Channel: Netflix
Episodes: 18
Runtime: 10 minutes
Voice Cast: Jeremy Levy (Bumblebee), Sophia Isabella (Windblade), Jake Tillman (Optimus Prime), Ryan Andes (Grimlock), Marc Thompson (Megatron), Deanna McGovern (Shadow Striker), Ryan Andes (Shockwave), Billy Bob Thompson (Starscream), Lianne Marie Dobbs (Slipstream)
Rating: 3.7/5
I wasn’t entirely sure about Transformers: Cyberverse so I took a really long time to get into it. I think Transformers: Robots in Disguise and Transformers: Rescue Bots had quite a bit to do with that, as those were understandably tamer because of the audiences. But hey, this was pretty good for a Transformers series that’s ostensibly for kids!
Transformers: Cyberverse is a 3D-animated, cel shaded Transformers series set in a brand new continuity. It follows the adventures of an amnesiac Bumblebee as he pieces his memories back bit by bit – not knowing that the Decepticons are closing in on him. He’s joined on his quest by Windblade and later, Grimlock.
I liked that there was a mystery to uncover that spanned most of the series, and that they managed to work in popular Autobots as guest stars. I wouldn’t have picked Windblade to be one of the three main characters, personally, but I appreciated that she brought some gender diversity to the series.
And the gender balance, while still skewed towards males, was pretty impressive for the show! The Decepticons had so many females with them, even if they’re all called “sir” (I guess to prevent any thorny issues of gender). Also, we’ve gotten many toys of said female characters. So I like that they’re trying to cater to young female fans too and bring them into the fold.
The new short form (10 minute) format also meant that episodes were leaner and more focused. Very little filler, thankfully, and the jokes are snappy and punchy. I’m grateful for this faster pace because kids shows usually drag out the “funny” bits, presumably to appeal to the younger demographic, and this seemed to be been geared towards that. However, because there’s so little run time, it means that plot comes first, then everything else. It’s worked well for the series, which manages to tell self-contained stories while still providing a coherent arc as a whole.
Animation wise, I can’t say I’m a fan of the style, especially the lack of outlines. Maybe I’m an old fogey that way. The designs themselves are great though, and the actual action is fluid. You don’t realize it after a while, but it was fairly jarring at first.
Grimlock’s dual personality was also a little strange. I get the homage to his brutish, less eloquent self – but it was also weird to have these two aspects. Logically I couldn’t reconcile it, even though the explanation makes a fair amount of sense.
I liked Transformers: Cyberverse a lot more than I thought I would, and it manages to straddle the fine line between being a kids show and appealing to adults. Of course, gotta get all the toys right? And yes, I have…
Transformers: Cyberverse Season 1 is out on Netflix now.
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com
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I’m an independent scriptwriter who’s written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Police & Thief, and Incredible Tales. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
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