Released nearly two decades ago on Cartoon Network, Transformers Animated went from an initially contentious series to a fan-favorite. Now, concept art for the beloved show has been released that gives a much different look at the series.
Shown on social media by a former employee of Cartoon Network, the Transformers Animated development concepts both resemble and wildly differ from the finished product. Reimagining Optimus Prime and the Autobots, these designs also had the first look at characters eventually introduced later in the series. With new versions of this iteration of the franchise now released in the current toy line, the recently-revealed designs cement Transformers Animated as a veritable classic in the annals of the brand.
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Newly-Released Images Showcase the First Designs for Transformers Animated
Released by former Cartoon Network general manager Brian A. Miller through his X (formerly Twitter) account, new concept art for the 2007-2009 cartoon Transformers Animated reveals just how much the stylized show changed throughout its development. The initial designs ranged from an aesthetic that heavily resembled the cartoonish direction eventually chosen for the series and a somewhat more detailed visual sense.
The show’s younger incarnation of Autobot leader Optimus Prime likewise heavily resembles how he eventually looked in the show, with his robot mode emphasizing the “firefighter” aspects of the design. Also seen is a large, rotund Autobot that seemingly became the character now known as Bulkhead. Two other Autobots in the concept art are Jetfire and Jetstorm, who heavily resemble their eventual designs for when they were added in the show’s third and final season. However, it’s worth noting that this concept art doesn’t showcase their later ability to combine into Safeguard.
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Also seen is a female Autobot who has what looks almost like a sort of wand. This is likely what became the design for the show’s female version of the medic Autobot Red Alert, who’s usually portrayed as male in continuities such as Generation 1 and the Unicron Trilogy. Some of the designs also somewhat resemble the aesthetic for the unmade series Transtech, particularly that series’ intended new body for the Maximal Cheetor. Notably missing is a design for the iconic Autobot Bumblebee, who wasn’t initially going to be in the show. Instead, his place was going to be taken by the similar looking Hot Shot, who essentially replaced Bumblebee in the Unicron Trilogy anime. However, due to Bumblebee’s resurgence in popularity following the first live-action Transformers movie, he was the one eventually added to the team.
This concept art is from 2006, explaining why many changes to the finished product were still to be made. As noted, even the concepts emphasize the youthful sense of humor in the show, which was balanced out by reverence for previous continuities. Since its final episode, the Transformers Animated timeline hasn’t really been revisited, but new toys for the show’s version of Bumblebee, Prowl and Optimus Prime (the latter of whom was repainted into Motormaster) have been released in the current Transformers: Legacy toy line.
Transformers
Transformers is a media franchise produced by American toy company Hasbro and Japanese toy company Takara Tomy. It primarily follows the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons, two alien robot factions at war that can transform into other forms, such as vehicles and animals.
- First Film
- Transformers
- Cast
- Peter Cullen , Wil Wheaton , Shia LaBeouf , Megan Fox , Luna Lauren Velez , Dominique Fishback
Source: X (formerly Twitter)
