When 2011 began, Hasbro knew it was a big year for them. They joined together with Discovery Channel for their own TV Station just few months ago and were getting ready for the release of the third Transformers Live Action Movie; Transformers: Dark Of The Moon that year. Business was booming and Toy Fair was less than two months away. There was something else they were working in the background and they casually gave the name away during a press conference before the aforementioned Toy Fair. But none of us knew on that day, just how big Rescue Bots was going to be.
And on this day as we celebrate the 100th Episode of Transformers: Rescue Bots, follow the wonderful success story of a story of a ragtag team of Cybertronians rolling to the rescue, after the jump.
Toy Fair 2011 came and went and briefly showcased several toys from Rescue Bots. It was a Transformers toyline specifically for Pre-School kids. Less than a week later, 2005 Boards Member Matrix Soul approached our site with several concept art and info from the [then] upcoming Rescue Bots line. We exclusively revealed what Rescue Bots was really all about. Slated for release in August 2011, “Transformers: Rescue Bots” is the successor of Transformers: Robot Heroes. Based on the same concept as Superhero Squad and Hero On-The-Go, Rescue Bots mainly focus on educating children regarding hazards and safety.
The info was quickly followed by a reveal of a Trademark at the United States Patent & Trademark Office, announcing a new Animated Series. The new series found a permanent home at the newly rebranded Hub TV Network (currently known as the Discovery Family Channel). Little did we knew back than, Rescue Bots will go on to become the longest running Transformers TV Show with an episode count second only to the combined number of the Unicron Trilogy (Armada, Energon, and Cybertron).
Featuring an ensemble voice cast including Peter Cullen the legendary voice of Optimus Prime, Steve Blum, D.C. Douglas and many others, Transformers: Rescue Bots Animated Series debuted on December 17th and went onto become a smashing hit. The show was everything expected from Transformers cartoon aimed at pre-schoolers. That didn’t stop the adults from enjoying the show and resulting in multiple awards and nominations.
To this day, the show has won a Day Time Emmy (“Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program”) and nominated for categories such as “Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production For Preschool Children”, “Outstanding Writing for an Animated Program”, “Best Sound for an Animated Short Film”, “Best Vocal Ensemble in a Television Series” and many others.
Though attached to the “Aligned Continuity,” Rescue Bots went on an independent path even surpassing the parent show Transformers: Prime which collapsed with the final days of the continuity and the sudden departure of Hasbro from the partnership with Discovery. With Season 2 hitting the television on March 2014 and Season 3 on November of the same year, Fans quickly added the numbers to realize if Rescue Bots received a 4th full season, it will go onto become the longest running Transformers Cartoon Show to date by defeating the original G1 series.
And it happened. Season 4 arrived on April 23rd, 2016 much to the joy of its fans.
With an extremely successful toyline which spanned for 5 years and still going, here we are on the first day of October, on the International Children’s Day to celebrate the 100th Episode of Transformers: Rescue Bots. Amazingly, the date written in US standard also denotes 100. Don’t believe us? Check this out: 10/01/2016.
Official Press Release from Discovery Network states the following:
Transformers Rescue Bots
World premieres continue Saturdays at 8:30a/7:30c
TV-Y7TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS follows the adventures of four young Transformers and their human counterparts – a family of emergency responders with 12-year-old Cody Burns at the center. The Rescue Bots – Heatwave, Chase, Blades and Boulder are tasked by Optimus Prime to study the ways of humanity and protect mankind on the island of Griffin Rock, a highly advanced hub of technology located off the coast of Maine. Throughout the series, Cody and his family teach the Bots how to live amidst humankind while learning about teamwork, cooperation and overcoming obstacles along the way.
100th Episode: A Brush with Danger premieres Saturday, October 1 at 8:30a/7:30c
In the 100th episode of TRANSFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, Kade’s idol, a pompous movie star, causes trouble for the Rescue Team who are trying to solve a series of mysterious break-ins.
To Infinity…and Back premieres Saturday, October 8 at 8:30a/7:30c
When Dani’s out-of-this-world test flight doesn’t go according to plan, the Rescue Team is her only hope of ever making it back home.
Family Business premieres Saturday, October 15 at 8:30a/7:30c
Cody rides along with each of the Bots to decide what kind of rescue worker he wants to be. But when a member of his family is in danger, his true calling becomes clear.
Upgrades premieres Saturday, October 22 at 8a/7c
When Optimus Prime splits the Rescue Bots into different teams for new assignments, the evil genius Doctor Morocco returns to wreak havoc.
Season Finale: Transformations premieres Saturday, October 22 at 8:30a/7:30c
In the season finale of TRANFORMERS RESCUE BOTS, the computer-generated Doctor Morocco hatches a bold new plot to defeat the Rescue Bots by becoming one of them.
We do hope the you will enjoy today’s episode. It’s not everyday a Transformers Show get a 4th Full Season let alone on the same network. We wish the show all the very best and a great future ahead.
jcchua
This is a really fun show that doesn't get enough credit as it deserves. Great character dynamics, slow but good world-building (it only really kicked off last season) and a lot of really intelligent lessons for the kids. I honestly really want RID or IDW-style versions of the main cast because they really deserves some good toys that don't look like oversized Activators or bricks. I understand RB is a kid-centric toyline, nothing against it, just wished they had at the very least resemble the characters in the show and can still transform fine. Here's for more seasons. This is a really good "kiddie" show and I wished kids watched more of these than some of the more brain-numbing baby shows that are currently on air.
phoenixhawk
I've been a Transformers fan since the beginning, but most of the Transformers material isn't a good fit for young children. My wife and I were watching Prime and the kids saw a few minutes and it was far too violent for them to watch. That was when we discovered Rescue Bots. The kids immediately loved it and I gave it a chance; I mean, Peter Cullen as Optimus Prime was in it, so it can't be that bad. I found myself really liking the characters and it quickly became a show we watched on the regular on Netflix. The show proves that Transformers don't need to be violent, it doesn't always have to be about war and death. Sure, the situations are pretty tame, but there have been plenty of episodes with some stakes, probably most of all the end of season 3 when the main bots nearly lost their sparks saving the town.
Much like MLP: FiM, there are fun little bits for the adults watching, and the show has done an amazing job incorporating elements of the larger Transformers franchise, with guest appearance characters and numerous references to Transformers lore. Things such as scraplets and lobbing don't mean anything to kids, but to me, as a longtime TF fan, I appreciate the attention to detail. One of the recent episodes opened with a take on the traditional James Bond opening and then cut to what looked like Quickshadow doing a stunt in a spy film.
I would love to see RB characters show up as regular deluxe or voyager toys, and maybe in a few years that will happen when the RB fan base gets older and still remembers those characters. The Rescue Bots don't need weapons, they don't need to fight Decepticons, they don't need darker backstories or comic books that change the nature of the series. They just need to keep rollin' to the rescue.
Congrats Rescue Bots on topping the 100 episode mark
Hollywood Hoist
I certainly don't fault you for not liking Rescue Bots. I think it's a great show, my son loves it. Given it's a show about transforming robots, time machines, VR, flying lobsters, teleportation devices, a kid being an integral part of a rescue team isn't far fetched to me.
MartyFeeb
You're absolutely right. But to what degree?
Sure, it's implausible for a human character to outsmart and defeat a Decepticon… but nearly every episode? I mean, I recall Daniel & Spyke used mostly for "damsel in distress" roles in G1 – they were a touch of humanity to give the Autobots an extra something to fight for and/or risk losing. RB doesn't do that: it makes the kids too integral, in outright silly ways… and I think that dumbs the series down, personally.
As a kid, the adult world did not rotate around me (around my personal journey into adulthood). No, I existed (like most of you) in an adult world, navigating a kid's path through said world – what that REALLY means is that kids have a disadvantage to fight, and it's that disadvantage and perseverance that builds character (i.e. dealing with bullies). I feel like RB avoids that entire reality by making the show about the kids, and like a crappy Disney teen drama, the adults are there to prop the children and help them along their adventures (side kicks). I get the motivation ("Hey! Let's pander to children and make them the stars and heroes!!!"), but I still say it's a bit… silly… bad… misleading and Disney-fied. I'd just rather something more realistic to help teach my kids real life lessons (or a close proximity to that).
Anyway, when we were kids, we had G1, GI Joe, & TMNT – none of those shows relied heavily on kids to drive the plot, and we enjoyed the heck out of them. RB is the same as SW Ep 1: unnecessary children being put front stage for the purpose of pandering to children and selling product.
That's not to say RB doesn't have it's good points, too! Please don't hate on me for disagreeing about your passion for a kids show!
It's ironic that so many people quote this as a good episode… cause I did not enjoy it. I wanted to, but meh.
And seriously, Hasbro has made minimal effort to sell RB toys – I think they realize boy toys are on their way out and have instead focused on licensed tie-in's like t-shirts and swim gear. I mean to say that the average child fan of RB probably has more RB nick-nacks than RB toys… which is probably a good thing, right?
pnova
I\'ve found out which the 2 extra episodes are now – the ones from series 2 that where missed but are being shown in the UK in 1 hours time. The Riders of Midwinter 2.20
Chief Woodrow 2.22
Infosaur
Congratulations RescueBots!
You had me at Flobsters.
Lord Dcast
The characters seem intriguing enough, but I wish we'd get gritty reboots of them. I'd love to see a beefed up Heatwave with giant rocket pods…and double bazooka, and a machine gun and his other more bigger gun…
Wild Eevee
I love this idea.
Hollywood Hoist
It's not like kids haven't been an essential part of just about every Transformers series and saved the day on more than one occasion.
Worf
My only problem with this series is I binge it and then get that song stuck in my head… oh Hasbro, will you release a soundtrack already?! or at least a single of the Rescue Bots theme?
Autovolt 127
Congrats Rescue Bots!
Autovolt 127
Congrats.
Hopefully there will be another show made some day that gets a hundred more specifically a mainline show.
G1 Evac
I echo your sentiments. I watched it with my kid and really fallen in love with it. Even the toys, Optimus Primal with nods to BW Optimus Primal, BW Megatron, AOE Grimlock is just awesome! "Better drill faster to prevent disaster!"
This show is top quality, great job Rescue Bots!
Dormamu
Here's the thing, when HUB/Discovery/Whatever started airing Hasbro shows, you had GI Joe Renegades which was possibly one of my favorite iterations of that franchise, MLP (and we know how much of a wonderful money making beast of excellence that has become), Transformers Prime which had some good characters, good toys, and meh writing, and then there was Rescue Bots. The show was never intended to be a true Transformers series, it was a version of Superhero Squad with Transformer elements. But one thing I noticed was that in spite of what some would consider 'pandering' to the kids (which I don't consider a factor, there is a very definite demographic for the show and it's stamped on the toy boxes), there was some seriously great writing and voice direction going on. If you've ever watched about 2 decades of cartoons like I have you notice quality of production when it is there. For the show to hit 100 episodes, win the awards it has, and still be watched means it's getting the ratings. Kids eat the toys up. I know I probably sound like I'm white knighting it, but I don't think this show was a fluke.
It also proves a very important point to the Transformers as a template. The last 30 years have been about robots at war. Constant war, where characters die, and there is always a good versus evil. Rescue Bots shows that the Autobots can actually work without the Decepticons being present. Yes the dangers are softball and immediately negated within a good half hour, but the writers have managed to mix in personal issues, family dynamics, and some values that are hard to find in a lot of series. I have some catching up to do for the more recent episodes, but as a fan of the franchise I really enjoy this series.
kaotika
i get the desire to see them be bought into other transformers worlds like lugnut, lockdown and bulkhead were but im not so sure.
the first thing is the practical consideration of the existing g1 blades (cw defensor) and chase in idw g1 continuity.
the other which i think is more important is that the show is centered around them as a small group.
even with the expanded cast like blurr, salvage, quickshadow and such the episodes are still focussed on the core 4.
id be concerned about losing that and them in the large idw cast.
i do agree they should do gen figures of them but just as generations rb thing like gen bw rhinox, gen bm tankor etc.
rb is as much transformers as bw and g1 and prime and they deserve it.
id buy them and i dont have any kids or rb age nephews or nieces.
id get them for me just cos its such a great cartoon.
if you havent watched the show forget about everything youve been told about it being for little kids.
theres much more going on in the show than just juvenile preschool hijinks.
Repainted
Always a joy to watch to me. It\'s not the usual Autobots VS Decepticons that\'s made up much of the films and other TV series, but the characters are good and things progress within the scope. Rescue Bots seldom gets huge anticipation here that I\'ve seen when new episodes air, but I look forward to them just as much as I would a new Prime or RiD airing. Proud of the cast and crew for their accomplishments.
Arvegtor
What Rescue Bots really need (besides actual toys of the characters) are spin-off comics to deal with stories too off or not kid friendly enough, like what happened to Charlie's wife and why all of their children decided to become rescue workers, how Charlie uncovered the truth about Cybertronians in the first place and what happened to all other rescue bots that everyone thinks they're extinct.
I also hope to see season 5 and beyond. The show deserves it and it still can do lots of things with the characters, especially High Tide and Quickshadow.
Starscreama
Congrats to the Baby Bot Squad.
Even if none of them has ever seen a \'con lol.
abates
Congrats to Rescue Bots on a well earned milestone!
The first episode of series 4 was episode 79. There's nothing missing here.
SeanTF1967
Well, we did have Bounce the Mini-Con. He is basically a Backtrack or Ransack. They are considered Decepticons so Bounce is technically a Decepticon.