Transformers: Prime
Transformers: Prime is an American computer-animated television series based on the Transformers toy franchise by Hasbro that aired on Hub Network from November 29, 2010 to July 26, 2013. The series was followed by a TV movie, Predacons Rising, which premiered on October 4, 2013 and concluded the show's story.[2] Transformers: Prime focuses on the heroic Autobots that make up "Team Prime", which consists of Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead and Cliffjumper. Throughout their battles, the Autobots are aided by three human children and with their help attempt to protect the Earth from the villainous Decepticons and their leader Megatron.
The first season became available for instant streaming through Netflix on April 5, 2012. The second season became available on December 7, 2012. The third season also became available in 2013.
The series was well-received and won multiple Daytime Emmy Awards during it's broadcast. Transformers: Prime is rated TV-Y7-FV. Many references to other Transformers continuities have appeared in the series.
Series overview
Episodes
A total of 65 episodes have been produced and aired. Starting in 2012, Shout! Factory began releasing the series on DVD and Blu-ray.[3]
| Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| Miniseries | 5 | November 29, 2010 | December 3, 2010 | ||
| 1 | 21 | February 11, 2011 | October 15, 2011 | ||
| 2 | 26 | February 18, 2012 | November 2, 2012 | ||
| 3 | 13 | March 22, 2013 | July 26, 2013 | ||
| TV movie | October 4, 2013 | ||||
Setting
Transformers Prime is set in the “Aligned” continuity, taking place after the video games and books – Transformers: Exodus, Transformers: War for Cybertron, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, Transformers: Exiles, and Transformers: Retribution.
The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, operate from a former American military missile silo near Jasper, Nevada. The team, also known as Team Prime, initially consists of Optimus, Arcee, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, Ratchet, and Cliffjumper, who is killed in the five-part pilot “Darkness Rises”; and later, Wheeljack, Smokescreen, and Ultra Magnus. Knock Out, the Decepticons’ medical officer, later defects in the television movie finale Predacons Rising. The Autobots also have several human allies – Jack Darby, and later his mother, nurse June Darby, Japanese transfer student Miko Nakadai, computer prodigy Rafael Esquivel, and American government agent William Fowler.
The Decepticons, led by Megatron, operate from their warship, the Nemesis. Other members include Starscream, Soundwave and his minion Laserbeak, Knock Out, Breakdown, Airachnid, the Insecticon hive led by Hardshell, Dreadwing and his brother Skyquake, and Shockwave. Shockwave creates the series’ third Transformers faction, the Predacons, consisting of Predaking, Skylynx, and Darksteel.
Other antagonists in the series include Unicron, an evil, planet-eating Transformer, whose body serves as the Earth itself; and MECH, a human faction which wishes to create a new world order through cutting edge technology stolen from the Transformers.
Synopsis
In the season one pilot, “Darkness Rising”, Cliffjumper is murdered by Starscream, and his corpse used by Megatron to test the necromantic Dark Energon, to create an undead army from Cybertron’s fallen. The plan fails when the Autobots destroy Megatron’s space bridge, leaving him in a comatose state. He eventually recovers, taking back his leadership from the treacherous Starscream, who later defects to follow his own path. In the series finale, the Autobots and Megatron join forces to prevent the rise of Unicron. Optimus uses the Matrix of Leadership to knock Unicron back into hibernation, but in doing so, loses his memories and regain his pre-war personality of Orion Pax.
In season two, Megatron manipulates the amnesiac Optimus into decrypting the Iacon archives, which contain coordinates to Cybertronian relics hidden on Earth. Jack travels to Cybertron, obtaining Optimus’ memories from Vector Sigma, and restores them to Optimus. The season mostly is based around the hunt for the Iacon relics. Starscream obtains the four Omega Keys, which power the Omega Lock, a device which can reboot the dead Cybertron, and gives them to Megatron in return for clemency. Optimus destroys the Omega Lock, but not before Megatron uses its powers to create a new base, Darkmount, on Earth. The Decepticons then target and destroy the Autobot base, unaware the team escaped before hand using their ground bridge.
The third season, under the subtitle of “Beast Hunters”, begins with the reunification of Team Prime, introducing Ultra Magnus as Optimus’ second-in-command. The Autobots successfully destroy Darkmount. Shockwave arrives on Earth, planning to create an army of Predacons, starting with Predaking. But when Predaking shows intelligence, Megatron has Shockwave terminate his project, pinning its destruction upon the Autobots. Soundwave later kidnaps Ratchet, Megatron forcing him to rebuild the Omega Lock using synthetic Energon. Ratchet informs Predaking of the truth, and he defects. During the battle for the Omega Lock, Bumblebee is shot by Megatron, falling into the synthetic Energon. However, he survives, gaining a healed voice, and runs Megatron through with the Star Saber, killing the Decepticon leader. The Autobots use the Omega Lock to restore Cybertron and head home victorious.
The series ends with the television movie, Predacons Rising, where the Autobots and remaining Decepticons rebuild Cybertron. Unicron reanimates Megatron, possessing his body, planning to kill Cybertron, actually his brother Primus, using Dark Energon-infected Predacon corpses. Optimus and Wheeljack retrieve the AllSpark from deep space and return to aid their comrades. Optimus uses the AllSpark’s container to imprison Unicron’s spark. Megatron, disillusioned with the prospect of tyranny, disbands the Decepticons and leaves Cybertron. Optimus reveals he fused the Matrix of Leadership and the AllSpark into one, and must fuse with Primus’ core to restore life to Cybertron. Bidding farewell to his comrades, Optimus Prime flies into Cybertron’s core to begin a new era for the Transformers.
Cast and characters
| Autobots | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
.jpg) | ||
| Peter Cullen | Sumalee Montano | Will Friedle | Kevin Michael Richardson | Jeffrey Combs | Nolan North | Michael Ironside | ||
| Optimus Prime | Arcee | Bumblebee | Bulkhead | Ratchet | Smokescreen | Ultra Magnus | ||
The series stars Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen) who acts as the leader of the Autobots. In his fight to protect the Earth, Optimus is aided by Ratchet (Jeffrey Combs) who acts as the teams medic and responsible for sending the team out on various locations using the Groundbridge. Bulkhead (Kevin Michael Richardson) acts as the teams muscle and heavy lifting. Arcee (Sumalee Montano) can transform into a motorcycle and is considered the team's most agile fighter. Rounding up the cast is Bumblebee (Will Friedle) who is the team's scout; Bumblebee remains voiceless throughout most of the series due to his voice box having been damaged and has to communicate through beeps.
During the first season, the Autobots encounted Wheeljack (James Horan), one of Bulkhead's fellow Wreckers. While initially appearing for one episode in season one, the character would play a more important role and join the team in the latter half of season two. During the same season, Smokescreen (Nolan North) also joins the team. During the final season, Ultra Magnus (Michael Ironside) who is Optimus' second-in-command comes to Earth to aid him and the Autobots in defeating the Decepticons.
Production
Concept
The initial designs of the characters were first shown off at Botcon 2010 at its panel, and later at San Diego Comic Con 2010. Hasbro created a 400-page Transformers Prime production bible titled the "Binder of Revelation", which the production team used as a reference for Prime.[4] Whereas the movies were about a boy and his car, the dynamic between the kids and the robots on Prime was meant to be more like The Iron Giant.[5] Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the screenwriters of the first two live-action films, developed the series and were executive producers of the series.
Animation
Digitalscape Company Limited, a Japanese company famous for their work on titles such as Soulcalibur III, Ninja Gaiden, and Dead or Alive Paradise, developed the CGI Animation of Transformers: Prime.[6] Although Digitalscape ran a job fair looking for a talent to work on the production,[6] Polygon Pictures ultimately won. Jose Lopez, character designer, described the animation of the series as "groundbreaking mix of 2D animation and CGI." A show on the level of Transformers: Prime would take about two years to produce, but the animators only had ten months, so five episodes were animated at a time (hence the monthly gaps during a season.
Music
Film composer Brian Tyler serves as the music composer for Transformers: Prime. Matthew Margeson is the music arranger for the series, first arranging the fifteen episodes of the series. The music features a large live orchestra, a rarity in contemporary television scores. The official soundtrack of Transformers: Prime was released on iTunes on March 6, 2012, and on CD on March 13, 2012. An updated theme song with the Beast Hunters theme applied was introduced in the episode "Project Predacon".
Broadcast
United States
In the United States, Transformers: Prime aired on Hasbro and Discovery Communications-owned television network, The Hub. The original broadcast of Transformers: Prime on The Hub has been announced to have done extremely well. During the second week of broadcasting many sources showed an increase in ratings. A one-hour sneak peek of the first two episodes of the series was broadcast on The Hub on November 26, 2010. Airing started on November 29, 2010, and continued to December 3, 2010, with the official Season 1 launch airing February 11, 2011. Beginning December 8, 2012, the series also made a network premiere on The CW as part of its Saturday morning Vortexx block, making it the first Hasbro Studios animated production to make presence in the United States terrestrial television.
International
On November 9, 2010, Hasbro Studios has announced a broadcasting rights deal with Corus Entertainment in Canada, which includes Transformers: Prime.[7] The series was premiered there on January 9, 2011 on Teletoon, half-owned by Corus,[8] with new episodes airing on Sundays at 12:00pm Eastern/11:00am Central. As a part of the deal between Hasbro Studios and Turner Broadcasting System Europe announced on December 13, 2010,[9]Transformers: Prime started broadcasting in the United Kingdom and Ireland on September 5, 2011 on Cartoon Network, and later on Cartoon Network Too, and in Central Europe, South Africa, and the Middle East on September 10, 2011 on the pan-European Cartoon Network. In Singapore, MediaCorp has broadcasting rights for Hasbro Studios programs including Prime,[10] which the English version was premiered on Okto. In Malaysia, Media Prima has broadcasting rights for Hasbro Studios programs including Prime, which the English version was premiered on NTV7.[11]. In India it was premiered on Discovery Kids from 6 May 2013. [12] . The season 3 was started from 19 Oct 2014 in Discovery Kids.[13]
Home media
In the United States, episodes of Transformers: Prime are available for digital download through the iTunes Store.[14] The show, along with several other Hasbro properties, was added to the Netflix video streaming service on April 1, 2012.[15] Shout! Factory produced a DVD featuring the 5-parted mini-series, "Darkness Rising" released on December 6, 2011.[16][17][18][19] The 5 episodes are "sewn" together as one big story, and are not in separate episodes to make a more movie-like presentation.[19] Shout! Factory was in talks with Hasbro to add animatics and concept designs for characters and backgrounds to the DVD, as special features.[19] Transformers: Prime's first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray on March 6, 2012. Recently, Shout! Factory had announced another DVD release titled "One Shall Stand", which became available on July 31, 2012. This included the final four episodes of season 1 and the first three episodes of season 2, with these 7 episodes "sewn" together to make a more movie-like presentation in the same manner as the "Darkness Rising" DVD. "Transformers Prime – The Complete 2nd Season" became available on DVD on November 20, 2012, and the Blu-ray Disc set became available on November 27, 2012.[20] "Transformers Prime - Season 3: Beast Hunters" was released on DVD and Blu-ray on December 3, 2013.
In Australia, Madman Entertainment holds home media and digital distribution rights for Prime.[21] In Japan, Avex is releasing a series of DVD discs for both rental and sale, with each volume containing 2 episodes respectively.
Reception
Ratings
Bill Gorman[22]
The series attracted an approximate 102,000 viewers per episode.[23]
Critical response
Brian Lowry of Variety stated that Transformers: Prime is "unexpectedly sharp" and better than the movies, adding that the show's CGI animation is well-suited for rendering shiny robots and "their vehicular alter egos"; he finished the review by stating that while "there's nothing more than meets the eye here, [..] what does appear is plenty entertaining".[24]
Awards and nominations
Transformers: Prime has won four Daytime Emmy Awards, and received seven other nominations. It was the first Transformers show to be nominated for (and win) an Emmy Award since Beast Wars in 1997.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Daytime Emmys | "Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program" | Peter Cullen | Nominated[25] |
| "Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program" | Directors | Nominated[25] | ||
| "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" | Vince Toyama | ) here, or it will cause coding problems style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won[25] | ||
| Christophe Vacher | ||||
| "Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition" | Brian Tyler | Nominated[25] | ||
| "Outstanding Writing in Animation" | Writers | Nominated[25] | ||
| 2012 | Daytime Emmys | "Outstanding Special Class Animated Program" | Entire crew | Won |
| "Outstanding Directing in an Animated Program" | David Hartman | Nominated | ||
| "Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Animation" | Robbi Smith | ) here, or it will cause coding problems style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated | ||
| Robert Poole II | ||||
| Roy Braverman | ||||
| "Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing – Animation" | Ray Leonard | ) here, or it will cause coding problems style="background: #FDD; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="no table-no2"|Nominated | ||
| Mike Beiriger | ||||
| "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" | Christophe Vacher | Won | ||
| CINE Awards | CINE Eagle Award | Whole crew | Won[26] | |
| CINE Special Recognition for Series Television | Whole crew | Won[26] | ||
| CINE Special Jury Award | Whole crew | Nominated[26] | ||
| CINE Masters Series Award | Whole crew | Nominated[26] | ||
| 2013 | Daytime Emmys | "Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation" | Arato Kato | ) here, or it will cause coding problems style="background: #99FF99; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="yes table-yes2"|Won |
| Jason Park | ||||
| Kirk van Wormer | ||||
| Annie Award | Outstanding Achievement in Production Design in an Animated TV/Broadcast Production | Christophe Vacher | Nominated | |
Marketing, merchandise and other media
Hasbro got the Toys R Us located in Times Square in New York City to cover all of the outside of the store in Transformers: Prime.[27] Several billboards were rented. One even appeared on Broadway in New York City.[27] Additional advertisements were added to comic book backings.[28] A giant statue of Optimus Prime (modeled after his Transformers: Prime design) was shown off at San Diego Comic Con 2010.[29] The statue was later moved to the location of New York Comic Con 2011, where Hasbro debuted their involvement in the convention.[30]
Toy line
The official launch date of the toy line is December 1, 2011. The release date of July 2011 was incorrectly stated during BotCon 2011, but the December 1, 2011 date was later confirmed by the Hasbro Brand Team.[31] Although earlier resources stated that the line would launch on October 1, 2011[32] or October 11, 2011.[33]
Mobile media
Ruckus Mobile Media is to deliver Transformers: Prime innovative storybook apps for Android, and iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch). The app will deliver immersive reading experiences with interactive storytelling including title specific activities, coloring and read-and-record functions.[34] The app was slated to release in May 2011,[34] but was not released.
Books
IDW Publishing has released a group of comic books based on Transformers: Prime. A comic book prequel was released on October 13, 2010, in the United States. Followed by an October 26, 2010, Canadian release date. Adaptations of episodes (usually two episodes per comic book) from the series are currently being released, similar to the Transformers Animated comic books. Some Transformers: Prime storybooks are also set for release in April, August and September 2012, in the UK such as Transformers Prime: Official Handbook and Transformers Prime: Meet the Team.
Video game
A video game developed by Nowpro and Altron and distributed by Activision released in October 2012. The game is available for Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U.
Sequel
A sequel called Transformers: Robots in Disguise debuted in February 2015.[35] There is also a fan made sequel currently in the works called "Transformers Prime: Galvatron's Revenge" which takes a different route than the new RID series and is expected to add a much greater new plot line than 2015 RID. They have also mentioned that if it is enough of a success they will potentially create some more movies to continue the show's plot.
References
- ↑ "Steve Blum and Jeff Kline talk Rescue Bots & Transformers Prime". Transformers World 2005. 6 February 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
- ↑ Fury, Sol (March 20, 2013). "Hub Press Release with details of Beast Hunters Predacons Rising TV Movie". Transformers World 2005. Retrieved July 2, 2013.
- ↑ "Search". Shout! Factory. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ↑ Executive Producers Roberto Orci and Jeff Kline Interview Transformers: Prime
- ↑ "Transformers: Prime Creative Talent Interview – BotCon 2011". YouTube. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- 1 2 "Digitalscape Behind Development of Transformers Prime CG". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ The Brewsters (November 16, 2010). "Hasbro Studios and Corus Entertainment's Kids Networks Reach Broad Animation and Live-Action Programming Agreement". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved June 5, 2011.
- ↑ "Sunday Mornings on Teletoon are a Rush with an All-new Lineup of Action Programming" (Press release). CNW. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
- ↑ Hasbro Studios, Turner Broadcasting Seal Deal for 'Transformers Prime,' 'Chuck and Friends,' 'My Little Pony' and 'Pound Puppies' (NYSE:HAS)
- ↑ "Hasbro Studios series head to Asia". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ Screenings 2012 – Media Prima Berhad
- ↑ http://www.mxmindia.com/2013/04/discovery-kids-announces-transformers-prime-series-from-may-6/
- ↑ http://www.indiainfoline.com/article/news/discovery-kids-launches-iconic-series-transformers-prime-beast-hunters-5802707449_1.html
- ↑ TRANSFORMERS PRIME, Season 1 (HD) | Shows for ages 4 YEARS AND UP | Hasbro
- ↑ "Hasbro Studios Signs Multi-Year Deal with Netflix to Provide Its Award-Winning Content across Multiple Platforms in the U.S.". Hasbro (Press release). April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
- ↑ "Transformers: Prime – 'Darkness Rising', the Newest Program's Original 5-Part Mini-Series, Announced!". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Transformers: Prime – Darkness Rising Hits DVD Dec. 6". SuperHeroHype. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Transformers: Prime Miniseries Rises: Five-part Darkness Rising series coming to DVD in December.". IGN. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- 1 2 3 "Transformers: Prime – 'Darkness Rising' DVD info Updated: Story Presentation and Extras". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ Lambert, David (August 20, 2012). "Transformers Prime – 'The Complete 2nd Season' is Scheduled for DVD and for Blu-ray". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
- ↑ "Hasbro Studios Renews Home Entertainment Agreement for Australia and New Zealand with Melbourne-Base | News & Press | Hasbro Studios". www.hasbrostudios.com. Retrieved 2017-01-20.
- ↑ "The Hub Delivers Ratings Increases with Holiday Programming, Including Transformers: Prime and G.I. Joe Renegades". TVbytheNumbers. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "The Hub ratings shows some momentum". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ Lowry, Brian (23 November 2010). "Review: ‘Transformers Prime’". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 July 2017. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
- 1 2 3 4 5 bwbm. "Transformers: Prime Nabs 6 of 8 Hasbro Studios Daytime Emmys". Retrieved July 24, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 BWW News Desk (July 9, 2012). "Four Series on The Hub TV Network Win 2012 CINE Golden Eagle Awards". BroadwayWorld.
- 1 2 "Hasbro Markets Transformers: Prime in New York City".
- ↑ "New Transformers: Prime Advertisement Featured on Back Cover of DC Comics' JLA Issue #51". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Transformers: Prime Optimus Prime Revealed". Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ "Hasbro Makes a Giant Debut at NY Comic Con: Focuses on Marvel Comics and Transformers". BuzzFocus.com. Retrieved October 1, 2014.
- ↑ tformers.com. "BotCon 2011 Live Blog – 2011 Hasbro Toys with the Brand Team". Retrieved June 4, 2011.
- ↑ Brian Truitt. "Check out the new toy for Arcee, the resident girl bot on Transformers: Prime".
- ↑ Jasen Kwedlo. "Hasbro's 2011 Transformers: Prime First Edition Action Figures".
- 1 2 "Hasbro Teams Up With Ruckus Mobile Media to Bring Transformers: Prime Storybook App".
- ↑ Graser, Marc (June 12, 2014). "Hasbro to Launch 'Transformers: Robots in Disguise' Show in Spring 2015 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
External links
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Transformers: Prime at Hasbro Studios
- Official website at TV Aichi (in Japanese)
- Transformers: Prime on IMDb
