At his panel on Sunday 18 August 2019, Marty Isenberg shared some additional details on Transformers Animated, including a few more things we might have seen in a possible Season 4.
Some key points included how Hasbro wanted to do some toys (Powermaster Optimus Prime and Marauder Megatron) and how this would have influenced the show. There was also reference to how Optimus Prime would have got his Movie flames (another toyline influence, intended to sell a redecoed Optimus). Spare a thought also for Beachcomber – the team wanted to have him killed off in Season 3, in a cut scene. He’d have died in Season 4 instead, and if that got cut, he’d have died in Season 5.
Lastly, they never fully figured out Sari’s story. But Sari’s true purpose would have figured into the series finale.
Read on for all the details from the panel.
- Powermaster Prime was a Hasbro request to allow Hasbro to release a larger size / priced character. Marty worked it into the premiere.
- Hasbro also requested flames on Optimus, movie-style. This would have been a repaint on the toy. It popped up in the outline as signifier of a high honour awarded to Optimus.
- Focus would have been on Mini-Cons, but the other Decepticons would have eventually come back.
- Megatron was completely losing it at this point in the story. Described as “not quite Beast Machines genocidal, but on the way there”
- Marauder Megatron was a Hasbro request, they wanted a triple changer design. Intended to make Megatron a huge threat to the point he didn’t need minions.
- Writers never figured out exactly where Sari was going. But her journey was the story of Transformers Animated – idea was the finale would have been the end of her journey.
- Beachcomber was intended for Season 3. He was supposed to catch Longarm turning into Shockwave. His reaction? “Dude, not cool”. Then Shockwave kills him. This was cut for time.
- Beachcomber was then intended for a scene in Season 4. Blackout would have killed him.
- If the Beachcomber scene hadn’t happened in Season 4, he’d have died in Season 5. Marty didn’t like Beachcomber.
- Unicron considered “too big for Animated”
- No plans to have had Megatron become Galvatron in Animated.
- Shattered Glass episode was intended for Season 3. It got bumped when the Season 3 opener was made into a three party.
- Marty doesn’t remember who would have been on Slipstream’s own team of Decepticons.
- Optimus as a young leader was Marty’s idea. He likes writing underdogs and characters with something to prove rather than big heroes.
- Blitzwing as a character was born from Marty wanting to write a character who turns into anything. Because that didn’t work as a toy, Derrick Wyatt suggested using a triple changer. Marty then came up with three personalities. Derrick was then inspired by He-Man’s Man-E-Faces. In-show origin would have involved Blackarachnia and been told in Season 4.
- There was a running joke about having a transforming character called “Tractor”. He’d have been an Energon farmer.
- Blurr was not intended to come back – he was “gone and dead” as far as Marty was concerned. But, the Botcon story where Blurr is revived “is canon. Sure. Why not?”
- Team Charr were not specifically planned to be used (no stories built around them) but Marty thinks they would have “inevitably” been used.
- Ratchet probably ran off with Omega Supreme as the Ark, and nobody else knew rather than him being intentionally given to Optimus.
- Characters like Red Alert and Rodimus would have been recurring characters.
- Marty thinks Obsidian in the treatment may have been a slip on his part, and could have been Strika in the final cut.
- No plans for more flying Autobots.
- Human villains were phased out – “fell by the wayside” – as the series progressed. Not a Hasbro pushback.
- The timeslot for the Unicron Trilogy and Animated was based on a deal. The first run was on a decent timeslot but if the ratings were not good, it’d be moved to an earlier timeslot.
- Cartoon Network wanted Marty and the crew to “age up” the show for season 3, to reflect the network’s other shows at the time (specifically the new Ben 10 and Clone Wars)
- Bulkhead was the first character Derrick Wyatt designed.
- Lockdown was based on wanting a version of Death’s Head that Hasbro could own.
- Chances of actually seeing a new season “slim to none”. Comic a smaller investment, but up to IDW to decide if they want to do it. Marty would be happy to write it.
- Marty says if you want to know more, get the Allspark Almanacs
Blackarachnia Prime
I admire the effort that went into the animations, but yeah, those voices…need a lot of work.
Blam320
I'm so sorry I didn't get back to you sooner. I'll start up a private chat to discuss the specifics. But to answer your other question, no, there currently isn't a thread that compiles all the different versions of Season 4 that people have done over the years.
Issy543
I would be fine with seeing your ideas of Season 4. I'm surpised there isn't a thread which compiles different interpretations or takes on Animated Season 4…unless there is one, and I'm not aware of it.
Blam320
People have been doing it across several different forms of media for a long time now; written and visual (and both in the case of comics). I know I started putting my own Season 4 ideas down on paper about a year and a half ago; still working on it but glad to share what I’ve got so far.
Issy543
Ah. I see. Given how much material was produced before the plug was pulled on the actual Animated series, I can see why people would want to try to finish or honor what the team had started.
Blam320
@Issy543 There are several fan-made "Season 4" projects on YouTube by now. This is only one of them.
Issy543
Are you referring to this YouTube and these YouTube videos:
Transformers Animated Season 4
firelancer120
Now that youtube channel that did a "season 4" abridged thing, should scrap that garbage and redo the animation with these voice lines.
supernova222
god that description just has me wanting a fanart or art piece of shockwave, blitzwing and lugnut going into the reactor while megatron look on. there are two good options on how it would look good. it would either have to be looking up from within the reactor as they fall towards it, with megatron looking down from up above. the other way is up high and looking straight down past megatron as we see them fall. either way its a pic we need to see.
Autovolt 127
I love learning facts like these, really makes the creative process all the more fascinating.
also lol poor Beachcomber, you'll die someday. haha
Blam320
One of the great mysteries of TFA that will sadly never be solved.
K2flygurl
Sari protoform could’v been explore more.
RagaBM
While you can argue about Ratchet's trait throughout the series, those other examples are hardly "overuse" of comedy.
janeDoe001
*Cries* WHY HASBRO WHY?! This would've been an awesome season 4 opener!!!
jD001
Blam320
Very interesting. A lot of this seems to have been repurposed into the Season 3.5 script readings we've gotten through BotCon, such as Arcee becoming Sari's teacher, and the Decepticons attacking Energon Farms.
I don't exactly agree with some of the choices made – like Bumblebee considering selling out Optimus in favor of Sentinel, which seems very out of character – but it's still good to see Season 4 come to light in some way.
DiamondTiara
Skimmed over the plot summary, it was very interesting to read.
Jalaguy
Me and a friend took extensive handwritten notes during the TFN presentation of the S4 story treatments, and we're now proud to present a highly-detailed summary of the three unmade episodes!
EXCLUSIVE: Transformers Animated Season 4 “Trial of Megatron” Full Plot Summary!
CyberstormSM
The reboot utilizing Siege designs seems to be a Hasbro mandate, and Transformers: '84 was actually pretty solid and a fun little celebration of the series' 35th anniversary.
But yeah, it would be nice to see them do something different in the future. Someday, hopefully.