them. "Koalacons" is my best guess, but I'm definitely not certain.

Evil Grimlock (not official, my nickname for him) has found the imprisoned Underbite.

Russell uses the proximity alarm to try and scare off Evil Grimlock, but Evil Grimlock smashes it. However, Russell claims the alarm means that Optimus Prime himself is on his way now, much to Evil Grimlock's horror.

Evil Grimlock makes mention of "the boss".

Evil Grimlock decides to get out of there with the still frozen Underbite.

Bee's seen Grimlock's criminal history rap sheet, stating that his only charge was property damage due to Grimlock being, well, Grimlock.

The Crown River Dam is the first place the Bots are gonna check for Grimlock's rendezvous with "the boss".

Bumblebee "Roll Out" fail of the day: "Autobots, maximum velocity!"

Russell has Fixit pull up the Alchemor's prisoner manifest, in which they spot something that worries Fixit so much that he fears the others might not make it back.

A trap in the woods sends Bee and Swipe careening over a steep downward slope. It was rigged from a cryo-inducer taken from a stasis pod.

Hiya, Steeljaw! He says Thunderhoof is out scouting for a larger base.

Steeljaw's true intention is to make this world a home for all Decepticons.

While Sideswipe engages Steeljaw, Evil Grimlock bashes around Bee and Strongarm as he hums the classic Transformers theme song!

Steeljaw abandons Evil Grimlock while the Bots subdue him Empire Strikes Back Snowspeeder-style.

Fixit and Russell finally fix the comms and get in touch with the others to tell them that Grimlock is being controlled by a Cybertate named Minitron, who can control any bot it bites.

Grimlock's ticklish as the others look for Minitron.

Strongarm swears "Sweet Solus Prime!"

Minitron keeps jumping between Bee/Swipe/Strongarm to make them all fight each other.

The real Grimlock grabs and subdues Minitron.

The little cretin is returned to its tiny stasis pod.

Grimlock's gonna get his own Autobot symbol.

Steeljaw, however, now has Underbite.



Not a bad episode. Though he was the episode's main focus, this was less about Grimlock himself and more about fleshing out his relationship with each of the other members of his team. Strongarm was quick to assume the worst of him, Sideswipe wanted to remain hopeful in Grimlock, and Bumblebee was caught in the middle, torn between his duty as an Autobot officer and his duty to his friend. In the end, it was Strongarm who had to learn not to jump to conclusions and let her adherence to rules and regulations cloud all other rationality. Russell also got a pivotal role in this one, being key in uncovering the truth about Grimlock and having to convince the others about there being more to Grimlock than there appeared to be. Though Sideswipe was the only one willing to listen to him, he came through in the end with uncovering Minitron's existence. And Steeljaw, naturally, was the one pulling the strings behind the whole operation, and even got away with Underbite. What's more is that we got to see more of his agenda, in which he wants to create a world for Decepticons to live in free of Autobot authority, and that he believes things like "a good leader is only first among equals" and doesn't appreciate cowardly ways for justifying failure. He's certainly one of the more interesting main villains we've had in a while, so now that he's got both Underbite and Thunderhoof, let's see where he goes with his plans.

[dreadwing95]

pretty good episode. almost thought bumblebee was gonna say maximize at first lol

[Madeus Prime]

Well, not bad, wish that Evil Grimlock had actually had different mannerisms to go with his possession.

[Sabrblade]

Well, not bad, wish that Evil Grimlock had actually had different mannerisms to go with his possession.

But wouldn't that have better given it away to the Autobots that he wasn't his real self?

[Madeus Prime]

Well, not bad, wish that Evil Grimlock had actually had different mannerisms to go with his possession.

But wouldn't that have better given it away to the Autobots that he wasn't his real self?

Yeah, but I thought that just putting an electronic overlay to the voice of the possessed bots was kind of dumb, why not give them some for of nervous tic or something to just make it more interesting? Not that we'll ever see Minitron again.

[Va'al]

Those spoilers we asked you to use? Please use them.

[NuclearConvoy]

Still enjoying this series a lot. It strikes such a good balance between being comfortably episodic and having a nice overarching narrative. I really hope Hasbro takes advantage of how many decepticons so far have cool designs and release many of them at Warrior scale. I don't think this most recent episode's villain needs a toy of that scale, but I think he is likely to get some recognition (I also don't think that this will be the last time we see him, he just seems too useful to be a one-episode character).

I feel I have been vague enough.

[psj333]

Sabrblade, on the TFWiki.net website, a new synopsis for episode #13 is given. It states that while Bumblebee is trying to catch a bunch of Decepticon hoodlums, Optimus warns Bee of a much greater threat that threatens both Earth and Cybertron. I believe that threat is none other than a Decepticon skunk, Stench himself. Hopefully that Hasbro will get to use that name for the American release. Unfortunately, upon streaming the episode just weeks ago on 1905.com, I found out that the episode does not feature Optimus or the Decepticon hoodlums that is likely led by Stench himself. Instead, this episode only features a Decepticon crab, named Clampdown. Stench is in episode #14, not episode #13. Could this mean that Hasbro accidentally switch the synopsis around by mistake, or they have decided to show episode #14 first and then episode #13?

[Madeus Prime]

[Burn]

:roll:

Posts like this are a waste of time.
As are reporting posts just because they annoy you. Only report posts if they actually violate the rules.

[Sabrblade]

Wonder how many new viewers caught the primetime U.S. premiere of episodes 1 and 2 on Cartoon Network.

[NuclearConvoy]

Wonder how many new viewers caught the primetime U.S. premiere of episodes 1 and 2 on Cartoon Network.

I hope it's a lot.
I really want a good Transformers series to be incredibly successful and bring Transformers up a notch in standing with new fans, both young and old.

Between the IDW comics getting better and this series feeling good to start, following on the heels of both the surprisingly entertaining Prime and the stellar Animated, it feels that we are in a renaissance of sorts for Transformers media. Then there are the movies, hard for me to say how i feel about them... I feel like they introduce interesting new takes on characters and some great designs, but they are amazingly inept in making Transformers respectable. Their reach is also much farther than the comics and television shows...

[Sabrblade]

Wonder how many new viewers caught the primetime U.S. premiere of episodes 1 and 2 on Cartoon Network.

I hope it's a lot.
I really want a good Transformers series to be incredibly successful and bring Transformers up a notch in standing with new fans, both young and old.

Between the IDW comics getting better and this series feeling good to start, following on the heels of both the surprisingly entertaining Prime and the stellar Animated, it feels that we are in a renaissance of sorts for Transformers media. Then there are the movies, hard for me to say how i feel about them... I feel like they introduce interesting new takes on characters and some great designs, but they are amazingly inept in making Transformers respectable. Their reach is also much farther than the comics and television shows...

There's one more praiseworthy cartoon series left out of that post of praise (and dispraise, in regards to the movies bit).

[NuclearConvoy]

Wonder how many new viewers caught the primetime U.S. premiere of episodes 1 and 2 on Cartoon Network.

I hope it's a lot.
I really want a good Transformers series to be incredibly successful and bring Transformers up a notch in standing with new fans, both young and old.

Between the IDW comics getting better and this series feeling good to start, following on the heels of both the surprisingly entertaining Prime and the stellar Animated, it feels that we are in a renaissance of sorts for Transformers media. Then there are the movies, hard for me to say how i feel about them... I feel like they introduce interesting new takes on characters and some great designs, but they are amazingly inept in making Transformers respectable. Their reach is also much farther than the comics and television shows...

There's one more praiseworthy cartoon series left out of that post of praise (and dispraise, in regards to the movies bit).

1) What series did I leave out?
2) God, I really, really want to like the movies more. I want them to be as eloquent and wonderful as I know Transformers can be... but I also know that this sin't the venue for that, and the movies are aimed to tap into the buying power of those who like summer blockbusters. Some parts of it I enjoy, I can watch them for their unintended hilarity, I can watch them for their beautiful CGI battles, I just can't watch them for smart characterization and explicable, intelligent plots.

Still, they have introduced some wonderful elements to the fiction, in my opinion. They came in with an entirely new aesthetic that forced people to change what they thought Transformers had to be confined to, they put some new spins on existing character concepts that breathed fresh air into them and also provided us with a catalyst to discuss the benefits and negatives of these ideas.

I for one loved AOE Hound. I thought his design was unique and thoughtful, his basic character concept was solid and they had a great voice actor. Did he get much characterization beyond old, grizzled gun nut soldier who always keeps fighting...? no. But it provided us with a new "mold" to go with moving forward that is visually unique and still familiar enough. Sure, the name can waffle back and forth, but I can easily see that basic design being recreate with good chances of success in other media moving forward.

Pros and Cons...

[Sabrblade]

1) What series did I leave out?

The second-longest TF cartoon of all time.

[Tigertrack]

Wonder how many new viewers caught the primetime U.S. premiere of episodes 1 and 2 on Cartoon Network.

I did, I watched it with my sons, 3 and 5,and we enjoyed watching it together, but it wasn't, "wow, when can we see more of this!" Or anything like that.

For me, I can say I'd didn't hate it, found some happenings interesting, and I will tune into future episodes and try to get my guys to watch too.

I like Strongarm and Grimlock so far. maybe because they both seem fresh and new. The humans did not annoy me half as much as I thought that they would. The power and size of Underbite makes me fearful for these Autobots ever capturing any of these cons if there is ever more than one present at a time.

[Va'al]

Howdy, robofans! If you're in the US, last night at 6pm ET/PT was the first airing of the new animated series Transformers: Robots in Disguise - produced by Hasbro and shown on Cartoon Network - though if you live outside of the States or attended the première event, you may have caught it earlier. We would like to use this platform to suggest you share your thoughts with us in the Energon Pub: what did you think of the 2-part pilot episode? Do you agree with the review posted by Burn? Maybe the one posted by QBKiller94? Would you like to see this loose sequel to Transformers: Prime continue a lot longer, or are you not a fan?

Let those thoughts, and those of other fellow Seibertronians, kickstart our very first.. Robots in Discussion!

To add to the discussion, check out the images tweeted by the Art Director Augusto Barranco to celebrate the airing of the series in the US, featuring the various stages of development for the first villain in the cartoon: Underbite.

[Sabrblade]

Episode 9 is online - http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k6M1sldGlcQgKVapfnn


Episode 9 -

Strongarm's on her first solo mission.

Bumblebee followed her.

Much to Fixit's chagrin, Denny's been interested in tinkering with Cybertronian tech.

Though Bee, promised to let Strongarm handle this mission alone, he can't help but feel responsible for her (since it's his fault she and the others got on Earth in the first place) and says that he's coming along to at least observe her mission.

Fixit and Denny butt heads over Denny wanting to fiddle with a Cybertronian gizmo, which winds up blowing up in their faces.

Strongarm and Bumblebee have found their perp: Springload, who believes himself to have been judged by the Ancients as worthy of finding the lost city of Doradas, wherein lies a treasure.

Springload is an Amphiboid. He's a relic hunter and, according to Fixit, "bonkers". He's obsessed with finding the lost city of Doradas, a fabled Cybertronian land and home to the Fountain of Energon granting eternal power and energy to whomever finds it.

Much to Strongarm's chagrin, Bee orders that the rest of team be sent to help in this mission. However, once Bee steps away, Strongarm secretly calls Fixit to tell him that the mission is already done and there's no need to send everyone to help anymore, using the time zone difference as an excuse for the mission's completion happening so fast.

Fixit and Denny fight over the Decepticon Hunter, and then Fixit decides that he's going to reorganize the entire scrapyard based on Cybertronian principles of design.

Russell's had enough of his dad and Fixit squabbling and tries to get them both to quit, but winds up making them both each fix what the other messed up.

Springload's armor is coated in acid as a built in defense mechanism.

Strongarm owns up to Bee about her secret call to Fixit to keep the others from coming to help.

Fixit reworked Denny's TV to contain mugshots of all the Alchemor's prisoners.

Russell, Grimlock, and Sideswipe bring the Decepticon Hunter to Denny and Fixit, as it keeps making noise. Fixit states that he can't fix the Decepticon Hunter by himself since it's too complicated for one person to do, and so needs Denny's help.

Springload thinks Bumblebee and Strongarm are ghosts, since he thought they were buried alive earlier.

The Decepticon Hunter was making noise because a kazoo was lodged inside it. Denny and Fixit realize they've been had, and the others explain that they had to trick the two of them to get them to stop arguing and work together. And it worked.

Strongarm tricks Springload into thinking that the spirits of Doradas have decreed Springload to be unworthy of the treasure, giving Bee the chance to trap him inside a stone container.

Strongarm impressed Bee with her willingness to let go of her pride and ask for help.



John Steven Rocha -- Springload



This was just an okay episode. Nothing too great, but somewhat passable. Just a simple "learn to work together instead of doing things alone" episode. It's not a bad message, but considering much stronger the writing of this show has been before, this one could have stood to be stronger too. However, Springload was fun. An eccentric relic hunter who isn't quite all there in the head, the guy mistook Latin American statues and temple marking for spirits and guardians, and viewed himself as a divine Chosen One. If he appears again, I can't wait to see how he'd take to learning that he isn't on Cybertron anymore. And we got to learn some more of Cybertronian mythology with the Doradas fable, which is always welcome.

[jON3.0]

TRANSFORMERS: ROBOTS IN DISGUISE SPOILERS (IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE PREMIERE)

I've been catching up with my kids on Transformers Rescue Bots. Several decent episodes considering they're for very young children, I must say. Optimus using the Matrix on a Cybertron relic was actually kinda cool. And we also watched the premiere of Robots in Disguise. On the positive side, I love Will Friedle's portrayal of Bumblebeel. The animation is awesome... very Tron: Uprising. However on the negative side, I'm disappointed it wasn't Gregg Berger or David Kaye. I don't care for Grimlock's voice. There were also glaring problems. Bumblebee commands Strongarm and Sideswipe to scan for Earth vehicle forms so they can be "ROBOTS IN DISGUISE" while Grimlock is trouncing around as a giant robot Dinosaur??? Wow, really? And the show is extremely dumbed down for kids. It's almost Rescue Bots-level humor and writing but just add fighting and Decepticons with better animation. And lastly, Optimus can just show up every time there's no way out and save the day? But he's dead? And he's alive? And he's a ghost? But he's also solid? Well, that's just both confusing AND convenient! So now they can write themselves into whatever corners they want and at the last second Optimus Prime magically appears and POOF! the day is saved. That's lazy writing, sorry. I can't publicly talk about the show on my personal page or even my professional page because I'm represented by the same voiceover agents as some of the cast and dissing any cartoon may harm my chances of ever booking an animated series but I was very disappointed in the new series for the most part. I don't know why they just don't REBOOT the original show completely based on the original show! Give us an updated look or set it in the 80s! Use CGI or traditional animated and use better writing like Prime had! Like the DreamWave/IDW style Transformers! I mean, what was so wrong with having lots of different characters rather than a small team of good guys and a handful of bad guys with limitless drones??? I'm honestly sick of that concept! Okay, my rant is over. Sorry.