Transformers Energon – The Ultimate Collection +
Transformers Animated – Season Two
(Paramount DVD)
Picture:
B- Sound: B- Extras: D/C+ Episodes: B-/C
What we
have here are two lackluster Transformer series attempting to bring back the
heyday of the original series. Transformers Energon is the 2004-2005
series that was follow-up to Transformers
Armada. As the direct sequel to Transformers Armada, it is no surprise
that Energon showed some
promise. Unlike Transformers Energon, Transformers
Animated never showed much promise to this reviewer. Its lack of depth and choppy, flash video
type animation just hurt the series intentions from the very beginning.
Transformers Energon takes place 10 years after the
battle of the Mini-cons that was seen in Armada
and now the Autobots and Decepticons have become allies with the people of
earth as the build massive Cybertron cities on both and in space. Concurrently the band of Transformers are
mining for Energon (go figure) the substance that gives Transformers their
power and energy. Throughout the series
52 episode, four- season run a lot of new elements come into play in the
Transformer Universe. 10 years before
this series took place the Autobots had destroyed the planet eater Unicron, but
it seems a mysterious figure named Alpha-Q has taken the demonic beings place
as he operates from the destroyed Unicron’s shell. Alpha-Q sends Terror-cons to attack the
Autobots and their Cybertron space cities as well as the humans that reside
there. The effort at first seems to
strike the Autobots down, but a more devious plan is at foot as Alpha-Q
collects Energon for his master plan.
Alpha-Q creates the robot Scorponok to win over the Decepticons on Earth
and lead the Terror-cons. A sword is
also forged by Alpha-Q from the spark of the deceased Megatron, whose body
resides inside Unicron as well. But not
before long we learn that that Megatron is in fact NOT dead and soon resurrects
himself, causing Alpha-Q to flee and Megatron to take over the husk that is
Unicron. Once he is resurrected Megatron
creates Starscream for the soul purpose of killing Optimus Prime. All in all Transformers Energon makes for a complicated series that the viewer
would have to have had previous knowledge about before viewing; mainly all
coming from Transformers Armada. What is described above is only a small
sample of what the series has in store throughout its 52 episodes, so hold on
tight and break out that Transformers Encyclopedia…you may get confused.
Transformers Animated: Season Two follows the aftermath of Season One with the rise of Megatron
and the battle that blew up the All Spark.
The Autobots must try to restore order within the city of Detroit, all
while restoring the faith of mankind in them.
The Autobot Elite Guard arrives in Detroit to collect the All Spark,
only to discover it has been blown to pieces.
The newest season starts the hunt for the All Spark pieces and continues
the battle with the ever growing power of the Decepticons. Who will prevail…bet it’s the Autobots!
The
series is drab through and through. The
animation is an oddly bland presumption of creativity and the storylines are
just washed down versions of all the other creative Transformer series. All in all, the series needs to shape up or
ship out of this universe. Autobots
unite! Really, unite please!
The
technical features on both these sets have not transformed much since previous
releases, but overall are adequate. The
picture on Transformers Energon: The
Ultimate Collection are presented in a 1.33 X 1 full screen that has vivid
colors and solid blacks. The main issue
with the picture is that at times it is overly soft and lacks a certain texture
that should be present. The sound is a
simple Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track that gets the job done, but does little
in adding to the series. The sound has a
good punch and is always crisp and clear, but totally lacks directionality and
sound prioritization.
Sadly
there are no extras present on this “Ultimate
Collection” of Energon.
The picture
quality on Transformers Animated: Season
Two are slightly better than Energon
as it is somewhat brighter and more fluid, but not enough of a difference that
a series produced 3 years later should have.
The picture is presented in a 1.33 X 1 full screen that is exactly the
same as previously seen in the Season
One release, looking colorful but would have been better off in Widescreen. The sound is also the same as its previous
release presented in a Dolby Digital Stereo that lacks the necessary ‘pop’ for
a big kids action series like this.
The
extras are slim but nicer than last season’s release this time offering fans
Audio Commentaries on episodes 19 and 20, as well as two animated shorts and a
photo gallery. The commentaries are
enthusiastic and informative, but next time I hope to hear more.
Overall,
it is obvious that the Transformers Universe is only going to continue to grow,
let’s just hope it does not implode on itself.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
