Advance Review: Transformers: Robots in Disguise is Balanced, Action-Packed, All-Ages Fun

Transformers Prime, with its slick visuals that were just a couple of steps removed from the film looks, its lineup that mixed iconic with eclectic, and its bombastic action and mature storylines, was a good show. It’s well-liked, and went for three full seasons, something that is sadly rare in action shows these days. But it also presented Hasbro with a problem: they had Rescue Bots for very young kids, and Prime for pre-teens and teens, but a good 4-6 years worth of children were suddenly underrepresented in Transformers animation.

Enter Transformers: Robots in Disguise, a new cartoon debuting on a new-to-them network, Cartoon Network, on Saturday March 14, 2015. The new cartoon brings with it some loose continuity connections, some familiar voices, and the most important element: a much more all-ages approach. With more comedy, less “everything is falling apart” attitude, and still hanging onto bombastic, giant robot action, it looks like Robots in Disguise will help the franchise stay in kids’ minds (and of course, their toys on their shelves) with little to no interruption.

The newest animated series stars Bumblebee as the leader this go-around, something that echoes some recent comics. Played once again by Will Friedle, Bumblebee starts his adventure on Cybertron. This is considered in continuity with Prime, though it’s been “several years” since that show’s events ended with the “Predacons Rising” storyline. As a constable on Cybertron, Bumblebee sees visions of Optimus Prime that send him back to Earth – with a couple of “teenager” ‘bots in tow. Strongarm, a female police cadet, and Sideswipe, a rebellious kid that has plagued them on their home planet, both get tethered to Bumblebee’s adventure, as he quickly finds out that Earth is probably in the worst danger it has ever seen from Transformers.

The over-eager Strongarm is a fun addition to the team almost immediately. Her letter-of-the-law attitude conflicts with her hero worship of Bumblebee. It’s clear that a legend has been built around Optimus Prime and his team from the previous series, and Strongarm represents that. Oddly, she is almost a stronger tie to Prime than Bumblebee, because of the way she treats him. Sideswipe, meanwhile, will come off as a bit of a generic “bad boy” character to adults, but it was clear in the preview screening theater that the kids loved him. He’s brash and full of attitude, but he also steps up when needed. These two new bots are, essentially, what you’d get if you split Bumblebee in two, which makes for a great dynamic between the three of them, as the leader can see himself in both.

Rounding out the team, after some adventurous events, are a Mini-Con named Fixit who has a bit of a stutter for comedic effect, and the dinobot Grimlock, though he isn’t actually named in the first two introductory episodes. Grimlock has a bit of a different take here, too, voiced by Khary Payton, he’s not monosyllabic like his G1 counterpart, but has a lousy memory and can’t ever quite find the right words. He’s an interesting counterpart to the first villain, a Decepticon Chompazoid named Underbite.

Of course, there needed to be a new Optimus Prime toy, so he does get a cameo, but it’s clear that this is definitely Bumblebee’s show.

Ultimately, the jokes in the new series seemed to hit the adults in the crowd more than the kids, but the action sequences, which felt more like a shonen anime than the average American action animation, hit all ages equally. There are quick, hard-hitting kicks, close-up, extended transformation sequences, and big-power climactic moments. Transformers: Robots in Disguise is then as much for fans of Naruto as it is for existing fans of Transformers. It’s probably the most balanced new-watcher and existing-fan show they’ve had since the original series, in fact, another much-needed product for Hasbro.

Ultimately, the most important thing about this show is I immediately felt good about texting my sister to tell her that my young nephews (both 6 and under) will find this show fun, hilarious, and age-appropriate. Parents will find good lessons, funny jokes, and cool action presented in a unique way to keep them interested, as well.