Transformers: Energon (2004– )
"Transformer: Super Link" (original title)

Years after "Transformers: Armada", the Autobots continue to battle the Decepticons, but this time they must also prevent the resurrection of Unicron.

Stars:

Garry Chalk, Trevor Devall, Matt Hill

Cast

Series cast summary:
Garry Chalk	...	Optimus Prime (4 episodes, 2004)
Trevor Devall	...	Alpha Q (4 episodes, 2004)
Matt Hill	...	Ironhide (4 episodes, 2004)
Scott McNeil	...	Jetfire (4 episodes, 2004)
Brent Miller	...	Hot Shot (4 episodes, 2004)
David Kaye	...	Megatron (3 episodes, 2004)
Michael Daingerfield	...	Inferno (3 episodes, 2004)
Michael Dobson	...	Starscream (3 episodes, 2004)
Alvin Sanders	...	Demolishor (3 episodes, 2004)
Makoto Aoki	...	Cadet A (2 episodes, 2004)
Don Brown	...	Cyclonus (2 episodes, 2004)
Paul Dobson	...	Rodimus (2 episodes, 2004)
Ron Halder	...	Dr. Jones (2 episodes, 2004)
Kirby Morrow	...	Rad (2 episodes, 2004)
Colin Murdock	...	Scorponok (2 episodes, 2004)
Doug Parker	...	Mirage (2 episodes, 2004)
Ward Perry	...	Landmine (2 episodes, 2004)
Brad Swaile	...	Kicker (2 episodes, 2004)

Storyline

A direct sequel to Transformers: Legend of the Microns (Transformers: Armada in the USA). Several years have passed since the war over the Microns, and peace has settled over Earth... yet a new threat arises. Human and Robot must join forces and discover the true evil threatening Earth.

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Plot Keywords:

2020s | 2010s

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Genres:

Animation | Action | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-Y7

Details

Official Sites:

Entertainment Rights TV Tokyo [jp]

Country:

Japan USA

Language:

Japanese English

Release Date:

31 January 2004 (USA)

Also Known As:

Transformers: Energon

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min 30 min (52 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Widely regarded by a huge number of fans as the worst Transformers cartoon ever to be made, due to its crude and primitive computer-generated animation, inconsistent writing and shallow characters, error-laden dubbing, and the fact that the story stops halfway through, then goes on to repeat itself. Some think the reason for this is that a regular Japanese anime show is "required" to have 52 episodes (one for each week in a year), and the writers couldn't figure out a better way to meet that quota.

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Goofs

In the episode, "Improsoned Inferno", Cliffjumper's and Downshift's names are mixed up. This goof is fixed in Episode, "Omega Supreme". However the error returns in later episodes, and the names of said characters constantly keep changing.

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Quotes

Kicker: [to Inferno] I'd better go and check on Ironhide.
Carlos, Ironhide: [clank] Ow! That really hurt. Ow! What did you do that for?
Kicker: You were spacing out. Now let's go. We have to patrol the area.
Carlos, Ironhide: What for?
Kicker: We have to be on the lookout for Decepticons.

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Connections

Spun-off from The Transformers (1984)

User Reviews

Much better.

When I heard about this show, I was rather skeptical. I was sorely disappointed with "Transformers: Armada" (or "Micron Densetsu," depending upon your language preference) and I really had very little hope for the following series. Called "Transformers: Energon" in the English-language version, "Superlink" had been airing for four weeks in Japan before the first Energon episode aired in the States. That being said, there are four episodes by which to judge this series, and I think that's a fair sampling for a preliminary evaluation.

Thus far, Superlink/Energon is superior to Micron Densetsu/Armada in every conceivable way. The animation is just that -- animated. Armada had a very distinct lack of motion that really detracted from it. Armada was more or less a comic book on television with mouths that occasionally opened and closed. Superlink is just the opposite. It looks like an actual cartoon (what a concept!). On top of that, the cel-shaded CGI technique makes it all look quite incredible.

Of course, it would be easy to disregard the inadequate animation of Armada if the writing was worth talking about. I suppose it goes without saying that it was not. Now, however, Superlink seems to have given us Transformers fans something to actually look forward to. Whereas the dialogue and plot of Armada was incredibly stale and not at all engaging, Superlink is very in your face and quick.

The biggest improvement, however, would be the voice acting. Although I have yet to see or hear the English version of this show (Energon), the Japanese version is much better than its predecessor Micron Densetsu and I can only assume that since this major problem has been cleared up at the source, it will be like that when it gets here. The dialogue isn't flat and there aren't awkward silences for no reason. The actors actually sound like they're -- gasp -- acting. Overall, this is a very worthy successor to the holy trilogy of Transformers series (the original, Beast Wars, Beast Machines). Great stuff all around and I can't wait to see what else develops.