With the upcoming Transformers: Rise of the Beasts set to hit screens in 2023, chances are an animated series may not be that far behind to revitalize the enduring and beloved franchise yet again. With hundreds of episodes across multiple television series airing since the 80s, The Transformers remains a television series with staying better whether film, comics, toys, or TV shows.
Considering the variety of episodes that have been produced, and the direction each show has taken, there are numerous opinions surrounding the franchise. and not all of them are uniform. Many are contrarian takes meant to rile up fans, while others are genuine beliefs that people hold. Regardless of where these opinions come from, they all are unpopular with the fanbase at large.
Transformers: Prime Starscream Is Overrated
One of the more popular shows in the franchise, Transformers: Prime was a revamp of the show that tried to bridge the gap between the adult-oriented Michael Bay movies and the fun hijinks of the G1 cartoon. Fans largely believe it succeeded in this effort, especially as evidenced by the portrayal of Starscream.
Steve Blum gave Starscream all the menace and sass that was required of the character, Redditor AyyUltra felt that “he was just animated’s character but dumbed down.” While the similarities between the two incarnations are there, Prime‘s Starscream proved himself to be more than a mere clone given his role as leader of the Decepticons during the show’s first season.
Beast Wars Is Lame
Often considered the best show in the Transformers Franchise, Beast Wars is heralded for its tight plotting, engaging characters, and groundbreaking CGI. Yet that hasn’t stopped some Redditors such as Misrable_Toucan from claiming “Beast Wars is not as good as it’s hyped to be.”
While the show certainly has its rough spots and inconsistencies, one look at its second season will reveal Beast Wars lives up to the hype. No other Transformers TV show is as tightly scripted as the 13 episodes which make up Beast Wars’ second season, and few have raised the stakes like Beast Wars did.
Transformers: Armada is Better Than The Original Cartoon
Transformers: Armada, while a show that is fondly remembered by members of Gen Y and Gen Z, is often seen as one of the lesser entries in the series. The animation is middling for the period, the voice acting can be flat, and the plot is nonexistent for the first half of the show.
Despite all the criticism that has been lobbed at Armada, Redditors like joshml98 believe that “Armada is better than most of G1.” Despite all the goofiness of the original cartoon and its error-ridden animation, it still holds up as one of the best cartoons of the 1980s. Comparatively, Armada does not hold up against its animated peers from the early 2000s.
Transformers: Prime Has A Boring Art Style
Featuring some of the sleekest designs across the franchise, Transformers: Prime is easily one of the coolest-looking shows of its era, evoking the style of the Michael Bay movies while also simplifying the aesthetic to make something spectacular. Not everyone agrees with this take.
Reddit User BigSticky2004 was one of a few who stated that “The character designs in Prime are bad.” Though there are some designs that could’ve been more colorful – Soundwave, Starscream, etc. – the characters are still aesthetically pleasing and do a good job of making kids want to buy the toys.
Not Every Optimus Has To Sound Like Peter Cullen
The fearless leader of the Autobots, Optimus Prime was brought to life by voice actor Peter Cullen who has voiced the character across a whole slew of media. So distinct is his voice that he the actor was brought onto the movies to voice Optimus, rather than having the character be played by a celebrity.
As integral as Cullen’s voice is to the character of Optimus Prime, there are some such as GaiDaigouji who believe “not all Primes have to be Cullen.” Given the various actors who have voiced iconic characters like Batman and Spider-Man over the years, this take makes sense.
Frank Welker Is Overrated As Megatron
One of the most prolific voice actors in the business, Frank Welker has been active since the late ’60s and voiced such iconic characters as Fred Jones, Dr. Claw, and Garfield. He was also the first person to voice the character of Megatron and defined the role with his exaggerated anger and contempt for Optimus Prime.
Despite all the accolades that Welker has received, Redditor ForHonor888 said “Fred Tatasciore is the best voice for Megatron and Frank Welker is overrated.” While Tatasciore does a good job with the role in Transformers: War For Cybertron, his performance is still beholden to the great Frank Welker.
Beast Wars Has Better Cast Of Characters Than The G1 Cartoon
Without a doubt, the G1 cartoon has the most identifiable cast of characters across the Transformers franchise. There’s Optimus, Megatron, Starscream, Bumblebee, Soundwave, Jazz, Ironhide, Shockwave, Grimlock, and numerous other characters who have continued to crop up in various shows.
Despite how iconic the original Transformers are, Redditor JeffGoldblumChuckle believes the “Beast Wars cast is better than G1.” It’s easy to see why. Despite not having as many iconic characters, the show’s smaller ensemble means they have more personality than most of the G1 cast.
Transformers: Armada Starscream Is Overrated
Often considered one of the best parts of Transformers: Armada, Michael Dobson’s take on Starscream proved the character had room to grow beyond being a duplicitous butt-monkey. Despite this creative choice, Reddit user Misrable_Toucan felt that “Armada starscream is not worth the hype.”
Given where the story of a repentant Starscream would go in the IDW comics, it’s easy to dismiss Armada‘s version of the character as shallow and uninspired. However, the choice to redefine one of the series most powerful villains and turn him into an anti-hero was groundbreaking for the time and still holds up to some extent.
Transformers: Prime Is Overrated
Often ranked up in the top 3 greatest Transformers TV shows, Transformers: Prime is among a few things in the franchise which people have a unified consensus on. Yet despite its popularity, Redditors like Garrow_the_Khajit believe “TF Prime is overrated. Animated is the show Prime wishes to be.”
On the surface, Prime does appear to emulate Animated given its roster of Autobots is nearly identical to the 2007 show. However, the tone and storyline of the two shows couldn’t be any further apart. Transformers: Animated is a lighthearted romp that portrays the main cast as nobodies who learn to be heroes whereas Prime is a serious show from the get-go, painting the Autobots as the last line of defense against the Decepticons in the Great War.
The G1 Cartoon Is Holding The Franchise Back
One of the most loved shows in the franchise, The Transformers was the cartoon that started it all, and the mythology it weaved and characters it built are the ones that still drive the franchise to this day. Yet not everyone thinks this is a good thing.
Reddit user WesAhmedND put it best when they said “G1 is holding this franchise back.” While there’s nothing wrong with leaning on the designs of the original show and calling back to it now and again, the fact that few shows have come up with original ideas beyond depicting the Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons means WesAhmedND might be correct.
