The new Transformers: Robots In Disguise, is thankfully not based on the current IDW comic, which frankly only used the title as a gimmick. Seriously, it’s political intrigue on Cybertron. You’re making a stretch to use the line from the theme song. It’s also not connected to the other Robots In Disguise cartoon, the one adapted from Japan’s Car Robots series that I don’t even know who owns the rights? Did Saban buy them back from Disney? Does Hasbro have them back? What’s going on with that?
RID Mark…3 I guess…is based on the new toyline and appears to be set in the “Prime” universe. It’s moving back to Cartoon Network, although Rescue Bots will remain on Discovery Family, formerly the Hub before Discovery Networks and Hasbro Studios parted ways. So is Rescue Bots still considered part of the Prime continuity? I haven’t heard. What I have heard is the behind-the-scenes look at the new chapter of the currently official universe. Bumblebee will lead a team of Autobots to hunt down escapees of a Decepticon prison ship (as in a prison ship for Decepticons). Optimus will have cameos, much like Rescue Bots, but this is Bumblebee’s time to shine. While it’s still not my favorite version, I do like Prime Bee so it’s nice to see him advance. And they gave him a voice finally.
In this behind-the-scenes video we meet some of the characters and actors for this latest tale of the Transformers.
The new show seems to be embracing fun a bit more than Prime was and that’s a good thing. I liked Prime and the few episodes I got to see of Beast Hunters but the focus was more on characters and war stories than fun. You can have fun and still have character development. Transformers Animated was about having fun but still had character development, the occasional dark moment, and could be serious when it needed to be. This looks like a bit more of a balance. Having seen clips on the Hasbro Shorts YouTube channel, and there are some good characters here, but more relaxed in tone than the previous series. It may be a better balance that the other Robots In Disguise or Animated. We’ll see what happens.
I know Hasbro is trying to get more focused on their younger audience. Transformers Prime felt more like an older audience show and the toys should be marketed to kids, their target demographic. Younger kids have Rescue Bots and older fans have the games, comics, and Michael Bay movies. (And the director taking over is the guy behind the recent Ninja Turtles movie, which Bay produced.) There’s nothing for the kids in the middle and Robots In Disguise is looking to fulfill that forgotten (and original target) group, and whose to say grown-ups couldn’t enjoy it, too? Unless you’re in the “everything for meeeeeeeeee” crowd, in which case, shut up.
The new Transformers: Robots In Disguise premiers March 14th and there will be a review here at the Spotlight soon after. I’m hoping this has the best elements of the previous shows because I want to like this from what I’ve seen
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