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So I've been playing Transformers: War for Cybertron latley and while the game itself isn't that great it really got me interested in Transformers again. Thing is, besides the Bay movies I haven't really seen any movie or cartoon so far. Only the pilot of the new animated series which I thought was pretty stupid. Now I want to watch something with Transformers in it and I was hoping Dakka had some recomendations. I want something with the classic characters like Optimus and Megatron but I'm not sure I want to watch the original series. I know there have been a few other shows after G1 but which is the best?

The original 'Transformers: The Movie' cartoon is VERY hard to beat, Anung. It's great.

Go and get it.

Agreed.

Can I watch it without knowing much about the old cartoon? I mean, I know most of the characters, but I never watched the show.

The best is either Beast Machines or Beast Wars, I can never remember which is which. One is kind of awful and the other was amazing to my childhood brain.

Beast Wars? Wasn't that one of those weird CG shows? I want to see something with Autobots and Decepticons.

In my opinion, the old Generation 1 series will remain the best, including the movie.

However, if you'd like a more updated take on the TF universe, I'd have to recommend the IDW comics. They've got awesome art, a really nifty storyline going that's got a ton of throwbacks to G1 but also a lot of new stuff going on, and you can get the majority of them in trade-paperback now, which'll save you a bunch of cash.

It's a standalone universe, so you can head in without having to know anything about TF. It helps a lot, as you'll catch a ton of little things they've thrown into the storyline simply because it's a homage to G1, but it's not necessary.

If you're gonna get started, I'd have to say pick up Stormbringer - it's kind of a prelude to the main storyline, and it's like War for Cybertron in that it focuses solely on the Transformers, no humans at all. And I wouldn't discount the Spotlight paperbacks, either - they're one-shot comics that focus on a single character, but a bunch of them have really important plot points.

Anung Un Rama wrote:Beast Wars? Wasn't that one of those weird CG shows? I want to see something with Autobots and Decepticons.

How often is Megatron a T-Rex, though?

Beast Wars was REALLY good. The follow up Beast Machines was good, but not as until the later seasons.

@DiscoVader: I haven't thought about comics. I'll check the local store.

The past four/five years, Cartoon Network has done Transformers series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_Armada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_Energon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_Cybertron

They're a little childish, but I think they're worth it.

Yes, those were the shows I heard about. Which one is the best?

G1 is always good, and WfC is kinda a prequel to that (some of the cannon is a bit off). Id advocate this the most. Also these just came out on DVD, so they are easy to get. There is even a awsome box set with all 4 seasons in it.
BW is great, but not autobots/cons.
BM is the same as BW, not quite as good.
Unicron Trillogy is very bland imo. Armada was ok, but Cybertron and Energon were pretty bad. They move VERY slowly.
Animated was quite good, especally later seasons.
The IDW comics are by far the most adult form out right now. If you have an iPhone, iPod, or iPad you can dl them cheaper then buy them. Last stand of the wreakers is awsome, and Spotlights, All hail and ongoing are pretty good as well. Also lots of Bay-formers comics out there.

Go grab some popcorn, the original Transformers series, and line up a whole month of weekends watching that, Thundercats, and GI Joe. Probably the best three cartoons to be made in the '80s.

I've only seen the first episode of animated but I REALLY don't like the style. I guess it's a bit hard to find what I'm looking for. As stupid as they where, I like the Bay movies and how they actually managed to make the Car-Robots work, especially visiually, and I want to see something similar in cartoon. Something where I can say: yes, this is what a Truck transforming into a Robot would look like while not being as blocky as the G1 'formers.

Maybe I'll give animated another shot.

Cant judge Animated from one episode, there are some real stinkers for sure, but it develops well. As far as Bay style, there really arnt any cartoons like that, tho the new one, Transformers Prime looks promissing. I'd check out some comics if you like that style/universe.

Cant judge Animated from one episode, there are some real stinkers for sure, but it develops well. As far as Bay style, there really arnt any cartoons like that, tho the new one, Transformers Prime looks promissing. I'd check out some comics if you like that style/universe.

dah, major dakka lag!

Transformers Prime? Never heard of that.


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Interesting...

Pic isn't working, but its the new series comming out on the hub. Style is a cross between the movies and animated, which i find interesting as they are extreemes on opposite ends.

Try the CGI Beast Wars Transformers, as it was probably the best animated attempt at TFs post-80's.

Anung Un Rama wrote:Yes, those were the shows I heard about. Which one is the best?

I liked Armada, then Cybertron, then Energon.

*Puts on NOMEX suit and dances around singing "la la la, I can't hear you!"*

I'd say the Michael Bay movies, personally.

They at least were honestly plugging the toy sales to kids - They worked closely WITH the toy company to ensure their go-bots would work as toys.

They may not be art - but I can appreciate honesty.

It was a cartoon about cars that transform that fight planes that transform and was designed to sell toys to kids.

Get over it.
The cartoons were just ... Lame isn't a strong enough word.
Even the 1984 movie with Orson Welles' voice was dire.

Beast Wars was by far the best. It was my childhood.

Albatross nailed this first post. G1 is still king.

I've got G1 on DVD. Other than 'Rebirth' (which doesn't exist IMO), it's loads of fun. Things get odd in Season 3, but it was post-movie so you kinda expect it.

G1 really continues in Headmasters, which I hear they're doing a dub of, but is otherwise only available in Japanese (with a hilarious fan-sub which has to be heard to be believed). It's quite good, and while it does do away with loads of characters, it follows on from Season 3 far better than that absolute mess Rebirth.

And the G1 movie is quite simply amazing. Even though I know I'm wearing my Rose Tinted Glasses of Nostalgia +1, I still can't help but love that film. It's the sound track that makes it work, and the fact that my version of the DVD has a character section that allows you to view the deaths of specific characters - cutting right to the point in the movie where they die.

BYE