Hasbro just announced Transformers: BotBots Animated Series for Netflix.
Official Synopsis:
“BotBots are Transformers robots disguised as mall objects. By day, these BotBots hide on store shelves, but at night, they jump into adventure – until a group of BotBots called ‘The Lost Bots’ run into the mall security guard and put all the bots in danger.”
You can check out more info regarding the show through our exclusive news post.
Check out the placeholder images from the presentation, after the jump.
Update: Official Press Release added.
TRANSFORMERS: BOTBOTS ASSEMBLE IN AN ALL-NEW ANIMATED SERIES AT NETFLIX
Netflix and eOne announce Transformers: BotBots, a new 20-episode animated comedy series following the mischievous little Transformers robots, otherwise known as BotBots.
Kevin Burke and Chris “Doc” Wyatt (Spider-Man, Transformers: Rescue Bots Academy, Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters) will serve as executive producers and showrunners.
BotBots are Transformers robots that disguise themselves as everyday mall objects. By day, these BotBots hide quietly on store shelves but at night, they jump into adventure until a group of BotBots called ‘The Lost Bots’ run into the mall security guard and put all the bots in danger. Will these misfits be able to overcome their differences, defeat the security guard and gain acceptance in the eyes of the other bots?
“We are delighted to partner with Netflix to bring an all-new Transformers story to life and explore a whole new universe with BotBots,” said Olivier Dumont, eOne’s President of Family Brands. “Transformers storytelling has expanded into so many new avenues and we can’t wait to surprise both existing fans and new fans coming to the franchise for the first time with these fun bots who are definitely more than meets the eye!”
The series takes inspiration from Hasbro’s popular Transformers: BotBots toy line, released in late 2018. BotBots are 1-inch collectible characters that can change from an ordinary object into a little robot in just 3-5 easy steps.
The series joins Netflix’s growing slate of original animated programming featuring characters kids know and love like My Little Pony from Hasbro, as well as The Cuphead Show!, Sonic the Hedgehog, Angry Birds, and characters from the library of titles from Roald Dahl. They complement Netflix’s brand new cast of characters from upcoming preschool series Ridley Jones; Ada Twist, Scientist; Karma’s World, kids series Kid Cosmic, Arlo the Alligator Boy, Centaurworld and event series Maya and the Three.
Alph
Yeah I don't know why people are so eager to judge G1 (or any old thing, really) outside of the parameters in which it existed.
BigRed
There is something curious about people pushing 40 years old thinking they know better when it comes to what kids want in cartoons aimed at kids.
Ikkstakk
All that old '80s G1 stuff made us think. It was juuuust above our heads, just high enough that we had to get better to get it. I mean, I learned new words watching Transformers. Transformers. In FFOD, when they think Rodimus is dead, Springer says "We'll take the body back to Cybertron for interment." Interment? Say what now? I was eleven, I didn't know that word. Even my mom was impressed with that one. What about the Quintessons, always talking about probability and inevitability. It was an amazing time.
Michael Payton
People today love to shit on G1 thru the lense of modern genre TV. I guess it makes them feel edgy and cool. In reality, G1 was a boy's action cartoon from nearly 40 years ago made in a market that had twenty years of Hanna Barbera and Filmation". We didn't have Gundam or Devilman. We had The Superman – Aquaman Hour and Fred & Barney Meet the Thing.
Marvel Productions was a massive step up in terms of quality compared to everything else out there. Dungeons and Dragons. GI Joe. Transformers. These writers knew enough to update the style and tone of classic movie serials and pulp fiction and ran with it. As shit as the animation got in season 3, the writers clearly knew their audience had grown out of barely out of preschool fare like MOTU and were already watching Star Trek. That's why they took so many story chances that year because they knew their audience could handle it in small doses.
It wasn't Shakespeare. It wasn't intended to be. But it was damn well part of a group of shows better than almost anything we had had in the two decades that came before it.
Darth Gonzo
So if the main characters are the Lost Bots that likely means Burgertron will be in the show, should we get ready for Tank Not Meat?
Cardion
You can still get quite a few at MSRP through Amazon right now.
Runamuck86
Kinda wish i had actually bought some bot bots now while they were on the shelves.
primalxconvoy
I suppose this might be relevant to the handful of markets that sell Botbots?
Venixion
Anyway I think the show sounds like it'll be lots of fun. Has a zany toy story vibe.
KuleGuy123
I’m kinda bummed that they’re just starting on this 3 years into the line because there are so many bots that deserve screen time but probably won’t get it
SPLIT LIP
Success? Yes. Quality? No.
I agree with the rest of your post, though. We do need good TF shows again.
TheSoundwave
The Sunbow cartoon was definitely successful, but I'd hesitate to say it was of high quality. For all intents and purposes it was a low-budget Saturday morning cartoon with average storytelling that was notorious for animation flaws. The '86 movie stepped things up in-terms of better animation, but it was still very much a toy commercial with a plot that was mostly ripped from Star Wars (made by people who've admitted they didn't even understand how much the characters meant to kids).
Now, I have a lot of love for the G1 cartoon because of my nostalgia, but I don't think it should be considered any sort of ideal the brand should strive for. Bot-Bots and this comedy show might very well end up being of higher quality than G1 was.
WishfulThinking
If you haven't given Cyberverse seasons 2 and 3 a chance, I suggest you do. I fell in love with the series without expecting to. Best rendition of Hot Rod ever.
Dark Starscream
Because all of the "G1 rehashes" were terrible.
The truth is, This site wouldn't even exist if wasn't for the success and quality of the Sunbow cartoon and TF:TM '86. It was legendary. BW/BM is legendary. It can be again with the right talent and financial backing. Something kids today will remember 35 years from now and still be excited about.
I'm not saying that a Bot-Bot cartoon can't also exist along with it. I'm just saying, the fans here that keep pouring money into Hasbro's bank account (more than they make from kids buying Bot-Bots) deserve better.
T-Hybrid
I dunno, Botbots are a pretty interesting concept for a TF show given we haven't seen anything like that before.
Primus00
In any case, mediawise we won't be expecting anything mindblowing as of now.
T-Hybrid
Honestly? It's probably because they don't transform a whole lot.
Sure, the toys are packaged in bot mode as well, but if you're not showing off the product you're not likely to see it drive sales.
And while the Netflix line is trying to align with the show, the show isn't aligning well enough with the mainline to likely help make the connection with kids.
just a transformers fan
wait whats the release date
Thylacine2000
Beast Machines was one of the most cerebral and sophisticated "toy cartoons" ever made. It was better than Beast Wars. BM, Animated, and Prime are pretty much the pinnacle of our hobby's animated storytelling, with Cyberverse and BW close behind.
WishfulThinking
For what it's worth, WfC has my 16-year-old son's attention – much more so than Cyberverse has mine LOL. But it's not really translating into sales as he would rather purchase music and DJ equipment.