Random Thoughts: Transformers: Cyberverse

So, I know it’s National Video Game day but I want to play some more of Spider-Man before I do a write up for it. Instead as a big Transformers fan, I’m going to write a bit about my thoughts on the newest Transformers show on Cartoon Network, Transformers: Cyberverse, which debuted on a couple weeks ago and the first two 11 minute episodes are available on Cartoon Network’s website as well as Hasbro’s YouTube channel.

Story

The show centers around Bumblebee on Earth having lost his memory through mysterious circumstances and is joined by Windblade who is trying to track down the Autobot ship The Ark which Bumblebee is supposed to be on.

The story starts with a promising set up of an over arching plot through Bumblebee’s amnesia and the first episode suggests that the Decepticons might have something to do with it. I hope they do as well because it would be incredibly underwhelming to find out Bumblebee just lost his memory by tripping down the stairs on The Ark. I appreciate the early setup of the plot though because that was something that the last two Transformers shows, Transformers: Prime and Transformers: Robots in Disguise struggled with in their first seasons, introducing the plot for their season finales only a few episodes before the finale.

The relationship between Windblade and Bumblebee is fine. I did not have too many issues with the characters aside from the decision to have Bumblebee go back to using the radio to speak which gets old pretty quickly. I appreciated the mention of some stuff from the IDW comics like Windblade being a City Speaker, even though they somewhat changed up what it means.

What really seems promising is the tease of flashbacks to Cybertron while trying to retrace Bumblebee’s steps to try and repair his memory. It could be a great opportunity to delve into a lot of the lore of the Transformers universe. They also have more established characters in the flashbacks that just as of right now exist. For example, Perceptor is in both episodes. He doesn’t get any lines, but he is mentioned by name. There’s good room for expansion.

Art

When they first showed off the art style for Cyberverse, I was not a big fan. However, I will admit that I was biased looking for something closer to Transformers Prime. Once I saw the animation in action, I liked it a lot better. The characters are very expressive and there are a lot of inspiration from G1 and the IDW comic designs.

Assorted other Thoughts

The voice acting is pretty good for the three of four characters that actually have speaking lines in the first two episodes. The only issue I had was with Bumblebee’s radio. The blurbs from it are very hit or miss. Bumblebee’s actual voice which can be heard whenever him and Windblade are inside his mind.

The one big gripe I have with the show is the decision to have 11-minute episodes instead of the usual 22-minute episodes. It would make more sense if the plots where self-contained for each episode but each episode bleeds right into the next one. It forces the show to have sudden cliffhangers at the end of the eleven minutes to serve as the lead in to the next episode, even if there isn’t much reason for the setup such as Bumblebee running up and answering a call from Starscream even though it would give away their location.

All in all, though the show is moderately enjoyable, and it shows some promise with room to grow. The only question now is whether they will capitalize on it as the show goes on.

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