Transformers Cybertron

I watched the original G1 series as a child, and even then it was a little too dumbed down for me.

I (like many others) ground my teeth when they released "Transformers Generation 2" which was just the original show packed with some CG transitions.

I slogged through the first boring season of Beast Wars - but then something happened: The show got good. It got so good, that it became one of my favorite television series of all time. The characters developed, the story moved ahead, and then it ended (though I think they ended it sooner than they would have liked; some things were resolved too quickly).

Despite the horrible character designs Beast Machines was even a larger step forward in terms of story, and the series ended in a way I never would have foreseen.

Then the animes started.

This is where everything Transformers started to come apart for me: The lack of animation, the re-use of the same five minute transformation sequences twelve times an episode (I'm exaggerating, but it sure feels like it), the horrible, trite and contrived Japanese-to-English localization, the introduction of anime child geniuses who you want to fall into a black hole just for opening their mouths...

I'm sorry, I just don't get it. "Cybertron" looked more interesting than previous endeavors because it had computer-modeled Transformers, but FOR PETE'S SAKE WAKE UP PEOPLE - THEY'RE BARELY ANIMATED! It's not difficult to do once the models are made, but apparently the production company doesn't have a single computer animator on staff because the Transformers' stiff, completely weightless movements give less of an impression of living machines and more of the impression of talentless animators. This may be intentional because the models don't seem to move any differently than the toys, but better Transformers shows have always compensated (do you think the "Ironhide" toy from G1 looked anything like his cartoon counterpart?).

I'm sorry, but this show is just anime cliché with some impressive-but-boring computer models and another "we gotta collect 'em all" story line.

They should just call this show "Generic Anime Cartoon-like Show Number 5: Now With Transformers!" and let it stand.

Overall this is a great Transformers series (Nothing beats G1, but that's common knowledge). However, I have one small gripe. Why does Jetfire have an extremely over exaggerated 'Australian' accent (Think Steve Irwin)? As an Aussie I can tell you, we don't talk like that (I have the same problem with Outback, a G1 character who appeared in several episodes in season 3). The CG transformers are combined with the more traditionally animated human characters quite well, and the show doesn't take itself too seriously, there is also some very clever dialogue written for some of the characters, which has raised more than a chuckle. Overall I would strongly recommend this series, although any Transfan worth their salt knows that Megatron should be a gun. BAH WEEP GRAH NAH WEEP NINNI BALM!!

Forst off, ignore the other user comment, this show was never on prime time in japan. it airs at around 8 in the morning. Also, the Transformers have always had accents (going all the way back to perceptor in G1), even in the Japanese version of the shows. of course, in japan they have various Japanese accents, and since those accents are impossible to carry over into English, they are substituted by various English accents.

Cybertron is a very faithful dub of Galaxy Force, with very few changes aside from names of characters and a few objects, and having Override as a female, where in japan the character (named Nitro Convoy) is a male. of course, this is nothing Hasbro did, the character was supposed to be female from the start. Takara is the one that changed it.

If you can't watch the Japanese original, Transformers Cybertron is the best TF series since beast wars. all you'll be missing out on is the vocal Japanese songs.

I'm loving the Cybertron series very much. I think it took some time for me to get used to some of the changes that happened. Scott McNeil not reprising his role as Jetfire, and Brent Miller not reprising his role as Hot Shot, which I think is the worst thing the writers could have ever done, and a lot of other things. I think it the thing for me was that Cybertron wasn't Energon and that's something that still have to get used to. Overall it's a good show with excellent CGI animation similar to that of Beast Wars only more Asian influenced. I think it's the best thing to come along since Beast Wars. I hope this CGI animation will continue on into the next series and hopefully it will be just as good as the other series.

Originally called Transformers Galaxy Force. The series loses some of the flare I got from watching the fan sub of it. Planet Keys are called Force Chips an called Planet Force, Chip Square instead of Omega Square. also the voices sorta confused me a bit...THundercracker an Scattorshot/Backpack have southern accents? When did Cybertrons have accents...not since Quickstrike on Beast Wars has any Trnasformer have an accent. I can tell you this much, watch Transformers Galaxy Force an then watch Transformers Cybertrons an see the changes. Don't get me wrong I like Cybertrons too just not as much as the originals. The Japanese do put lots of effort into there anime an it does show in the final product. Remember these were Prime Time shows in Japan so had to be good.