Thanks to The Hub, we have our first look at Bumblebee from the next cartoon show, which will be a sequel to Transformers: Prime. The series will premiere in 2015.
As had been reported before, the style does appear to be somewhat of a hybrid of the Prime and Rescue Bots aesthetics.
Read the full details after the jump, then let us know your thoughts in the discussion thread. For Immediate Release
March 17, 2014
THE HUB NETWORK ANNOUNCES BRAND NEW TRANSFORMERS SERIES IN PRODUCTION NOW FOR 2015
Will Friedle, Darren Criss and Constance Zimmer to Star in New Animated Series by Hasbro Studios
LOS ANGELES — The Hub Network, champions of family fun and the only network dedicated to providing kids and their families entertainment they can watch together, announced today that a new animated series is currently in production for the globally renowned TRANSFORMERS brand. Set to debut in early 2015, the new action-packed series is being produced by Hasbro Studios, the production and distribution division of Hasbro, Inc., and is executive produced by Jeff Kline (“Transformers Prime,” “G.I. Joe Renegades”).
Taking place years after the battle between Autobots and Decepticons in “Transformers Prime,” this all new series centers around our hero Bumblebee stepping up to lead a brand new team of Autobots. The show features an all-star cast with Will Friedle (“Boy Meets World”) returning as Bumblebee, along with Darren Criss (“Glee”), Constance Zimmer (“House of Cards”) and Ted McGinley (“Married with Children”). Blending 3D characters with hand-painted environments, the series mixes action-packed adventure with lots of comedy, making it a rip-roaring experience for kids and families to enjoy together.
This is a big year as the TRANSFORMERS brand celebrates its 30th anniversary. The Hub Network will also be celebrating the success of the franchise with special events to be announced later this year.
TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2014. Hasbro. All Rights Reserved.
About the Hub Network
The Hub Network is a multi-platform joint venture between Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) and Hasbro Inc., (NASDAQ: HAS) that champions family fun by providing relatable, funny, family friendly entertainment experiences that children and their parents can enjoy together. The cable and satellite television network features original programming as well as content from Hasbro’s rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built during the past 90 years and from leading third-party producers worldwide. The Hub Network’s lineup includes animated and live-action series, as well as specials, game shows, and family-favorite movies. The network extends its content through a robust and engaging online presence at HubNetwork.com. The Hub Network rebranded from Discovery Kids on October 10, 2010, and is available in nearly 71 million U.S. households. The Hub Network logo and name are trademarks of Hub Television Networks, LLC. All rights reserved. To find the channel in your area, please visit HubNetwork.com and check the channel locator at the top of the page.
Visit the Hub Network on Social Media:
Facebook at Facebook.com/HubTVNetwork
Twitter @HubTVNetwork
Instagram @HubTVNetwork
YouTube at YouTube.com/HubTVNetwork
Note: For artwork, visit press.discovery.com/us/Hub/
About Hasbro Studios
Hasbro Studios is the Los Angeles-based entertainment division of Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS). The studio is responsible for entertainment brand-driven storytelling for the company across television, film, commercial productions and short-form. It develops, produces and distributes TV shows based on Hasbro’s world class brands, including TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, LITTLEST PET SHOP and FAMILY GAME NIGHT. Many of these shows air on Hub Network, a U.S. television network for kids and their families, that is a joint venture between Hasbro and Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK). Hasbro Studios shows can also be seen on networks in more than 180 countries globally. Since its formation in 2009, the studio has received seven Daytime Emmy wins and 16 nominations. On the film side, the studio is developing and producing a number of features based on Hasbro’s brands, including TRANSFORMERS 4 (Paramount), G.I. JOE 3 (Paramount) and Ouiji (Universal Pictures). The studio team also oversees the production of commercials that feature Hasbro’s brands as well production of short-form content that can be seen on all of the major digital and social media platforms globally.
— Hub Network —
Transformers 2015 Bumblebee
LegendAntihero
I can't say I don't like it. I just hope he gets a good toy this time around
nina210
I really wished they stayed with the 3D polygon animation as they did with Transformers Prime. I really hope they still have Arcee with the same voice Actress Sumalee Montano.
Bumblethumper
I thought that was an unnecessary bit of character confusion, but not really something worth raging over. Anyway I didn't want the hassle of arguing with fans who maintained that Airachnid was a totally original, totally unrelated character. And as it turns out, quickly forgotten, whereas variations on the new version of Bumblebee simply refuse to go away.
SpinalCord
Which is why I gave the Blackarachnia/Airachnid example, a character I do like…
Bumblethumper
Well if you hate Bumblebee to begin with, of course it's not going to bother you that they get rid of the horns.
What I hate isn't so much encapsulated in any one detail change, but more the fact that over the past few years they managed to turn Bumblebee into a character that's so unappealing and widely detested, and yet heavily pushed and promoted.
SpinalCord
I have never seen somebody get so worked-up about Bumblebee missing his horn… talk about first world problems. Surly that will not be the only thing that will define this show. I hate Bumblebee, but I'm not writing this show off just because he's in it… I also didn't have a seizure when they didn't call Airachnid Blackarachnia
Autovolt 127
Let's just wait till next year to actually judge it on its own merits.
IgnikaMarcus
You don't even KNOW what's in it, so how can you tell?
Oh wait, you can't.
tfmx8
really you think,the final design is going to be completely different? All I expect based on past trends are perhaps minor proportion changes and a more advanced rendering style. The bald head aka "primebumblebee" will likely still be there along with the basic chest and body design
SpinalCord
Chill. It has been said hundreds of times these aren't the finished designs.
tfmx8
Back in 2006 when the early movie bumblebee images were criticized ,the detractors were called GEewunners. But they were right. changing a character once has a ripple effect. the poison effects of bayverse keep rippling out down the artistic lakes. That thing's even worse than baybee though, at least he was weak at times"getting towed around" and had little horns. I can imagine how much better both baybee and this baldbot would have been improved if they brought on fans like derrick wyatt to design them
SpinalCord
As much as I love dark and serious, Prime went overboard and took itself so seriously it would frown at you if you tried to crack a smile… it became a chore to watch and lost it's entertainment value. Beast Wars and Animated did an amazing job at keeping both kids and adults entertained, because they were not dumbed down just for children… they were both lighthearted which has general appeal
ZacWilliam
Is what in particular?
Anyway the show is specifically geared to getting Crossover Audience.
Hasbro's research showed that the young Target Audience of Rescue Bots love it but that their Older siblings and parents also watched and enjoyed it. It has Crossover Audience appeal.
Prime/BH while enjoyed by an older audience decently really only appealed to them and did not have real crossover audience.
So this new show is engineered to fix that and hopefully be enjoyable by all ages, as Rescue Bots is.
-ZacWilliam, it's a very good goal if they pull it off well…
LegendAntihero
Is this an attempt to make the show kid friendly?
TF Cagle
I look at it from a different point of view. This is TF Prime without everything I want in it.
Nocturne
You've seen ONE(two if we count Optimus-Wan-Kenobi) image for the show. How can you make a fair judgement based on that 0.o seems a bit unfair.
TF Cagle
If Starscream isn't in it, then they might as well cancel the show right now. I LOVED Prime, it got me interested in transformers again, but this isn't Prime this is a poor excuse for a replacement.
Nocturne
The Mysterious Cities of Gold 2012 (Season 2) English Trailer – YouTube
When I first heard "3d characters on a hand painted background" this is the first thing that sprang to mine. If that's the case then I am so on board for this!
The Deleter
No, that's just me going off of the end of Prime, where the Cons were disbanded and the team remained on Cybertron to rebuild and reestablish the planet before the refugees returned. Just the given stuff. It is a sequel, after all.
Thilda
Wait what?
This show is dead to me already.